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Recent events around the Central Diocese

From The Sunday Dispatch: Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service in Duryea

The Duryea Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service was held on Tuesday, November 23. The host parish for this year’s service was St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church.

Each year the churches of Duryea choose a different theme for the service. This year it was decided to honor and give thanks to the emergency service personnel of the borough.

The service began with a procession consisting of personnel from the Duryea Police Department, Germania Fire Department, Excelsior Hose Company and Duryea Ambulance and Rescue, along with his honor Keith Moss, Mayor of Duryea.

The host Pastor Rev. Fr. Carmen G. Bolock welcomed everyone to the St. Mary’s Church. Participating clergy along with Fr. Carmen were from the Duryea Churches: Rev. Michael Shamboro, Pastor of Brick United Methodist Church; Rev. Fr. Charles Rokosz, Pastor Nativity of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church and Rev. Fr. Louis Kaminski, Pastor of Prince of Peace Roman Catholic Church, Old Forge. Fr. Louis was the guest homilist and spoke about how much we depend on those who protect us in our communities.

Lori Biscontini served on the ecumenical service planning committee. Mary Jayne Milkanin served as reader. Jan Cwikla was the organist. Many residents of Duryea attended the service.

Each year during the service an offering is taken up for the support of a good cause. This year the offering was divided between each of the emergency service departments of Duryea. Following the service a social hour was held in St. Mary’s Parish Hall.

From EastMeadowPatch: St. Francis Christmas Dinner Spreads Holiday Cheer: St. Francis’ congregation celebrates the holiday season

The holiday spirit was bustling in East Meadow on Sunday at the St. Francis Polish National Catholic Church. The congregation held their annual Christmas fundraiser dinner. There were approximately 80 members in attendance, making the event full and joyous.

The congregation adopts a family in need every year. St. Francis fundraises through this dinner to provide necessities for that family.

“We have three dinners a year, but this dinner is meant to fundraise for the family that we adopt,” Reverend Andrzej Koterba explained.

The evening was full of festivities. Throughout the church hall, there were smells of homemade Christmas dinner, sounds of happy chatter and children running around, excited at the thought of meeting Santa Claus.

Giving is definitely a sentiment that the church members were comfortable with. The congregation held a raffle where almost all members participated. A donation box for the adopted family was brimming with dollar bills. The church also had a “wish list tree,” a tree filled with cards on ornaments that list an item that the church needs. Churchgoers are able to pick any ornament that they want, and then they can purchase and donate that item to the church. Everyone was so willing to give generously, which contributed to the true Christmas spirit felt throughout the evening.

St. Francis also gave out Polish wafers. The wafers are used at Christmas dinner on Christmas everyone breaks off a piece of the wafer, symbolizing peace for the year to come.

The children, especially Natalie, 5, and Adam, 4, were more than happy to chat with a newcomer. They both eagerly explained what they wanted Santa Claus to bring them: a Lego jet, Batman, a glowdome and a remote control helicopter.

Before digging in to the wonderful home-cooked meal, Reverend Koterba delivered a beautiful blessing on the food.

A surprise visitor came in the middle of the raffle, ringing jingle bells and jollily greeting the children – it was Santa Claus! He gave a gift to each of the children in attendance, who were delighted to sit on his lap and smile for a lovely picture.

The night offered a sense of family and home that is rare. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and loving.

“We welcome everybody and we appreciate greatly the generosity of our congregation,” Joni Blenn, the vice president, said.

View photos of the celebration at EastMeadowPatch.

Christian Witness, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , , ,

Przygotowują kapusty (preparing cabbage)

From WGRZ-TV in Buffalo and friend Andy Golebiowski: Main Ingredient in Good Sauerkraut: Love

DELAVAN, N.Y. – Every year Steve and Diane Woloszyn invite friends and neighbors over to their house to make sauerkraut for the winter. Their homestead on Weaver Rd. serves as a gathering place for friends from Grand Island to Springville, as well as neighbors from down the road, who bring their crocks to be filled with shredded cabbage. When asked what goes into making the sauerkraut, Steve answers, “A lotta love !”

Along with love, he adds caraway seeds and carrots, according to his taste, and salt to help the cabbage ferment. The caraway seeds his father taught him to add. Adding carrots was something his friend Tony Zawadzki shared with him.

For some who come together, the making of sauerkraut is a continuation of what they learned as children from their grandparents. Tony, who lives in Cheektowaga, makes the 45 minute trek every year to lend the expertise he learned as a boy in Poland. Tony says that he alway looks for easier ways to do things. Some years he used to cut through 50 heads of cabbage for the family in one sitting with a knife. This year he came up with an idea to use a bow saw instead.

“I kiss the saw for making it easy”, jokes Tony, to which 10 year-old Eric Ward responds in all seriousness “My dad actually says ‘Don’t take the easy way out.'”

