By MARY STADNYK
Associate Editor
UPDATED Oct. 31, 2024
Father Jacek Labinski and his parishioners commemorated two milestone anniversaries Oct. 20 as St. Hedwig Parish, Trenton, marked the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the parish and the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the current church building.
Hundreds joined for the Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., with Auxiliary Bishop Andrzej Zglejszewski of the Rockville Centre, N.Y., serving as principal concelebrant. Along with Father Labinski, other priests who concelebrated included Msgr. Edward Arnister, a native son of the parish.
PHOTO GALLERY: St. Hedwig Mass of Thanksgiving
Students from the parish religious education program and the Polish school housed in the former St. Hedwig School attended the Mass.
Hedwig’s Unwavering Humility
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell reflected on the life of the parish patron, saying that “St. Hedwig was a remarkable woman whose life was a testament to faith, charity and humility.”
Bishop O’Connell served as principal celebrant of a Mass of Thanksgiving that commemorated the 120th anniversary of St. Hedwig Parish and the 100th anniversary of the building of the current church. Chris Kuras photo
Though she was born into nobility in 1174, St. Hedwig “chose a path of service and devotion that continues to inspire us today,” Bishop O’Connell said.
The Bishop noted that Hedwig embraced a life of simplicity and humility. She used her resources to establish hospitals, monasteries and schools, “always prioritizing the welfare of the poor and the sick.”
“Her actions remind us of the Gospel’s call to serve the least among us,” Bishop O’Connell said. “Her humility was not a sign of weakness but of strength, showing her deep trust in God’s providence and her desire to be close to him.”
“As we reflect on St. Hedwig’s life, let us ask ourselves how we can follow her example. How can we serve others with the same love and dedication? How can we live more humbly, trusting in God’s plan for us?”
Commemorative Gifts
During the Mass, Bishop O’Connell blessed two paintings commissioned for the occasion. The image of the Merciful Jesus, painted in Lagiewniki, Poland, was donated by parishioners Hubert and Boguslawa Wierzbowicz, and the image of the Black Madonna, painted in Czestochowa, Poland, was donated by parishioners Christine and Bill Muszynski. The paintings were placed in 24-karat gold frames carved in Poland.
“We felt that it was important to leave this lasting spiritual memory of the Black Madonna and to have it in memory of our families,” said Bill Muszynski, recalling that when he and Christine joined the parish in 1980, “We felt at home with the Polish customs and traditions, especially at Christmas and Easter and other special occasions.”
Christine Muszynski reflected on how the Black Madonna, or Our Lady of Czestochowa, is the “queen and protector of Poland” and was especially so during the “more than 100 years when Poland was erased from the map of Europe.”
Under Our Lady’s intercession and “through the strength of the Catholic faith of the people and the Church, the Polish language and traditions were kept alive until Poland was re-established as a country after World War II and during the almost 50 years of communist occupation after the war,” she said.
At the end of the Mass, Bishop Zglejszewski presented the parish with the relics of Blessed Father Michal Sopocko, confessor of Sister Faustina Kowalska, who is now St. Faustina Kowalska.
Returning Home
Msgr. Arnister, now pastor of St. Rose Parish, Belmar, was happy to return to the parish “so that I, too, could join with so many parishioners and those in attendance in offering a prayer of gratitude to God, to the Lord Jesus and to Mary, for the gift of my Catholic faith.”
“It all began in the baptismal font that is in the vestibule of the church,” he said, noting that he first heard God calling him to consider the priesthood at St. Hedwig Parish and School.
“St. Hedwig is a wonderful parish steeped in faith and tradition,” Msgr. Arnister said.
“Having celebrated such a milestone in the parish’s history and participating in a Mass that was so beautiful and uplifting, I hope and pray that the Lord in his Divine Mercy, through the intercession of Our Lady of Czestochowa, will inspire the hearts of some of those young people and teens who were at the Mass, that they, too, may hear the gentle voice of Jesus calling him to priesthood or consecrated life,” he said. “St. Hedwig, pray for us!”
Parishioners pray during the Mass of Thanksgiving Bishop O’Connell celebrated for St. Hedwig’s dual anniversary. Mary Stadnyk photo