By Ruza Zivkusic
CATHOLICS from the Albion Polish Club attended a memorial concert last Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II.
Nearly 700 people from surrounding suburbs held prayers to commemorate the life of the late Pope’s life during the two-hour event.
A statue of Pope John Paul, which was erected using money donated by the community, was unveiled.
Father Dominic Jan Jalocha, who first met the Pope when he was eight years old, said he hoped the statue would help the community remember what a great teacher and leader the late Pope had been.
Since the Pope’s death many residents turned to the church to learn about his life, father Jalocha said.
“We are grateful for his greatness and for what he’s done not just for the Polish community but for the whole world,” Fr Jalocha said.
Fr Jalocha, who when a young boy promised Pope John Paul that he would make a good priest, said the new Pope, Benedict XVI, was “one of the best things that could happen to the Catholic Church”.
“He is very gentle. He communicates well with the rest of the church and he will continue the tradition that John Paul II has established,” he said.
He said Benedict XVI, who has worked closely with the Pope John Paul for the past 24 years, was still referring to his work during his speeches.
During the past year, several of Polish newspapers have also printed Pope John Paul’s speeches to help readers understand and learn about his work, Fr Jalocha said.
The concert featured choirs from the area including: the Brimbank Multicultural Choir, the Croatian Community Choir, the Sudanese Choir and the Polish Choir.