Eric was joined by his brother younger brother Ryan and little Colton. Colton digs through the huge box full of cabbage looking for leaves that he offers to those working at a long table. There Eric and Ryan’s mom Kerry and Tony Zawadzki’s wife Lottie do the cutting by hand. Kerry says she never liked sauerkraut until she tried the homemade she learned to make from Diane and Steve. Asked what she likes in her sauerkraut, she points to Diane and says “Whatever she makes.”

When the sauerkraut is done, Diane will bake it together with meats and spices to make a stew called “bigos”…

A real tribute to lived tradition and family. Great job Andy!

Art, Events, Xpost to PGF, ,

Sustaining Arts Education Through Collaboration

From the New York State Alliance for Arts Education (NYSAAE):

December 15 is the early registration deadline for the National Guild for Community Arts Education’s institute, Powerful Partnerships: Sustaining Arts Education Through Collaboration, to be presented January 18 and 19, 2011 at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.

This two-day, highly engaging hands-on workshop will explore how nonprofit arts education providers can more deeply engage their communities; gain access to a broader array of resources including expertise, credibility and funding; and increase sustainability through internal and external collaboration. The Institute is supported by the NEA, New York Community Trust and New York State Council on the Arts.

John McCann, president of Partners in Performance, is designing and facilitating the workshop. He will be joined by a faculty of experts, including Beth Vogel, the director of the Guild’s Partners in Arts Education program.

Collaborating effectively may require the acquisition of new skills and a profound shift in perspective. To take maximum advantage of this opportunity, arts education organizations are therefore encouraged to register three person teams.

After completing the institute, each team will be better able to:

  • Identify their organization’s core institutional and programmatic assets
  • Identify potential partners (other organizations, funders, advocates, etc.) with whom they can work to ‘co-create’ sustainable programs
  • Understand what is required (e.g., sharing authority, trusting others) to achieve sustainable collaborations
  • Understand common challenges to collaboration and learn methods of overcoming them
  • Capitalize on “lessons learned” through prior experiences, and
  • Develop an action plan for execution upon return home.

Each team will receive a set of tools for assessing institutional and programmatic assets, identifying prospective partners and “lessons learned,” planning collaborations, and developing an action plan.

Institute Location:

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The Joan Weill Center for Dance
405 W. 55th Street (at 9th Avenue)
New York, NY 10019

Register by December 15, 2010 and Save! You may download the Registration form [PDF]. Questions about the Institute may be directed to National Guild program manager, Jay Samios, at (212) 268-3337 ext. 12.

PNCC, , , ,

Considering in Streator, IL

I had previous written on the parish closings occurring in Streator, IL (Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria) in Another Sad Tale and More on Church Closings.

Two recent articles have appeared in MyWebTimes on the Polish National Catholic Church as a potential alternative for Streator Catholics wishing to find a Church that is both fully Catholic and democratically governed. I wish the Catholics of Streator well in their discernment process.

Having personally faced the pain of Parish closings I understand their hurt and anguish. Much can be gained from the experience of many former Roman Catholics in the Buffalo area who have formed at least two new PNCC Parishes. God works, through His grace, to bring good out of the pain and anguish we feel. Having found a wonderful spiritual home, a Church that is both fully Catholic and democratic in governance, and great personal comfort in the PNCC, I know this to be true. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

The article Independent, but traditional — Polish National Catholics practice Catholicism their way keys on the many of the issues Catholics find appealing about the PNCC:

Mike Sheridan is not alone.

The Streator Catholic is curious about the Polish National Catholic Church but does not know much about it.

Since the city’s four parishes merged to form St. Michael the Archangel Church, the Polish National has been brought up as an alternative, but no one has approached it about starting one.

Found on page 2 of the missalette in Streator church pews, the Roman Catholic church does not object to Polish National members receiving communion, but then how is it they are not affiliated with the pope or the Vatican?

Although completely independent of Rome, the church is representative of the first 1,000 years of the Roman Catholic Church, according to the Rev. Anthony Kopka, bishop of the PNCC’s Western Diocese in Chicago.

“That’s the best way to describe it,”Kopka said. “We are a Catholic church, there is apostolic succession, but we have honored no dogmas since 1054.”

Disgruntled with the structure of power in the Roman Catholic church, the PNCC broke away in 1897 to give Polish immigrants their own Catholic church to worship. At the time, there was concern Irish and German immigrants controlled too much power in the church.

Originally Polish, all ethnicites are welcome today. The church boasts more than 25,000 members nationally with 30 parishes in its Western Diocese alone. There are eight parishes in Illinois, with six in the Chicago area and one in suburban St. Louis. The closest is Holy Trinity Church in Kewanee.

Since its independence, theological and governmental differences were drawn.

The PNCC rejected the idea of papal infallibility, which meant the pope is preserved from the possibility of error when he solemnly declares a dogmatic teaching on faith.

“We believe no one is infallable in their teaching,” Prime Bishop Anthony Mikovski told The Times.

The church created its own structure of power with an emphasis on the parishioner.

Unlike the Roman Catholic church, members control the fate of their own parish. A committee of at least nine members is voted on by parishioners once a year. This committee controls the finances of the church and determines whether their parish needs to be closed.

