In honour of Poland’s Constitution Day on 3 May, Our Lady, Queen of Poland’s Feast Day and to celebrate the local multicultural community, a Village Fair was organised by the Holy Family Services on Sunday 7 May 2023.
The family-friendly event was held in Marayong on the grounds of the Holy Family Services, which has on-site Residential Aged Care, a Retirement Village and an Early Learning Centre. The event was open to all with a range of free activities including a mini-train, stalls, jumping castle, petting zoo, face-painting, tours of the facility and performances by the Polish, Maltese and Filipino community.
Members of a Filipino performance group with Sr Grace and Sr Margaret of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth at the Holy Family Service’s Village Fair in Marayong. Image: Supplied
Members from the community with Polish heritage and different backgrounds came together to acknowledge the two significant dates on the Polish calendar and to engage with each other.
Alasdair Croydon, the CEO of Holy Family Services, said the event was organised to bring together the local community with Polish heritage and multicultural backgrounds. The Marayong site, which has a strong Polish roots connection, was established by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth who arrived in Marayong in 1954 to support Polish migrant families displaced by the Second World War.
“The facility and staff have a long historic relationship with the Polish community, however, it was realised there was a need to strengthen that relationship. The recommendation by staff was to hold the event on a date that coincided with an important date on the Polish calendar – Constitution Day,” he said.
Mass is celebrated inside the Polish War Memorial Chapel during the Holy Family Service’s Village Fair in Marayong. Image: Supplied
“In addition to celebrating the Polish heritage, we wanted to engage with the local community and to recognise the change in the diversity of the local community. At the Early Learning Centre, we have 18 nationalities of children who attend. At the aged care facility, we have an increasing number of Maltese residents.”
Sr Margaret Kozub csfn, who is the Provincial Leader of the Congregation, acknowledges Australia is a multicultural nation with different cultures and traditions from which we can all learn from each other.
“We do want to maintain the Polish tradition, culture and faith but to also share it with others and to be proud of that. We are so multicultural which means we need to learn to respect each other and appreciate each other. We are here to give and serve to the community and our neighbours and to tell people we are here for you.”
Girls dressed in traditional Polish costume in celebration of Poland Constitution Day and their Polish heritage at the Holy Family Service’s Village Fair in Marayong. Image: Supplied
Sr Maria Zarzyczna csfn, who has worked at the facility for 38 years, agrees. “We work and treat everyone as a family including all the staff and residents. Everybody is embraced the same way despite their culture or religion. Our mission statement is Hospitality, Love and Acceptance and that is how we treat each other,” she said.
Despite a downpour of rain in the morning, the sun came out to shine a light on the event. There were smiles all round from children to adults who enjoyed the different activities, delicious food and performances from different nationalities. The mini-train that drove around the beautiful expansive grounds of the Holy Family Services was a hit with everyone.
One of the attendees, Bernadette Sadsad, who came along to the event with her friends, said she had a wonderful time at the Village Fair.
“The event was very well organised. It was a great experience. Everyone was really nice and welcoming and thanked us for the support.”
To find out more information about Holy Family Services, please visit: https://www.holyfamilyservices.com.au/
To learn about the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, go to: http://csfn.org.au/
Beckie Lee is a freelance journalist and contributor to Catholic Outlook.
