09/13/2024
Praise be to Jesus Christ! Now and forever
September 1, 2024
Dear Scholars of Saint John Paul the Great formation scholarship,
I greet you very warmly. First, I want to tell you that I, and the people of the Catholic League for Religious Assistance to Poland and Polonia, and the members of the St. John Paul the Great Committee, send you greetings and best wishes as you begin your very intensive time of study and formation this academic year. These good people of Polonia, financially and prayerfully, sponsor your scholarships and formation endeavors. The time and effort you put into your higher education and the integral formation, that is, human, spiritual, intellectual, and apostolic is provided and designed by us in the “Liga” as you build your present and future happy Catholic family.
I, along with the Formation Coordinator, Deacon Robert Cislo, ask you to participate in the formation meetings at Saints Cyril & Methodius Parish Annex, 541 Leduchowski St, Lemont. The first session is on Sunday, September 15th, at 4:00pm. Please arrive 15 minutes before the 4:00pm Mass which will be followed by the formation session,
These monthly formation sessions are not limited to just this year’s scholarship recipients. They are open to any student who has applied for the scholarship in any year and those that have already completed their college studies. It gives me great pride and joy to see the noteworthy participation in the formation program along with academic success of so many students of Polonia. Those currently receiving a scholarship must participate in the formation component to continue receiving their scholarship.
This community of students and graduates provides not only formation but also connects you with others as you all develop into young professionals of Catholic Polonia, all while sharing joy and friendship.
The St. John Paul the Great Committee and I, along with your dear parents, have great hopes for each of you. Our gift to you is to offer the treasures of our Catholic faith by educating the mind, warming the heart, and influencing all you encounter with the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, thus transforming the Church, the society and you, praying always that you live a fruitful and holy life.
There is one message I feel is crucial to share with you. While you are in college you will continue to encounter many ideological models of lifestyles that are counter to our Christian Catholic beliefs, which are based in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the holy tradition of our Roman Catholic Church. Our faith teaches us about sacrificial love of one another; the loving bonds of our family; solidarity, respect, and loyalty to one another; and serving the needy of our society.
Too often, you might be influenced by the common model of self-importance over relationships with our families and communities. I am confident that with our formation gatherings, you will be equipped with your strong Catholic faith in addition to your academic excellence to face any challenges and be role models for those your encounter in your path in life.
I congratulate you once again for being part of this cadre of scholars and ask for your prayers for the generous donors of Polonia who make this formation scholarship possible through the Catholic League for Religious Assistance to Poland and Polonia. I ask you to pray for me and be assured each of you will remain in my fervent prayers each day. Please accept my blessing for you and your families.
Sincerely,
Bishop Andrew P Andrew Wypych
The Catholic League For Religious Assistance to Poland and Polonia