The parish also elects a senator to represent it at the general synod. This is conducted every four years to discuss church matters and law.

A priest is appointed to a parish from the bishop of its diocese. The committee can then vote to accept or reject the appointment. Committee members also can hire or fire priests.

The priest serves as the parish’s spiritual leader and financial adviser. He makes no final decisions on the finances of the church.

“It’s up to us if we stay open,” said Resurrection Polish National Catholic Church parishioner Chris Cremean. “A church closes only if it runs out of money.”

…

In 1993, the Vatican’s Council for Promoting Christian Unity stated that PNCC members in the United States and Canada can receive Roman Catholic Communion and other sacraments, and the PNCC issued parallel guidelines in 1998.

…

Only time will tell if it is a viable option for alienated Streator Catholics.

Cremean said he likes the idea of having married priests that can relate to family life and enjoys the traditionalism practiced within the church.

“I feel like Ihave a parish I can call home for my family.”

The experience of parishioners from Toledo was highlighted in Polish National — Is it the answer for Streator Catholics?

Chris Cremean was once a “Roamin’ Catholic.”

His home parish in Toledo, Ohio closed in 2005 and he felt abandoned like many in Streator.

“I started to search for where my family would end up,” said the former St. Jude parishioner, noting there were at least 40 others like him. “We were looking for something traditionally Catholic and something that was ours — that our parish could say we owned.”

He had never heard of the Polish National Catholic Church in his hours of study on the issue, but it would provide him with his answer. An answer he suggests to the others he refers to as “Roamin’ Catholics.”

“It’s not for everyone, there are a few differences (from the Roman Catholic church),” Cremean said. “It’s an option that caters most to those who want a say in their own parish. Parishioners control their own parish.”

Groups like Save the Catholic Parishes in Streator wished they had more say in the merging of their four parishes into St. Michael the Archangel.

A handful of St. Jude parishioners found a Polish National church on a trip to Hamtramck, Mich. Impressed by its hospitality, the group discovered a small church with apostolic succession and no attachment to the diocese that closed them. In 1897, Pope Leo XIII recognized the Polish National as a Catholic church.

Within three years, St. Jude parishioners had their own parish in a Toledo suburb called Resurrection Polish National Catholic Church.

“We found our home,” Cremean said. “You don’t have to be Polish to start a parish.”

…

Like in Streator, when the Catholic Diocese of Toledo closed 17 parishes, it was met with disagreement. Cremean’s home parish St. Jude filed two rounds of appeals to Rome to save their parish.

The Polish National Catholic Church has its own dioceses, but the dioceses cannot close a parish; that must be done by a board of parishioners.

The Rev. Anthony Kopka, bishop of the Western Diocese in Chicago, said no one in Streator has expressed an interest in starting a Polish National Catholic Church.

“I think a lot of people would be interested in finding out more about (the PNCC),” said St. Anthony parishioner Mike Sheridan. “I feel so many are still alienated. Some are still sad and some are very angry. People have thrown it out as an option, but I just don’t know.”

Kopka said anyone interested in starting a parish in Streator would have to contact him and then he would send out the Rev. Jaroslaw Rafalko from Holy Trinity Parish in Kewanee — about 75 miles west of Streator.

About 20 parishioners are all that is needed for a charter, said Cremean. Resurrection had 40 members to start and the priest from Hamtramck conducted Mass. Services were conducted at rented halls and churches until a combination of fundraisers and a loan from the PNCC provided a new building in 2008…

Christian Witness, PNCC, ,

PNCC Jubilarians — God bless you and many years!

May God bless the hard working priests, senior priests, and bishops of the PNCC, and in particular the Rt. Rev. Anthony Rysz, Very Rev. Fryderyk Banas, and Rev. John P. Kowalczyk, Jr. who celebrated anniversaries of their ordination to the Holy Priesthood over the past few months. Szczęść Boże i Sto Lat!

Rt. Rev. Anthony M. Rysz

Bishop Anthony Rysz, born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania is the son of the late Aniela (Szmyd) Rysz and the late Joseph Rysz. He was educated in local schools and attended the University of Scranton. During the Second World War he served with the Fifth Amphibious Force of the Pacific Theater with the United States Navy.

Long involved in the activities of the Polish National Catholic Church, his calling prompted him to enter the Savonarola Theological Seminary of the P.N.C.C. During his seminary days he taught Polish language to the students at the Cathedral schools located in a number of locations in the vicinity of Scranton. He was ordained to the priesthood on October 19, 1950 by the Rt. Rev. John Misiaszek in St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Cathedral. He served as the assistant pastor of the Cathedral and secretary to Prime Bishop Francis Hodur.

