Tribute concert held for Catholic who saved Jewish children

Last updated on: July 10, 2012 at 12:00 am by CNA Daily News

Tribute concert held for Catholic who saved Jewish children 2012-07-10T00:00:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Melbourne, Australia, Jul 9, 2012 / 06:00 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A concert was held July 5 at the Melbourne Recital Centre to remember Irena Sendler, the Polish Catholic who saved some 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of Warsaw’s ghetto.

The concert, titled “Irena’s Song: A Ray of Light through the Darkness,” featured acclaimed Israeli composer and conductor Kobi Oshrat and Israeli vocalist Karin Shifrin. The pair collaborated with the Australian Orchestra Victoria to remember the heroine through music.

The 20-minute piece performed by Oshrat, Shifrin and the orchestra, was written as a collage of the life of Sendler and a tribute to her courage.

The night featured guest speakers and the support of both Israeli and Polish guests of honor, including the ambassadors of both countries. Sendler’s daughter also appeared in a video address, adding personal experiences of her mother to the evening.

Sendler led an underground group of women who helped to smuggle Jewish children out of Warsaw’s ghetto and into the safety of homes and convents. She often hid the children in trash cans, coffins, tool boxes or other creative locations to get them to safety.

In order to reunite the children with their families after the war, Sendler buried coded records of the children’s names, aliases and locations in jars under her neighbor’s apple trees. Rescuing Jews was punishable by death in Poland, however Sendler did not reveal the children’s locations, even after interrogation.

Although captured, imprisoned and tortured by the Gestapo, Sendler was rescued by her underground network “Zegota.” While imprisoned, she kept a Divine Mercy holy card that she presented 36 years later as a gift to John Paul II.

She died in 2008 at the age of 98 after being recognized for her courageous acts during the war. She was nominated for several Nobel Peace Prizes and recognized as Righteous Among Nations.

The guest speakers and musical performances highlighted virtues that Sendler lived by: love, humility and tolerance. The heroine will be remembered for her courage and sacrifice to save the lives of many Jewish children.

Asia - Pacific

Previous Post

July 9, 2012

Peruvian bishop offers to mediate violent conflict over mine

Next Post

July 10, 2012 Nigerian archbishop hopes for definitive end to violence

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who interpreted the "writing on the wall" for King Belshazzar?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ezekiel Jeremiah Daniel Isaiah