Events

Blessing of the Herbs this weekend at Corpus Christi

Posted by on Leave a Comment


(2008 video from Blessing of the Herbs @ Corpus Christi)

Our Lady of the Herbs

(By Sophie Knab) In keeping with the ancient tradition of Poland, Corpus Christi Church, will hold a blessing of herbs and flowers on the Feast of the Assumption on Sunday, August 15 at all three masses: 8:15, 10:00(Polish Mass) and 11:30AM

In Poland, the Feast of the Assumption is also called Matka Boska Zielna – Blessed Mother of the Herbs, or Our Lady of the Herbs. The Blessed Mother is seen as the patron and keeper of the earth and all of its abundance.
On this special feast day, every village housewife brought a bouquet of herbs, flowers and grain that was collected from her own garden, the fields and orchards. She gathered dill, mint, rosemary, southernwood, parsley, hyssop, lovage, and comfrey – whatever she had growing in her garden. Many plants were named after the Blessed Mother. For instance, mullein, called dziewanna in Polish, was known as the braids of the Blessed Mother. And the wild herb St. John’s Wort was called the bells of the Blessed Mother. Since this time coincided with the time of the harvest, it was also the custom to take a few spikes of various grains including wheat, rye and oats.

After the blessing, the flowers and herbs were taken home and tucked behind holy pictures to protect the home against fire and lightening. Some farmers crumbled some of the blessed flowers into their seed bags in the belief that it would assure a good harvest. Some of the herbs were used in folk medicine to cure a cough or a cold.

This is a custom that was once prevalent throughout Polonia, brought to this country by our Polish ancestors. In recent years this beautiful custom has slowly gone by the wayside. Pastor Father Matthew Wydmanski at Corpus Christi invites everyone to bring their flowers and bouquets. The church is located at 199 Clark Street, Buffalo, New York 14212.

Corpus Christi’s 31st Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival – 08/21 & 08/22

Posted by on 1 Comment

This joyful celebration, which dates to the middle ages, is the Polish equivalent of America’s Thanksgiving holiday. In Poland, this event marks the end of the wheat harvest. At Corpus Christi, Dozynki is an opportunity to give thanks for all manner of blessings.

The heart of the Polish Harvest Festival is to bring people together in a spirit of gratitude and appreciation to God for all we have been given. The uniqueness of this celebration is expressed during the offertory procession during Sunday’s Dozynki Mass, to be held at 11:30a.m.,when a specially baked bread is presented along with a wreath made of grains.

Event Schedule:

Saturday August 21

  • 11:30a.m. The festival opens with a Mass in the restored Chapel, next to the church.
  • 12:30p.m. Music – Al Kania’s Polka Smile Eastern Style
  • 4:30p.m. Buffalo’s Best Pierogi Contest
  • 5:30p.m. Holy Mass
  • 6:30p.m Music – Concertina All-Stars. Dancing under the Main Tent.

Sunday August 22

  • 11:30a.m. Special Mass of Thanksgiving honoring Our Lady of Czestochowa, with music by Corpus Christi’s Music Director, Bruce Woody, and singing by Ludowa Nuta Polish Folk Choir
  • 12:45p.m.-5:30p.m. Joe Macielag’s Pic-A-Polka Band, along with additional performances by Ludowa Nuta Polish Folk Choir
  • 6:30p.m. Music by True Colors band. Dancing under the Main Tent.

The Harvest Festival ends at 10:00p.m. on both days. This year’s Dozynki Festival offers both familiar and unique Polish/American foods, including Polish Pizza; a large selection of Polish beers; live music; a Farmers’ Market; historic church tours; a Grand Raffle with cash prizes; a Best Pierogi contest with local celebrity judges; and many other activities.

Admission is free and all proceeds support the church’s historic restoration.

Corpus Christi Church is located at 199 Clark St. in Buffalo, one block east of the Broadway Market.

For more updated information about the Dozynki Festival and other events at Corpus Christi Church, visit www.corpuschristibuffalo.org.

YCHTIS, POLISH GIRLS’ CHOIR TO PERFORM AUGUST 6 @ CORPUS CHRISTI

Posted by on 2 Comments


(2008 performance of Ychtis @ Corpus Christi)

An award-winning girls’ song and dance group from Poland will visit Buffalo August 6 with a performance at Corpus Christi Church. The name of the ensemble is Ychtis (from the Greek word for fish). The group specializes in religious songs. Among their repertoire is music based on the poetry of the late Fr. Jan Twardowski, one of Poland’s beloved poets.

The five member group will perform at Corpus Christi Church on Friday, August 6 at 7:00 p.m. The girls, aged 10-15 years of age, will sing in Polish and in English as well as tap dance.

The group has been in existence for 15 years and is based in the city of Katowice in the industrial region of Silesia. Ychtis’ mission is to give young people with difficult family situations the opportunity to develop their inner talents through song and dance. Ychtis has appeared on television and toured Europe where they have won first place in a number of contests. This is their second visit to Buffalo and other cities in North America. In addition to the event at Corpus Christi, they will also perform in Chicago, Cleveland, Yonkers, Newark and a number of cities in Canada.

The group’s performance in the beautiful sanctuary of Corpus Christi Church promises to provide an uplifting experience for all. Admission is free, but a free will donation will be requested at the end of the show to help offset the group’s expenses.

Corpus Christi Church is located at 199 Clark St. in Buffalo, just one block from the Broadway Market.

The group’s website is at: http://www.ychtis.art.pl/

For more information about this performance and other events at Corpus Christi Church, visit www.corpuschristibuffalo.org.