In February 1954 he was assigned to the pastorate of Holy Mother of Sorrows Parish in Dupont, PA. During his time in Dupont, Father Rysz served as chaplain to the United Y.M.S. of R. and United Girls Sodalities. On November 11, 1964 he was elevated to the rank of Senior Priest by Prime Bishop Leon Grochowski, and he served as the Administrative Senior of the Scranton Seniorate. At the 12th General Synod held in Manchester, NH in October 1967, Fr. Sr. Anthony Rysz was elected to the office of bishop. In February 1968, he assumed the pastorate of St. Stanislaus Cathedral Parish and was raised to the episcopate on June 26, 1968 and appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the Central Diocese. He held this position until assuming the responsibilities of Bishop Ordinary upon the death of Prime Bishop Leon Grochowski in July of 1969.

He has served on various commissions of the Church, including the United Polish School Societies, the National Commission for the School of Christian Living, the Bishop Hodur History and Archives Commission and the Board of Trustees of Savonarola Theological Seminary. He also lectured on Church History in Savonarola Theological Seminary. He oversaw St. Stanislaus Elementary School as well as fulfilling the pastoral obligations of the largest parish in the P.N.C.C. He was the personal secretary to the First Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church, Bishop Francis Hodur, as well as his successor, Prime Bishop Leon Grochowski. He was secretary to the General Synods held in 1954, 1958, 1963, 1967 and 1971.

As an ardent supporter of God’s Field, the official organ of the Church, Bishop Rysz served as editor from 1969 to 1999 and was a frequent writer.

Bishop Rysz made many trips to Poland. From 1959 to 1966, he spent many months as the consignee for Aid to Poland, under the American-Polish National Relief Program. Later, he worked in building the Bishop Hodur Memorial Church in Zarki, Poland. Bishop Rysz attended the Congresses of the Old Catholic Church in Europe and was a frequent participant in the lnternational Bishop Conferences of the Union of Utrecht. Until his retirement he was active as co-chairman of the Polish National Catholic – Roman Catholic Dialogue.

Bishop Rysz retired from the pastorate of St. Stanislaus Cathedral and as Bishop Ordinary of the Central Diocese in 1999 to Old Forge, PA. At the present time Bishop Rysz serves as pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Nanticoke, PA.

Bishop Anthony Rysz is married to the former Marie V. Bednash.

Very Rev. Fryderyk S. Banas

Father Senior Fryderyk S. Banas son of the late Stanislaw Banas and the late Waleria (Szczepanek) Banas was born in Chicopee, Massachusetts and attended Holy Mother of the Rosary Parish there. After his education in local schools he took up his calling and enrolled in Savonarola Theological Seminary in Scranton, PA. He was ordained to the priesthood on October 19, 1950 by Rt. Rev. John Misiaszek, Bishop Ordinary of the Central Diocese.

After ordination, Fr. Banas was assigned as assistant pastor of Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral in Buffalo, NY and the administrator of Holy Trinity Parish in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

In August 1953 he was assigned as interim pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Hazleton, PA and administrator of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in McAdoo, PA. He was transferred to St. Adalbert’s Parish in Dickson City, PA in September 1953. From January 1957 he also served as administrator of Holy Trinity Parish in Throop, PA. While in Dickson City he was elevated to the rank of Senior Priest on August 5, 1964 by Prime Bishop Leon Grochowski. During the time of his pastorate in Dickson City, St. Adalbert’s Parish was renovated with many improvements and cemetery lands were purchased. Holy Trinity Parish in Throop, PA was also remodeled following a fire in 1959.

Fr. Sr. Banas served as chaplain to the Central Diocese United Choirs, recording secretary of the Central Diocesan Clergy Conference, a member of the Central Committee of the United Polish National Schools Societies and a director on the board for the Home for the Aged and Disabled (the Manor at Waymart). He was and still is active in the life of the Polish National Union. Fr. Sr. Banas also lectured in Moral Theology at Savonarola Theological Seminary.

Fr. Sr. Banas journeyed to Poland in 1959 as the first delegate for the American-Polish National Relief for Poland to sign agreements between this humanitarian organization and the Polish government. He also accompanied Prime Bishop Leon Grochowski on his last missionary trip to Poland in 1969.

On May 1, 1977 Fr. Sr. Banas was assigned as pastor of Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral in Buffalo, NY and served as Administrator of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese.

In February of 1979 Fr. Sr. Banas transferred to the Eastern Diocese where he served as pastor of Blessed Virgin Mary Parish to May 1989. He presently serves as pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Ware, MA.

Fr. Sr. Banas has been and continues to be an avid supporter of God’s Field having written articles for the official organ of the Church for many years.

Rev. John P. Kowalczyk, Jr.

Rev. Kowalczyk is the pastor of St. Michael The Archangel National Catholic Church commemorated his 25th Anniversary of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood of the Polish National Catholic Church on December 4, 2010.

A Holy Mass of Thanksgiving was offered at the interim worship location for St. Michael The Archangel Parish in the Great Oaks Banquet Center, lower level, located at 13109 Wicker Avenue, Cedar Lake, Indiana. Following Mass, a banquet honoring Rev. Kowalczyk was held at the same location, upstairs in the banquet hall.

Joining with Rev. Kowalczyk at Holy Mass was the Most Rev. John F. Swantek, Prime Bishop Emeritus of the Polish National Catholic Church, as well as the Rt. Reverend Anthony D. Kopka, Bishop Ordinary of the Western Diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church, as well as other Clergy and Ecumenical Guests.

