Saint Pope John Paul II bust dedication

A statue of Saint John Paul II was dedicated on May 18, 2019 in the Polish Cultural Garden in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Dignitaries including Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley and Councilman Tony Brancatelli spoke as did the world-renowned sculptor of the bust, Andrzej Pitynski. 

Bishop Roger Griesand Father Jerzy Kusy blessed the new addition to the Garden.

Opera singer Dorota Sobieska performed as did the PIAST Polish dance ensemble.

Photos and videos of the John Paul II Dedication

Gene Bak, Kevin Kelley and Tony Brancatelli

PIAST Dancers

Sculptor Andrzej Pitynski

Solidarity

Polish Heritage in Slavic Village – Gene Bak and Tony Brancatelli

Cleveland Councilman Tony Brancatelli whose ward includes Slavic Village in Cleveland and Gene Bak, director of the John Paul II Polish American Cultural Center spoke about the significance of the Constitution of May 3rd and Polish history.  They also told of the importance of the new Polish Heritage Garden in the community.

More of the Polish Heritage Garden in Slavic Village

Polish History in 27 placards in the Heritage Garden in Cleveland

Dan Hanson walked through the Polish Heritage Garden behind the John Paul II Polish American Cultural Center in the Slavic Village neighborhood of Cleveland.

He enumerated the 27 different placards that depict Polish history throughout the ages including the Constitution of May 3, John Paul II, World War II, Copernicus, Chopin and others.

Interested people and students should visit the beautiful garden to see the highlights of centuries of Polish history.

Watch the short video below

See more of the Polish in Cleveland

Christmas 1981 - A Flame for Freedom in Poland

It was 30 years ago, December 13, 1981, that martial law was imposed upon Poland by the communist government. Poles were aghast, horrified, frightened. And so was the man in Rome, a Polish native named John Paul II, and so was another man thousands of miles away in Washington, DC, President Ronald Reagan.

When word of the communists’ actions reached the White House, President Reagan was furious. He wanted to help the people of Poland in any way he could. At that very moment, Reagan committed to save and sustain the Polish Solidarity movement as the wedge that could splinter the entire Soviet bloc, as the first crack in the Iron Curtain.

“May I ask you a favor, Mr. President? Would you light a candle and put in the window tonight for the people of Poland?”

Read the eyewitness account of that special night