Having the example of two saintly popes who brought change to the Church, Catholic Poles of Borough Park took to the streets to celebrate the canonizations of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II.

Pope John XXIII shocked the world by leaving the Vatican to visit Roman parishes and hospitals. Building on the notion of a pilgrim Church on Earth, Pope John Paul II brought the enthusiasm of the Gospel to 129 countries during his pontificate.

Last week, on Divine Mercy Sunday, St. Frances de Chantal parish, Borough Park, and St. Rosalia-Regina Pacis parish, Bensonhurst, teamed up to honor the newest saints by participating in a procession from one neighborhood to the other. Before they went on their mini-pilgrimage from St. Frances to Regina Pacis Basilica, they honored the feast day Pope John Paul II established.

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The official celebration started at 3 p.m., the Hour of Divine Mercy. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio led an estimated 2,000 people in a bilingual Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Canon Andrzej Kurowski, S.A.C., pastor of St. Frances de Chantal, said this was the most important aspect of the celebration.

The people then cheerfully processed outside praying and singing, accompanied by: the Holy Eucharist, carried in a monstrance by Bishop DiMarzio; a relic of St. John Paul II carried by the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre; photos of the two popes; and flags of the Vatican, U.S. and Poland.

Sacrifice, Joy and Tears

Msgr. Ronald Marino, rector of Regina Pacis and vicar for migrant and ethnic apostolates, said he was moved by the number of people who participated, a number of whom had trouble walking but made the sacrifice with joy.

“We were aiming to give the Polish people a way to celebrate [Poland’s] son,” he said. “What was touching to me was how many people were crying … crying with joy. They were so proud and rightfully so.”

Grzegorz Filip came to the event with his daughter, Samantha, 17. He said St. John Paul II’s pontificate has been inspirational from the very beginning, so it is only right to joyfully celebrate the canonization. The Filip family started the day off by watching news from the Vatican and went home for a celebratory dinner after the procession.

“History is unfolding before our very eyes,” he said. “The Polish pope finally became a saint.”

Canon Kurowski said St. Frances de Chantal parish has a special connection to the newest Polish saint. The parish choir performed for him on his name day at the Vatican in 2004. The parish also has relics of the late pontiff for veneration and a larger-than-life statue of him outside the church.

“He blesses us,” Canon Kurowski said. “He gives us courage.”

Msgr. Marino said the Polish pope continues to bless his people even in his death and that during the procession, the saint “poured out his love for us.”

Standing in front of the Basilica of Regina Pacis, Grzegorz Filip said it was a very fitting tribute for the Polish and Italian popes to be honored by a unified effort of the Polish and Italian communities. He said he is hoping that the combined canonization will help the Polish and Italian communities worldwide grow even closer together.

After the faithful entered the basilica, Bishop DiMarzio helped the people understand the significance of the two pontiffs.

Universal Grandfather

He described St. Pope John XXIII as the universal grandfather, who “embraced the whole world.” It was he who used papal authority to call a Vatican Council.

“They thought he was crazy,” the bishop said, describing people’s reaction to convening a Council at the time. “They didn’t believe he could do it.”

St. Pope John XXIII let the fresh air in the Vatican, Bishop DiMarzio said, and St. Pope John Paul II brought many of those changes to life.

“He brought to the world an understanding of peace and harmony,” Bishop DiMarzio said of Pope John Paul II.