Rev. Kowalczyk was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on December 11, 1985 at St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Cathedral of the Polish National Catholic Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Father Kowalczyk had served in parishes in New York prior to his transfer to St. Michael’s Cedar Lake, formerly East Chicago, in June 2000. In December of 2003, under the leadership of Fr. Kowalczyk, the members of St. Michael The Archangel voted and approved the relocation of their parish to Cedar Lake, Indiana. Currently, construction of the new St. Michael church is underway with a completion estimate of Spring 2011. Father Kowalczyk currently serves as the Chaplain of the Cedar Lake Fire Department, as well as the Chaplain for Cedar Lake and East Chicago Police Departments.

Christian Witness, Saints and Martyrs, , , ,

St. Nicholas Wonderworker

Icon - St. Nicholas, by Minguez Sagrario, private collection, Madrid, Spain

Nicholas lived in the third and fourth century in Asia Minor. Born the only son of pious parents, as a young priest he distributed the entire estate of his parents to the poor. The faithful chose him bishop of the city of Myra. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker. He is the patron of sailors and travelers, as well as girls wishing to be married. St. Nicholas is also considered an advocate of people who have been wronged by fate.

HYMN OF PRAISE: Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia

Holy Father Nicholas,
The four corners of the world glorify you
As a knight of the powerful Faith,
The Faith of God, the true Faith.

From the cradle he was devoted to God,
From the cradle until the end;
And God glorified him-
His faithful Nicholas.

Famous was he throughout his life,
And even more renowned after death;
Mighty on earth was he,
And even more mighty is he in heaven.

Glowing spirit, pure heart,
He was a temple of the Living God;
For this the people glorify him
As a wondrous saint.

Nicholas, rich in glory,
Loves those who honor him as their “Krsna Slava”;
Before the throne of the eternal God,
He prays for their good.

O Nicholas, bless us,
Bless your people
Who, before God and before you,
Humbly stand in prayer.

Homilies,

Second Sunday of Advent


First reading: Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm: Ps 72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17
Epistle: Romans 15:4-9
Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to think in harmony with one another

Harmony by Law:

In 1992 the government of Singapore enacted the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. This Act gives the government the right to decide when a religionist is speaking in a way that is contrary to religious harmony; and the power to censor or censure such persons.  That religionist, so censured, has no recourse to the court. The Act says:

(1) The Minister may make a restraining order against any priest, monk, pastor, imam, elder, office-bearer or any other person who is in a position of authority in any religious group or institution or any member thereof for the purposes specified in subsection (2) where the Minister is satisfied that that person has committed or is attempting to commit any of the following acts:

(a) causing feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different religious groups;
(b) carrying out activities to promote a political cause, or a cause of any political party while, or under the guise of, propagating or practicing any religious belief;
(c) carrying out subversive activities under the guise of propagating or practicing any religious belief; or
(d) exciting disaffection against the President or the Government while, or under the guise of, propagating or practicing any religious belief.

Our first reaction as citizens of the United States is to say this is wrong, it denies freedom of speech and religion. We view such laws as intimidating. Here are some of the penalties for violating the Act:

(1) Any person who contravenes any provision of an order made under this Part shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent offense, to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.

Hearing this we fear that religious people, priests, ministers, rabbis, and imams will be silenced. We fear that we will not be able to speak out as we feel we should.

Perhaps this law is right in promoting harmony, more right than some Christians may be. We might take this opportunity to consider whether this law is teaching us an important lesson we have somehow missed.

The Church in Rome:

In Romans 14-15 Paul is writing to the Church, discussing the necessity of harmony and peace within the community. The Church in Rome was made up of Gentiles and Jewish converts. They all had their take on how things should be run. Paul exhorts them to live in peace with each other, refraining from judgment, and living their faith. He is telling them and us that we must live in peace with our co-religionists; that we must build each other up and encourage a strong and unified faith in Christ amidst disagreement and differences in practice. Listen again to what he says:

May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to think in harmony with one another, 
that with one accord you may with one voice 
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, 
for the glory of God.

That sounds exactly like an exhortation to harmony within the Christian community. Be in harmony, of accord and one voice in glorifying God, and welcome each other.

Paul tells us that Christians are not exactly alike. We are not a worldly army, were everyone looks and acts the same, but the army of God which is an army of harmony. We proclaim Christ, even among some diversity. Christians are not exactly alike, but we are required to be Christian in our witness to the world.

Even the Prophets:

When we look at the prophets we often think of strong, forceful messages that foretell the doom of Israel for its disobedience. Today Isaiah proclaims a message of harmony.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain


Isaiah’s vision, particularly in Isaiah 11, is one in which the coming Messiah will reign in a kingdom of perfect peace — in harmony. Man and nature will live in harmony. Nations will be brought together in harmony. God will be praised in harmonious voice.

What are we asked?

