Greenpoint, Brooklyn | October 18, 2026
On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Brooklyn’s Polish American community commemorated the life and sacrifice of Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, the Polish Catholic priest whose steadfast defense of faith, workers’ rights, and human dignity made him a symbol of resistance to Communist oppression.
The observance began with Holy Mass and continued with a procession to Father Popiełuszko’s monument in McCarren Park in Greenpoint. At the monument, participants placed flowers, delivered commemorative remarks, and joined in song to honor his memory and reaffirm the values for which he gave his life.
The Polish American Congress, New York Downstate Division, supported the commemoration and took an active part in the observance. Its involvement reflected the Division’s continuing commitment to preserving Polish history, sustaining community traditions, and passing the legacy of Poland’s struggle for freedom to younger generations.
Father Popiełuszko (1947–1984), closely associated with the Solidarity movement, spoke courageously against the Communist regime, including during the period following General Wojciech Jaruzelski’s declaration of martial law on December 13, 1981. His sermons called for truth, justice, religious liberty, and peaceful moral resistance. On October 19, 1984, he was abducted and murdered by officers of Poland’s Communist security apparatus.
The Greenpoint monument, unveiled in 1990, provides a permanent place for remembrance. The annual gathering around it is not only a tribute to one priest’s extraordinary courage, but also a reminder of the Polish people’s long struggle for national and individual freedom.
The Polish American Congress, New York Downstate Division, is proud to stand with the community in honoring Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko and keeping his message alive: “Overcome evil with good.”
