St. John Paul II (1920-2005)
Feast Day - October 22nd
Karol Wojtyla lost his mother at age 8 but quickly learned to rely upon the Blessed Mother for maternal support. He underwent seminary formation in secret during the Nazi occupation of his native Poland and began priestly ministry under Community rule. In early years of parish ministry and university teaching, he developed a strong relationship with Catholic youth that would endure throughout his life. In 1978 Wojtyla became the first non-Italian pope in centuries as John Paul II. He began his papal ministry with the challenge: "Be not afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!" His own efforts to open those doors could be seen in his prolific teaching (in person and in writing), promotion of Divine Mercy, outreach to other denominations and religions, opposition to Communism, and encouragement of the arts. Amid the challenges of modernity, he never ceased to call the world to hope. "We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his son, Jesus." Patron of World Youth Day, young Catholics, families
DonorNational Knights of Columbus and the North Carolina Chapter of the Knights of Columbus |
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