When we look at Jesus’ teachings we recognize His call to holiness and a right way of life. He did not shy away from calling people on hypocrisy and wrongdoing. We can point to countless examples where Jesus spoke to the sinner about their sin. He didn’t speak to the rest of the world about their sin. Recall that when the prostitute who was to be stoned was brought to Him He did not stand there enumerating her sins and how she had broken the law. He kept is simple, and private:

…only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Yes, leave your life of sin, do right not wrong. I do not condemn you, I free you from your sinful life. Jesus did not seek confrontation. We know that confrontation came to Him, chiefly from the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes. They got in His face, but He consistently answered them in a way that would have caused them to reflect inwardly; to reflect on their life and whether they held God, or their power, more sacred.

We are asked to proclaim the truth in the same way. Sacred Scripture and the Fathers teach us to practice witness that is both effective and non-offensive.  The Bible teaches non-offensive witness because it is effective. This is the better and more powerful way given to us, to witness to Christ and His Holy Church from a community in harmony, without condemnation, but with the message of the freedom and harmony found in Jesus Christ. Our world so needs that message, particularly in this season.

Examples of harmony and truth:

How should we speak in harmony and without conflict? Saint Paul gives us from his engagement with other religions and the Roman imperial administration. He used words that conveyed absolute truth without being offensive.

When Paul went to Athens he stood up in the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-31) and told the people, who had built idols and altars of every sort:

I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

In saying that the Athenians were extremely religious Paul used the Greek term for “God fearing.” He indicated his respect for their accomplishment, knowledge, and religious attitude, and particularly that they were “God fearing.” He did not curse their gods or their altars. He didn’t say that they were stupid or ignorant, or foolish, or going to hell. He took what was positive and directed it toward their finding the one true God.

When Paul was called before the court of King Agrippa and Bernice (Acts 26:23-29) as part of his trial before Festus the Roman official he only focused on one thing.

Now a fact, Bernice was not Agrippa’s wife, but she was his queen. She was his sister and they lived in every way as a married couple. Prior to taking up with her brother, Bernice lived with General Titus who later became emperor of Rome.

Was Paul’s one focus on condemning Agrippa and Bernice, on cursing Rome, Generals, armies, or bad morality? No, this is what happened:

Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”   And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am…”

Paul’s one focus was on bringing Agrippa and all in his court to Christ. He brought the good news of forgiveness of sin to people high and low.  Paul saw all people as in need of the redemption provided in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Paul was not awed by Agrippa as king and was not repulsed by Agrippa and Bernice as perverts.

These are just a few examples of the way Paul gave effective and non-offensive witness for Christ and His Church. These are examples we can use and apply; which depend on harmony.

Our Advent Path:

The great Forerunner, Saint John the Baptist, reminds us of what we are called to do. He reminds us that this is a time of repentance. Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repentance calls us to have a change of heart and to make a new start. Today’s gospel reminds us that Saint John gave it to the Pharisees and Sadducees who showed up for baptism with out having a change of heart. John wasn’t known for his sense of harmony I expect, but pause to think of all who came with repentant hearts, who he baptized without criticism or condemnation…as they acknowledged their sins.

Next week we will come here to acknowledge our sins, to repent, make a new start, and face the coming of Christ with changed hearts. In doing that let us regain the harmony we need as Christians so that we may make effective and non-offensive witness for Christ.

Our choice:

Paul strove to be effective in proclaiming the Gospel to all. He did not give offense to other religions; and limited his interaction with political leaders to the most important task at hand, that they would enjoy the redemption found in Christ.  Because of that, Paul’s ministry and witness was effective and inoffensive.

We sin when we take pride in efforts that show how right we are with Christ and how wrong everyone else may be, when we want conversion by force of will, and sometimes even by the sword.

We can go to politicians offices and recount every wrong vote, every bad act, every appearance of impropriety, But wouldn’t it be better if we simply went and told them how Jesus wiped our sin away, how He gave us eternal life, and how their call to public service is the real way in which Christ is already active in their lives?

We can go to war over wrongs, country against country, family against family, neighbor against neighbor. We can write Facebook posts about how wrong the next person is, but wouldn’t it be better if we simply went and told them how Jesus wiped our sin away, how He gave us eternal life, how that particular thing they do in their lives is the real way in which Christ is already active in them?

We will never bring people to Jesus by court conflicts and protests, by enumerating the sins of others, or by war, but through harmonious lives committed to teaching in a ways that are effective and inoffensive, that are focused on our objective.

If we cannot do what we are called to do, if we cannot live as Christians, if we cannot live in harmony, holding true witness without being offensive, then we may end up with civil laws focused on some social norm of conflict avoidance, and the disdain of the world. We should rightly fear the power of government to have absolute say over religion and moreover fear for lost souls.

As Christians we must refocus on calling the world’s attention to the birth of Christ. Like the early Christians, our objective is to share the good news; and to do so in a way that is harmonious – effective and inoffensive.

Let us do whatever is necessary to bring harmony among God’s people and to bring knowledge of God’s forgiveness of sin: His promise of everlasting life to all. Amen.

