April 63 In 2020, Brother LEONARD KONOPKA (Kon-op-ka), a member of American Province, died at the Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home in Washington, D.C. He was 86 years old, a religious for 67 years. He helped with the construction of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy by carving some of the decorative wood pieces. Later, he served the community as Provincial Councilor, member of the Provincial Formation Committee, local Treasurer, and Superior of the Stockbridge and Brookeville houses. In the late 1970’s, he was a co-founder of the Mother of Mercy Prayer Group at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. A zealous promoter of the Divine Mercy, he organized the annual Divine Mercy Sunday celebration for a number of years at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. He also established a regular Sunday Mass and praying of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at the John Paul II Cultural Center (now the national shrine). He is buried in the Marian Fathers’ cemetery on Eden Hill in Stockbridge. April 6 On April 6, 1757, Father PAUL JUSZKIEWICZ (Yoosh-kiev-eech) died at the age of 83 at the monastery in Skórzec. He was a religious for more than 50 years and a renowned preacher. Due to the zeal with which he labored, he suffered a stroke which left him bedridden for 12 years, until his death. He is buried in the crypt of the church in Skórzec. In 1780, Father MICHAEL GLINKA (Gleen-ka), Preacher of the Berezdów (Bear-ez-doov) monastery, died at the age of 40. He is buried in the crypt of the church in Berezdów. In 1806, Father RAYMOND NOWICKI (No-veets-kee) died at the age of 70. He was a religious for 50 years. For 12 years, from 1776 to 1788, he held the office of Superior General. It was during this time that our community flourished as a result of our separation from the Franciscan Order. He initiated the preaching of parish missions, established schools at Marian monasteries, and acquired the church and monastery of Saint Vitus in Rome. His term saw the greatest expansion of the Order, increasing to 16 monasteries and around 150 religious. The Order also enjoyed the best reputation in society, with bishops, and in Rome, both for internal discipline and apostolic activity. He was paralyzed for the last five years of his life, which he spent at the monastery in Marijampolė, where he is buried.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==