Jaselka Nativity Play St. Casimir Church
8223 Sowinski Ave., Cleveland January 12, 2025
Fr. Eric Orzech is pastor of both the historic St. Casimir Catholic Church in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood and the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus in Cleveland's Slavic Village neighborhood.
Fr. Eric Orzech saying Mass at St. Casimir Church
The Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus is also historic. In 1969, then-Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who later became Saint Pope John Paul II, visited the church. His Holiness gave a relic of St. Stanislaus to the Polish community of Cleveland.
Besides being a terrific priest, Father Eric is smart so he realized that the Christmas holiday season is always packed with family and other events. So they hold their Jaselka Polish Nativity play at the end of the Christmas season when it is less busy.
After Mass in the beautiful St. Casimir Church, children performed a Jaselka Polish Nativity play. This was followed by a lunch version of the Polish Christmas Eve Wigilia (fish, salads, pierogis, etc.) with traditional Oplatki.
In this short video, Father Eric Orzech explains the three terms: Jaselka, Wigilia and Oplatki.
Students from Maria Konopnicka's Polish School in Cleveland performed a Jaselka Nativity Play.
The MC's introduction is in Polish and then English but the songs and poems by the children are all in Polish. Carols (Cicha Noc - Silent Night), traditional dances and recitations by the kids of various ages - all in costumes. At the end, Father Eric Orzech gives a quick blessing for the Wigilia lunch. Here are some pictures from the event. You can watch a video of the entire Jaselka Nativity Play at the bottom.
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Jaselka Nativity Play at St. Casimir Church
Fr. Eric Orzech gives a blessing
Wigilia dessert table
Cultural Garden reps Lori Ashyk, Qaisra Haider and Dozia Krislaty with Fr. Eric at St. Casimir Church
Here is the video of the Jaselka Nativity Play.
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Stay informed about the local Polish community and the other ethnic groups in Cleveland by signing up for the free Ethnic Cleveland eNews mailings. It's easy and free. Fill out the form for the free Ethnic Cleveland eNews.