A special thanks to Peter Eng from Grace For The Day and his post: Does Religious Harmony Affect Our Witness? which, with the Scripture of the day, inspired this homily.

Poland - Polish - Polonia, Saints and Martyrs, ,

St. Barbara’s Day

St. Barbara Day (Barbórka)Credit for this article to Barbórka, Miners’ Day (St. Barbara Day), December 4th at PolishSite is celebrated by miners across Poland on her commemoration, December 4th. St. Barbara is a patron of coal miners.

Miners dress in special uniforms during Barbórka. The uniform consists of black suit and hat with a feather. The color of the feather (white, red or black) depends on the rank of the miner. Miners wear their decorative uniforms not only during Barborka but also for weddings, funerals and other important political or social ceremonies.

Photo courtesy of Interia

Barbórka is celebrated with Miners’ Balls. Miners from coal-mines of Silesia and Zaglebie do not work underground during this day but participate in festivities. A big Ball takes place each year in Kraków’s University of Mining and Metallurgy (AGH).

Barbórka is celebrated not only in Poland but also in other countries of the region with strong mining tradition like in Germany and in Czech Republic. In Germany the celebration is called “Barbarafeier”.

St. Barbara is not only a patron of coal-miners but also a patron of geologists, mathematicians and many others professions. Her patronage is linked with the fact that according to the legend she was imprisoned in a tall tower. Her imprisonment led to association with variety of construction professions. Her festivities take place in geological institutes and universities of Germany and Austria. St. Barbara is also connected strongly with the Orthodox Church’s tradition.

To prevent accidents miners used to build chapels devoted to their patron, St. Barbara. St. Barbara is also a very celebrated nameday in Poland because Barbara is a popular feminine name.

We had in Poland over hundred mines! Besides black and brown coal also copper and silver are excavated and also salt. But salt miners have their own patron, St. Kinga. St. Kinga’s feast is on July 24th.

Christian Witness, PNCC

Recent PNCC Press

From the Citizens Voice: Growth, ethnic conflict plagued Hoban’s time as head of diocese

At 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9, 1921, more than a thousand Catholics packed St. Peter’s Cathedral to celebrate the Jubilee anniversary of Bishop Michael J. Hoban, who presided over the Diocese of Scranton. It was a well-deserved honor.

Hoban’s tenure was marked by both tremendous growth and ethnic conflict. The Diocese of Scranton, founded in 1868 when the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was officially divided, comprised the 11 counties of Northeastern Pennsylvania and represented Catholics from nearly every country in Eastern and Western Europe.

While Hoban presided over the dramatic growth of parishes and the quality of parochial education in the diocese, he was also subject to a series of lawsuits brought against him by dissident parishioners in both Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. These conflicts resulted in the creation of the Polish National Catholic Church, but without Hoban’s wisdom, mediation and humility, the schism would have reached even greater proportions…

This is a well meaning article that takes a positive view of Bishop Hoban while acknowledging that he acted behind the scenes to push the aging and feeble Bishop O’Hara to excommunicate then Fr. Hodur and those who were seeking redress of their grievances.

Certainly lessons learned. I would also wonder how much wisdom, mediation and humility played a role over damage control. It is well acknowledged that the American Roman Catholic hierarchy and Rome did not take serious action to meet the needs of Polish immigrants until after the Polish National schism presented a serious challenge.

From CNS via the Catholic Sentinel: God’s dream is for people of faith to be united, says archbishop

New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond urged delegates attending an ecumenical conference to embrace a longing toward unity.

“God’s dream for us is to be a united people, and we must pursue it … and pledge together to do this,” he said.

He made the comments at a prayer service at St. Louis Cathedral that opened the 2010 Centennial Ecumenical Gathering of the National Council of Churches in Christ, which had as its theme “Witnesses of These Things: Ecumenical Engagement in a New Era.”

The Nov. 9-11 conference drew more than 400 Catholics, Baptists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Mennonites, Unitarian Universalists, Orthodox and those of other faiths.

It marked the 100th anniversary of the 1910 World Mission Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, an event many church historians regard as the beginning of the modern ecumenical movement.

The prayer service included a review of the gathering from its humble beginnings, but along with the history was conveyed the sentiment that while celebration was warranted for the strides toward Christian unity over the past century, the failure to fully receive God’s gift of unity remains challenging and lamentable.

In his remarks, Archbishop Aymond told the attendees that the choice of New Orleans for their gathering was appropriate because it is a city of people of faith.

…

Archbishop Aymond suggested that as a unified body “and as a Christian church, we must help our world, our country, our society realize that there are strangers among us, but as Christians we must create a true unity.”

He said even as Christians, sometimes we struggle to see the face of Christ in those who are different, the strangers among us. But Christ seeks unity in the diversity.

“We must show the rest of society that it is possible for us to be united,” Archbishop Aymond said. “We come here to ask God’s strength because more has to be done. … If we, as a (national) council of churches (of Christ in the U.S.) …. don’t take the lead, who will?'”

