Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010
April 28, 2008
Alta. Polish community gets two new councils
Queen of Poland pastor enthused by support Knights will give parish
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Max Ciesielski
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By GLEN ARGAN
WCR Editor
Edmonton
The Polish community in Edmonton got its second Knights of Columbus council earlier this month when 31 knights joined the new Our Lady Queen of Poland Council.
The council, based at the parish of the same name, joins the John Paul II Council established in 1994 and based at the city's other Polish parish, Holy Rosary.
As well, the Polish community in Calgary has launched a new council.
Driving force behind the new Edmonton council is Oblate Father Janusz Jajesniak, pastor of the south side parish.
"I think it's a wonderful organization," he told the WCR. "They will support the parish in many ways."
Corpus Christi procession
Jajesniak looks forward to a K of C contribution that includes prayer, help for the parish youth group and visits to the sick, as well as taking part in Church processions such as on the feast of Corpus Christi and the feast of Our Lady Queen of Poland in May.
During adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, fourth degree knights will stand next to the Body of Christ, he said. "The fourth degree has wonderful vestments."
Max Ciesielski, the order's new council development director for Alberta, will serve as grand knight for the new Polish council - the fourth council that he has led.
"The priest wanted the council in his parish," Ciesielski said. "That's what started it.
"With his encouragement, it didn't take long to get things going."
The Queen of Poland Council was launched at an April 13 Sunday Mass with a special blessing of the knights and their families.
Ciesielski predicts the council will grow from its initial 31 members once parishioners see that an active group of knights is making a contribution to parish life.
"It will grow. This is a large parish."
A new council, of course, does not have many financial resources, but Ciesielski says there is still much that it can do.
Council projects
He sees that a Mass where parishioners are encouraged to renew their marriage vows, a free kick soccer competition for children and distribution of Christmas hampers to the needy are just some projects it can take on.
Then, there are the public processions on religious feasts. When the knights dress up, "it adds more colour."
As well as the two new Polish councils, two other councils have been started in Alberta this year - in McLennan and Chestermere.
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