Three stamps on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Mission Societies
Bishop Karol de Forbin-Janson, Joanna Bigard, and Blessed Paulina Jaricot were featured on the Polish Post stamps of the "Jubilees of the Pontifical Mission Societies" issue, which entered circulation on June 3 this year.
The issue consists of three stamps in a block designed by Agnieszka Sancewicz, who featured a portrait of one of the founders of each of the individual works. The first features Bishop Karol de Forbin-Janson (1785-1844), founder of the Children's Missionary Work; the second features Joanna Bigard (1859-1934), initiator of the Work of St. Peter the Apostle, a laywoman who, along with her mother, fostered vocations in missionary countries. The third stamp features Blessed Pauline Jaricot (1799-1862), founder of the Work of the Propagation of the Faith and the Living Rosary. The Frenchwoman, who dedicated her entire life, talents, and good heritage to evangelization, was beatified in Lyon on May 22nd of this year.
The cover of the block features the coat of arms of the Pontifical Mission Societies, while the FDC envelope features a historical map of the world.
" 2022 is a very special and crucial year for the Pontifical Mission Societies, which are an important papal tool in supporting the development of faith around the world. Not only because of the special anniversaries of the establishment of specific institutions, but above all because of the beatification of one of the founders of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Living Rosary. Poczta Polska has decided to honor the anniversaries of the Pontifical Mission Societies and has introduced a block of three stamps into circulation. We hope that our stamps will encourage people to delve deeper into the goals and values guiding individual papal missions, " says Wiesław Włodek, Vice President of Poczta Polska.
The stamps were officially unveiled at Jasna Góra on June 4th of this year, during the National Pilgrimage of the Living Rosary, which actively supports the Pontifical Mission Societies. Wiesław Włodek, Vice President of Poczta Polska, together with Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, President of the Living Rosary, and Father Maciej Będziński, National Director of the Living Rosary, officially unveiled a display board with an enlarged block of stamps. Also representing Poczta Polska at Jasna Góra were Mariusz Dawid, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation and Philately Office of the Polish Post, and Janusz Paczkowski of the Polish Post Protection Center. During the Mass of thanksgiving for the beatification of Paulina Jaricot, the block containing the newest stamps became one of the altar offerings.
The year 2022 marks several anniversaries related to the Pontifical Mission Societies, including: the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the 100th anniversary of the recognition as pontifical of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, and the Missionary Society of Children, as well as the 150th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Paul Manna, founder of the Pontifical Missionary Union.
– Observing the activities of the Polish Post, particularly in the area of philately and the promotion of good works and individuals, the idea arose in me to engage the Polish Post Board in a special and important event: the anniversaries of the Pontifical Mission Societies. This is an excellent way to promote goodness, history, and the wonderful achievements of humanity. When I presented this idea to representatives of the Pontifical Mission Societies from a hundred countries around the world, I noticed enormous interest and surprise that goodness can be promoted in this way in Poland. I hope that the issuance of these anniversary stamps will further showcase Poland as a promoter of culture and values, and will encourage the younger generation to take up the beautiful hobby of philately.
I would like to thank everyone involved in the creation of this beautiful and historic work for their help, consultation, and cooperation , said Fr. Maciej Będziński, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Poland.
About the stamp:
Designer: Agnieszka Sancewicz
Number of stamps: 3 in a block
Value: PLN 4.50 each
Mintage: 100,000 blocks or each stamp
Printing technique: rotogravure
Stamp format: 40.5 x 54 mm Each
block format: 158 mm x 104 mm
Paper: fluorescent