The gathering offered many opportunities for people of different faiths to explore ways in which they could find common ground.

“We come together as a church and speak with a common voice to a lot of the issues facing our society and world,” said Father Robert Nemkovich Jr., a delegate from Fall River, Mass., representing the Polish National Catholic Church.

Those participating explored a diversity of issues facing the church and world today including social justice, interfaith issues, race and ethnicity, the need to engage young adults, and Muslim and Jewish relationships.

Speakers and preachers ran the gamut from the Rev. Lois M. Wilson of the United Church of Canada; the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches; Rabbi Steve Gutow, president of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs; Sayyid Syeed, national director of the Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances for the Islamic Society of North America; and Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios also led a Bible study.

…

The hope is “we can do something together whether as Christians or believers,” Father Anthony MikovskyActually, Prime Bishop Anthony Mikovsky of the Polish National Catholic Church. of Scranton, Pa., said. “It’s part of discernment, to see what we can do together.”

From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Stowe – Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church, 200 Grace St., Mc Kees Rocks, PA will host a concert by “One Voice” at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 5th. A freewill offering will be taken and a reception will follow. Information: 412-760-4558.

Poland - Polish - Polonia, Xpost to PGF,

Ś+P Roy Zurkowski

Exercise and Health Had His Star Shine In Hollywood: Also owned the trendy NYC Vertical Club
By Raymond Rolak

Photo courtesy of the family
BLOOMFIELD HILLS– He had a spectacular business model and it took him amongst the glamorous of Hollywood. Roy Zurkowski took his hobby to a success level that he never imagined was possible. The Chicago native passed recently and had turned 81 on October 10, 2010.

His marketing model was to use Hollywood spokespersons that were just on the edge of super-stardom. Some of the celebrities that he convinced to promote Vic Tanny’s on national television included Cher, Lynda Carter, and Farrah Fawcett. He also signed Raquel Welch, Victoria Principal and Arnold Schwarzenegger to market the health clubs. “I would sign them before they went galactic, I couldn’t afford them later,” Zurkowski had said. All went super-nova and all fulfilled their contracts.

Schwarzenegger, now the Governor of California said, “Roy was a great fitness leader, a great entrepreneur, and a fantastic friend. We had a wonderful friendship and Maria and I were sad to hear of his passing.”

Zurkowski was also a champion body-builder and won the Mr. Chicago and Mr. Illinois titles in 1953. When Vic Tanny, an early pioneer of New York health club franchises over-extended his expansion, Zurkowski and two partners bought the company.

Roy moved to Detroit in the 1960’s and kept the Vic Tanny brand and renamed the Illinois facilities as the Chicago Health Clubs. This became the nation’s largest health and fitness operation with more than 380 locations. Roy later formed a holding company called the Health and Tennis Corporation of America. He and partner Donohue Wildman also took over the Jack LaLanne clubs and the popular New York celebrity destination, the Vertical Club.

In 1983, the partnership sold to the Bally Entertainment Corporation for 72.4 million. Through 1987 there were contingencies for another 56.3 million, based on company performances. Both Wildman and Zurkowski stayed on as executives for a million plus per year, and they exceeded goals for the parent Bally Entertainment. By 1984, all the clubs became Bally’s Total Fitness.

After giving discounts to new club members and creating another wave of cash flow, expansion renewed. Bally’s acquired American Fitness Centers and Nautilus Fitness Centers.

Former Detroit Lion star, Mike Lucci, who was President of Bally’s said, “Roy was a dream to work with and after we acquired Lifecyle, (an exercise bike manufacturer), we got back into celebrity marketing.” Bally’s marketed a promotion featuring the slogan “Turn on Your Life” with television’s Terri Hatcher. She at the time was starring in the hit show ‘Lois and Clark’. She became another Hollywood ‘A’-lister that went super-nova after an inspired merchandising campaign.

A world traveler, he kept his mansion in Bloomfield Hills and after retirement in 1990, split his time in Florida at a luxury condo.
Roy served on several charitable boards including ‘Best Buddies’ in Washington, D.C., the National Special Olympics, the Detroit Institute of Arts, The Beaumont Foundation, and the Michigan Cancer Foundation.

He valued education along with fitness and donated exercise equipment to various institutions throughout the country. Zurkowski was a supporter at the former Orchard Lake St. Mary’s College and had special friendships with Walter Ziemba and former celebrity TV-Chef, ‘Duglass-Duglass’ Grech.

Zurkowski always tan and fit was adamant about his own workouts. “The atmosphere of a club should make you want to exercise,” he had said. He stressed the ambiance of a workout facility. “It should be, 90% environment and enthusiasm and 10% equipment,” he relayed in a People Magazine article about celebrities and their fitness regiments. “Changing up routines is the key.”

Longtime secretary, Janice Broniak said, “Roy was blessed to have great friends and caregivers and Rick Murphy was such a devoted friend.”

Zurkowski, also an army veteran is survived by former wife Lucia, a sister, Patricia, and a brother, Dan. A memorial was held at St. Thomas More Parish, Troy, Michigan.

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