Friends of John Paul II Foundation, Inc.,
Washington, D.C.
President’s Message
Dear Friends of Pope John Paul II Foundation,
Our recently elected President, Hugh Dempsey, GCMOb was elevated to the new and exciting position of the Vice Regent of the Order of Malta, leaving me to fill this position as the 1st VP in the interim. While we celebrate his new position, we will miss his amazing expertise. Nevertheless, we hope that Hugh will be able to continue supporting our organization.
My first encounter with Pope was surreal. As a student in Warsaw, I stood in total awe along with millions of other people who came to greet the Polish Pope in June 1979, his first visit to Poland. We could not believe the miracle of a Polish Pope enveloping in front of my eyes. That experience gave us hope and belief that anything is possible. With this hope, I believe that I can fill the shoes of the giants the preceded me as leaders of our Chapter. A toll order, indeed.
As a member of the Friends of JPII Foundation, serving in various positions over the past few years, I am inspired by your accomplishments, giving spirit, and steadfast commitment to John Paul II’s legacy and Polish heritage. I hope my involvement and membership in other Polish organizations, such as the Polish American Congress, and my catholic upbringing and education at a catholic academic institution — Georgetown University, will help me fulfill my duties as best as I can.
There is a lot we need to accomplish this year. On the administrative site, we need to finalize the new Board and update our by-laws. We like to continue with our regular programs, including the May luncheon for our members celebrating Saint JP II, participate in educational events and conferences to share information about our beloved Pope’s life and teachings, and promote Polish heritage through such events like decorating our Polish Christmas tree at the Shrine of John Paul II in Washington DC.
This year, we are very excited to find a new home for the bust of Saint John Paul II at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA. All these events and activities can only succeed with your guidance and support. We will need your help with organizing a reception in October to celebrate this event.
Please reach out to me at rpac100@gmail.com if you can share your talents and ideas, help us with membership drives, organize and participate in our events, bring by-lows in conformance with our charter, help with the newsletter articles, or any other way you are led to serve.
Please save the date – May 21st – for the chapter Luncheon at Army Navy Club.
I thank those who trust me to lead the Foundation and promote its unique role in this area and beyond.
God bless you,
Roza Pace