Irish-British Province

VATICAN
Fr. Penkowski remembered at the Vatican Museums

On February 10, 2006, a special Mass was celebrated at the Vatican Museums in memory of Fr. Josef PENKOWSKI. Fr. Paolo Braida, the chaplain at the Vatican Museums was the main celebrant.

Fr. Penkowski (died on February 3, 2006) was well known at the Vatican Museums, where he directed the ethnological museum for 30 years.

More than 100 people attended the Mass, which was held in one of the rooms of the pinacoteca (art gallery). Those present included Dr. Francesco Buranelli (director of the Vatican Museum) and Fr. Roberto Zagnoli (director of the ethnological museum and successor of Fr. Penkowski), as well as a number of employees.

Fr. Konrad KELER, the vice superior general, during his homily, reflected on the life of Fr. Penkowski. Fr. Tim LENCHAK (rector of Collegio del Verbo Divino) and Fr. Jakub BLASZCZYSZYN (URL) concelebrated.

The Vatican Museums were founded 500 years ago in the Vatican Gardens. That is where Pope Julius II placed the marble group Laocoon, an ancient artwork that had been discovered on Jan. 14, 1506, in a vineyard near the Colosseum.

The Missionary Ethnological Museum was founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926. It was housed in the Lateran Palace until 1963 when Pope John XXIII decided to move it to the Vatican. It was opened to the public 10 years later under the pontificate of Paul VI.

It presents the cultures and religious practices of non-European countries, and their contacts with Christianity.

Source: Arnoldus Nota