| The annual Body of Christ Mass and Procession took place at Marayong on Sunday 26 June 2010. It was a beautiful sunny winter’s day and over 200 people attended.
The Mass was co-celebrated by Fathers Antoni Dudek, Jozef Kolodziej, Zbigniew Pajdak, Krzysztof Chwalek and Artur Botur. The homily was given by Fr Artur Botur. Music to the Mass was provided by Maja Kedziora.
Four altars were constructed for the procession. Each altar was prepared by the respective church committees of Ashfield, Bankstown, Cabramatta and Marayong.
Standard bearers representing various Polish organisational groups led the procession. They were followed by altar servers, scouts and girl guides, and the dancing groups.
The monstrance came next with the large crowd following. The priests shared the carrying of the monstrance and the leading of prayers.
The scouts and folklore ensembles shared carrying the monstrance canopy.
After the Mass an artistic program of folk dancing and singing was held in the Hall where the Marayong Church committee provided meals.
The artistic program involved performances by Sydney’s four Polish folkloric dancing groups, namely, Kujawy, Lajkonik, Podhale and Syrenka.
The artistic program performed involved:
1. Polonez-Mazur by Podhale
2. Tance Kaszubskie by Syrenka
3. Ges Woda by Kujawy
4. Krakowiak Medley by Lajkonik
5. Stajerek by Kujawy
6. Krakowiak by Syrenka
7. Kurpie by Lajkonik.
It was notable that the number of junior dancers had increased since last year and this bodes well for the future existence of the dancing folkloric groups.
It is also worth noting that many regular older attendees who used to go to this event are no longer with us. The small bus carrying seniors was a testament to this as previous times saw bigger buses and more of them.
The re-introduction of folkloric groups to the mass and procession reinvigorated the attendance in terms of numbers and youth.
Congratulations to the scouts and girl guides on a continuous record of attendance. I am reminded of this as I had a look at an old photo of a procession in Marayong from the early 1960’s and there they were with yours truly included. See photo attached, as a matter of historical interest.
The concert finished at 4.30 pm as the sun was setting on a wonderful day of prayer and celebration and people rushed home to beat the start of the coming of a winter cold night and the preparation for Monday morning.
Henry Iglinski
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