Polish Confirmation Class of 2024

-Michael Sullivan

The Church of Saint Luke extends our warmest welcome to the Polish Confirmation Class of 2024. On 4/28/2024 the Polish students were confirmed in our Church by the Polish Bishop, Most Reverend Andrzej Zglejszewski Auxiliary Bishop, Diocese of Rockville Centre, along side our Pastor, Father Michael Quinnan.

The great Polish born Saint Pope John Paul II said that “the sacrament of Confirmation closely associates the Christian with the anointing of Christ, whom “God anointed with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 10:38). This anointing is recalled in the very name “Christian”, which derives from that of “Christ”, the Greek translation of the Hebrew term “messiah”, whose precise meaning is “anointed”. Christ is the Messiah, the Anointed One of God.”

Saint Pope John Paul II continued “To understand all the riches of grace contained in the sacrament of Confirmation, which forms an organic whole with Baptism and the Eucharist as the “sacraments of Christian initiation”, it is necessary to grasp its meaning in the light of salvation history. In the Old Testament, the prophets proclaimed that the Spirit of God would rest upon the promised Messiah (cf. Is 11:2) and, at the same time, would be communicated to all the messianic people (cf. Ez 36:25-27; Jl 3:1-2). In the “fullness of time” Jesus was conceived in the Virgin Mary’s womb through the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Lk 1:35). With the Spirit’s descent upon him at the time of his baptism in the River Jordan, he is revealed as the promised Messiah, the Son of God (cf. Mt 3:13-17; Jn 1:33-34). All his life was spent in total communion with the Holy Spirit, whom he gives “not by measure” (Jn 3:34) as the eschatological fulfilment of his mission, as he had promised (cf. Lk 12:12; Jn 3:5-8; 7:37-39; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8). Jesus communicates the Spirit by “breathing” on the Apostles the day of the Resurrection (cf. Jn 20:22) and later by the solemn, amazing outpouring on the day of Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:1-4).”

We must constantly remind ourselves of the importance of Confirmation and strive to uphold the fulfillment of Christ’s mission on Earth. Christ did not leave us without an Advocate. He left us with the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us to Him. Confirmation has endowed every faithful Catholic with the Holy Spirit since Pentecost, and it solidifies us as Christian. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem writes “before this grace had been conferred on you, you were not sufficiently worthy of this name but were on the way to becoming Christians.”

On April 28th the Polish students attained their full identity as Catholics with their Confirmation by the Most Reverend Andrzej Zglejszewski. Now, they will be able to follow the example of the Apostles, the Saints, and their parents or guardians and become aware of their own personal mission in the Church and in the world. We must pray that their acceptance of the Holy Spirit will confer Grace on each one of the newly Confirmed and help them to navigate this fallen world while upholding the Gospel message.

Our Parish thanks our Polish parishioners for their continued contribution to the Church and the community. We pray that these Confirmation students will bring the joy of Christ to their family and friends. We thank the Polish families for their steadfast support of the Parish and their dedication to the Church.

The Polish Confirmation Class of 2024 is as follows:

Gabriela Bizio

Julia Ciborowski

Bartlomiej Tomasz Fryc

Maya Gliniak

Victoria Nicole Godlewski

Nikola Gniedziekjko

Amelia Jurek

Nathan Zenon Kolakowski

Hanna Mia Kur

Nicole Kawecki Patronka

Jacob Stanislaw Pekala

Zuzanna Sophia Romanczyk

Adam Wakuluk

Maya Wakuluk

Paulina Wysk