I was informed of the passing into eternal life of friend, mentor, guide, an personal hero, Ś+P Mr. Walter Lasinski, yesterday evening.

Ś.P. Mr. Lasinski was a prominent PNCC historian, contributor to PNCC Studies, author, researcher, member of the Polish American Historical Association and recipient of its 1991 Distinguished Service Award, as well as a member of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America. He was also an avid lover of music and contributed to the work of the Polish Music Reference Center at the University of Southern California.

The first time I met Ś.P. Mr. Lasinski, and his wife Florence, was at PolishFest when I was assigned to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Częstochowa Parish in Latham, New York. He walked in, resolute, and told me that he had made the trip to meet me. Needless to say, I didn’t get it.

He went on to explain that he was a big advocate of this blog and of what I was doing to advance knowledge of the PNCC. The next thing he told me was that he was proud to reply, when asked, Kto jesteś? “Narodowiec!” Who are you? “[A] National!” With a few words he captivated me, helping me to understand what I was a part of. It was not just church, but Church in its fullest sense, a community of believers joined in every aspect of their lives, and joined with history.

Beyond his work in the PNCC, Ś.P. Mr. Lasinski contributed greatly to Polonia. He understood our ethnic community as only a historian could. He saw the deep connection the PNCC holds with the Orthodox, being a subscriber to the events and activities at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in Crestwood, New York, frequently encouraging me to “go there.” His research led him down many interesting paths, particularly to the out of the ordinary threads in Polonian history – the Polish Methodists of Greenpoint, Polish Baptists in Buffalo, the lesser known closed parishes of the PNCC, the kind of things lost to history but for fine researchers like himself.

I am deeply saddened by this loss, but with faith know that Ś.P. Walter is now standing with Ś.P. Bishop Hodur, looking down over the children of the PNCC, as we continue to work and struggle always in truth. The victory is now his.

A wake will be held at Fryczynski & Sons Funeral Home, 32-34 22nd Street, Bayonne, NJ 07002 on Tuesday, June 1st from 2-4 pm & 7-9 pm

A Funeral Holy Mass will be held at Sacred Heart of Jesus PNCC, 290 Avenue E, Bayonne, NJ 07002 on Wednesday, June 2nd at 10am. Internment at Heart of Jesus Cemetery immediately following Holy Mass.

I beg of you, my readers, your prayers for Ś.P. Walter’s eternal rest, and for comfort for his wife, sons, larger family, friends, and colleagues.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon him.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon him.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

Wieczne odpoczynek racz mu dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj mu świeci.
Wieczne odpoczynek racz mu dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj mu świeci.
Wieczne odpoczynek racz mu dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj mu świeci.
Niech odpoczywa w pokoju, Amen.