From The Citizens Voice: Four PNCC bishops consecrated

With the Book of Gospels on his back, the Rev. Anthony Mikovsky knelt on the altar in St. Stanislaus Cathedral.

A swarm of hands enveloped his head. Their arms outstretched, the bishops who came before him offered a prayer in unison.

It was in that moment that the bishop-elect fully came to grips with his new duty.

—It’s tough to put into words,— said Mikovsky, one of four Polish National Catholic Church bishops consecrated Thursday at the cathedral on East Locust Street, the mother church of the denomination. —Ultimately, it’s an awesome responsibility.—

About 1,000 people packed the South Scranton church for the elaborate and historic 3½-hour Mass.

All four were elected in October during a General Synod in New Hampshire, marking the first time since 1924 that the Polish National Catholic Church chose four new bishops. They were elected last month in just two ballots, a process that took all of 15 minutes.

On Thursday, the process took a bit more time. None of the four appeared to mind.

Also consecrated were the Rev. Sylvester T. Bigaj, of Hamilton, Ontario; the Rev. Anthony D. Kopka, of Stratford, Conn.; and the Rev. John E. Mack, of Washington, Pa.

—It’s overwhelming, in all kinds of ways,— said Mikovsky, 40, now bishop of the Central Diocese and pastor of St. Stanislaus. —The responsibility of it. The joy to be able to serve the people.—

A native of Trenton, N.J., Mikovsky entered the PNCC seminary in Scranton in 1995 while maintaining studies in discrete mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania. His earned a doctoral degree in math and was ordained into the priesthood in 1997.

Just one minor correction. He knelt before the altar, not on it 😉