The Basilica of St. Stanislaus in Chicopee, Massachusetts Honours the Vocations of Four Franciscans

Friars Lucjan Krolikowski, Paschal Rys, Marion Tolczyk and Dennis Sokolowski

will be feted on the last Sunday of June

Anniversaries of religious and priestly life are wonderful celebrations. In Chicopee, Massachusetts at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr, the community is celebrating four such anniversaries. They are as follows:

Friar Lucjan Krolikowski marks 65 years of life as a priest. His Franciscan brother Friar Paschal Rys has been a priest for 60 years. Friars Marion Tolczyk and Dennis Sokolowski celebrate in 2011 65 and 50 years (respectively) of religious life.

Many things have changed in the decades since these four men found their vocations. During Friar Lucjan’s ordination in 1946, Harry Truman was President of the United States and the country consisted of 48 states. Fifty years ago in 1961, when Friar Dennis entered religious life, Yuri Gagarin became the first man to fly into space.

What has remained steady through all these decades, however, is the four friars’ deep faith. These men have served their communities in various ways and their sense of vocation from God has been with them at all times.

The Jubilee Celebration for Friars Lucjan, Paschal, Marion, and Dennis’ anniversaries took place on the last Sunday of June at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus in Chicopee. It started with Mass at noon and then continued with a banquet at the Parish Center.

(Source of all related images on webpage and homepage: Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr in Chicopee, MA.)