FROM THE LIFE OF  POLONIA SEMPER FIDELIS

Our meeting with

"Tailor of our Lady of Częstochowa"

Mr. Mariusz Drapikowski

On Sunday, October 16^th, 2011, Polonia Semper Fidelis of the State of New Mexico held a meeting with Mr. Mariusz Drapikowski. Drapikowski was accompanied by his wife Grażyna, President of the "Communitá Regina della Pace" (Community of the Queen of Peace) Mr. Piotr Ciołkiewicz, with his wife Violetta, during their visit to the United States.

Mr. Mariusz Drapikowski is well-known in Poland and worldwide artist specializing in both sacral and secular creations that range from amber and crystal to stone and silver.

As a famous designer and  creator of beautiful sacred sculptures and reliquaries, Drapikowski has contributed to the designs for the Vatican and created many arts for shrines in Poland and around the world, including the diamond and amber gown for Our Lady of Częstochowa (in thanksgiving for the pontificate of John Paul The Great), and the amber altar in Gdańsk.

One of his most significant and prominent pieces is the Altar of Adoration in Jerusalem, or also known as the Triptych of Jerusalem. This altar was blessed by Pope Benedict XVI as a part of the twelve altars around the world which he plans to create, as a symbol of the twelve stars of Our Lady’s halo. He is currently working on the second altar to be built in Kazakhstan, planning also the future altar in the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico. 

Both gentlemen, Mr. Mariusz Drapikowski and Mr. Piotr Ciołkiewicz, expressed their willingness to cooperate with Polonia Semper Fidelis, and to active participation in our organization as Coordinators. It is a great honor for all of us to accept them in our work.

English text of welcome speech by Coordinator of Polonia Semper Fidelis

Stanisław Matejczuk

Dear Friends,

I have been obliged to share some words  as the Main Coordinator of the Polonia Semper Fidelis.  According to this obligation I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all of you, for being with us today. I want – in the name of our organization – thank to all of you, our dear guest from Poland an you, our Dear American and Polish-American Friends, for being with us today at our meeting with Mr. Mariusz Drapikowski.  In particular way I would like to extend my special appreciation to the hosts of today’s meeting:  Coordinator of the Polonia Semper Fidelis in the State of New Mexico Mr. Tony Niemczak and his wonderful wife Natalia who have managed such great opportunity to know each other.

I would like to remind those of you who are familiar with us and – the same time – to introduce all of you who are in the very first time in contact with us  - that Polonia Semper Fidelis was created in April 2010, just after a tragic plane crash near Smolensk in Russia that killed our President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski with his wife and 94 other the highest rank representatives of the Polish state.  Our organization – had been created at the beginning as an initiative of the Polish centers in both the state of Maine in the United States and province of Ontario in Canada, extended immediately to the states of New Mexico , then Texas,  Arizona, South Carolina and Illinois. Next, it has had been created the centers in Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom and Australia. Many other centers are pending.

In the State of New Mexico Polonia Semper Fidelis immediately found its base in support of Mr. Tony Niemczak – today’s host. Of course, our organization immediately started to grow in our Motherland by Birth – Poland, and many of its regions.  These regions include Silesia, Greater and Smaller Poland, Mazovia, Podlasie  or Carpathian regions.  During this time we have gained many Friends of Poland, both in the United States and worldwide. It doesn’t matter that they are not Polish citizens – much more counts that they are our Friends.

Polonia Semper Fidelis is based on the Christian and Catholic values as the whole more than one thousands year history of Poland was, is and should be based there. This is also a heritage of teachings of our the greatest son of Poland for the world: John Paul The Great. The same time we do our best  to be as an element to  exchange the best of Polish heritage with our American Friends. We have a lot to exchange each other in both ways.  We want to use your heritage and you are more than welcome to use ours.

We are working on many common fields. Today we are welcoming our great visitors from Poland: Mr. Mariusz Drapikowski with his wife and their dear company visiting us. I think I wouldn’t be alone to extend our invitation to the State of New Mexico for them in the future.  In particular way when Mr. Mariusz will be building his next Altair in amber for our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.

In the end I would like to add that the Polonia Semper Fidelis in the United States, particularly in the State of New Mexico, is working to further “bricks in the wall” of bilateral cultural and any other possible exchange, profitable for real Poland and real America. I strongly believe that our meeting today will become only one of many others to promote exchange of values in both cultural and economic heritage to the United States and Poland. May it sounds better:  to the State of New Mexico and Poland. Or: New Mexicans and Polish people.

Once again thank to all of you, Dear Friends, for your presence here and being with us . I am inviting all of you for next our events in the name of Polonia Semper Fidelis. In order to build our common “tomorrow” . Thank you!!!

Farewell Mass of Father George for Polonia Semper Fidelis

(photos by Michael Fojud)

Father George with the Coordinator of Polonia Semper Fidelis in the State of New Mexico Tony Niemczak (at the left) and Stan Matejczuk (The Worldwide Cooordinator of the Polonia Semper Fidelis ( at the right)

On 2 January 2011 in the Church of Holy Father Francis Xavier in Albuquerque, NM, Father Grzegorz, a franciscan from Poland, celebrated a farewell Holy Mass for the Polish Community there. Polonia Semper Fidelis of the state of New Mexico would love to thank you, Dear Father, for all the Holy Masses that you have celebrated for us - the Polish community - during your short time staying with us here. 

May our Lord will lead you, Father, during your difficult time of your missions - this time in Nicaragua.
God bless you !

Antoni Niemczak
Coordinator
Polonia Semper Fidelis in the State of New Mexico

From the Polonia Semper Fidelis team

We are very sorry to say our wonderful Franciscan Father George to say good bye. He was with us in the very blessed time of Christmas with his strength of the Newborn Blessings from the Christ. Praise the Christ for him and let him find similar blessings for his missions in Nicaragua. 

As the Polonia Semper Fidelis we are deeply appreciate Father George mission here among us and we will be be appreciating to any initiative from the Poiish bishops to take care of us in the future.

Polonia Semper Fidelis is an organization which has no lefty roots and hopes for the best and real Polish missions to our state of New Mexico,

Written with the acceptance of Stanisław Matejczuk - the Worldwide Coordinator of the Polonia Semper Fidelis

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