This day was a special one for our community because three people renewed commitments and five made temporary commitments. Commitment renewals: Barbara Burzyńska, Marta Koczwara, Aneta Kumięga. Temporary Commitments: Jarosław Buranicz, Katarzyna Burzyńska, Mariola Burzyńska, Anna Englert and Sylwester Kryszyłowicz. After Mass each of those making a temporary commitment signed commitment documents and received a commitment memento: a hand-painted icon of Our Lady with the Child Jesus.

A special guest at the ceremony was CLC-USA Immediate Past-National President Edward Plocha from Portland, Oregon.  He came to take part in the commitment ceremony and to officially welcome us as Polish Christian Life Community (PCLC)-USA. Our PCLC community, officially affiliated with CLC-USA on June 27, 2017 when the CLC-USA National Coordinating Council (NCC) formally accepted our request for affiliation with the CLC-USA national body.

There were four Korean-CLC (KCLC) Chicago representatives at the ceremony: Joanna Lee, Chair and NCC Representative, Paulina Kim, Maria Han, Lucy Kim. Our KCLC guests provided us with a pleasant surprise by giving each person making commitment (both a renewal and temporary) a commitment gift: a rose hand-corsage for the women and a rose boutonniere for the men. It was a beautiful gesture from the Korean CLC-Chicago group.

After signing the commitment certificates, there was adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  Upon completion of benediction we stepped outside to the Jesuit Fathers’ garden for a “Polish-style” community picnic. Tables were abundantly stocked with appetizers, grilled delicacies including kiełbasa (Polish sausage), pierogi (stuffed dumplings), naleśniki (Polish crȇpes), salads, fruits, cakes and cookies. 

Another year of formation was officially launched ad maiorem Dei gloriam “for the greater glory of God.” (MK)