Salvatorian Father Eugeniusz Grytner, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Bartow stands with his stole before the television for the beatification of Father Francis Jordan, the founder of his order. He and several parishioners participated via Polish television in the pre-dawn hours of May 15. During Father Grytnerâs time working in Tanzania, he translated the prayer for beatification into Swahili and gave it to all of his parishioners to pray. He feels their faithfulness in praying this prayer must have helped in the beatification.Â
BARTOW | It is 4 a.m., May 15. It is still dark outside as a few parishioners from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Bartow gather at the rectory to join their pastor, Salvatorian Father Eugeniusz Grytner for the long-awaited beatification of his orderâs founder, Venerable Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. The small group watched via Polish television.