Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010

WCR Letters to the Editor

Letter insulted Polish community

Willem Hubben in his letter to the WCR (“Statue shows no respect for common good,” Dec. 8) demonstrates his lack of understanding of the reasons for building monuments.

It is unfortunate that he presented his opinions in an insulting manner to the Polish community and its Christian roots.

- PHOTO BY TADEUSZ SEJNOWSKI Some of the crowd at the Oct. 19 dedication of the statue of Pope JOHN PAUL II in front of Edmonton's Holy Rosary Church.

Monuments are erected as memorials to great persons and their accomplishments or service to the betterment of the community and humanity.

I am proud that Karol Wojtyla, the cardinal from Krakow, the city of my youth, was chosen more than 30 years ago to be the pope and that it was he that led the Church closer to Christ during his great papacy.

John Paul II holds a special place in the hearts of Polish people as he probably does for the majority of Catholics in the world. To express our pride and loyalty to this great man, the Polish community in Edmonton chose to erect a monument to his memory.

This monument is not just for the Polish community, but is a reminder for all people of the holy and dedicated life of John Paul II. It is a gift, not just for our generation of Christians, but also for generations to come.

The John Paul II Knights of Columbus Council 11334 at Holy Rosary Church, having a membership of 104, volunteered more than 2,200 hours of their time and donated more than $80,000 to charitable projects just last year.

Our parish also has many active organizations that work with parishioners, providing thousands of dollars to local and overseas charities and missions.

The remark that the Blessed Virgin Mary — “perhaps she’s not Polish enough” — reflects poorly on the author of the article.

Mary, the mother of God, to whom John Paul dedicated his life, is especially important to Poland and her people around the world. Mary is Queen of Poland.

Ryszard Kazek
Chairperson, Monument Committee
Grand Knight, Council 11334
Edmonton

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