Members of the Polish community across the diocese have come to church today with their family for the traditional blessing of food baskets for Easter.
Swieconka (sh-vee-en-soon-kah) is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions.
Baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. The basket is traditionally lined with a white linen or lace napkin and decorated with sprigs of boxwood (bukszpan), the typical Easter evergreen.
Polish people take special pride in preparing a decorative and tasteful basket with crisp linens, occasionally embroidered for the occasion, and just enough boxwood and ribbon woven through the handle.
The blessing has three parts — for three grouops of items in the baskets: breads and pastries, sausages and meats, and eggs.
The blessing of food across the diocese today was celebrated by the three Polish priests who minister in our diocese on loan from Poland: Fr. Kamil Bachara, Fr. Rafal Zielonka and Fr. Bartlomiej Dziedzic.
Wesołego Alleluja!