Day: July 28, 2013

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Pastor Installed At Saint John’s, Manchester, CT

Father Smolinski enters the santuary, followed by Very Rev. Joseph Krusienski, who installed him as Pastor of Saint John's. (Eugene Kulas / June 22, 2013)
Father Smolinski enters the santuary, followed by Very Rev. Joseph Krusienski, who installed him as Pastor of Saint John’s. (Eugene Kulas / June 22, 2013)
Father Henry Smolinski, formerly administrator of the Polish National Catholic Church of St. John the Baptizer, 23 Golway St., Manchester, Connecticut was installed as the parish’s Pastor on Saturday, June 22. Father Henry was installed by the Very Rev. Joseph Krusienski, Administrative Senior of the Southwest Seniorate of the Eastern Diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) and pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Plantsville, Connecticut.

Clergy present for the installation and Holy Mass included the Rt. Rev. Paul Sobiechowski Bishop Ordinary of the Eastern Diocese, Very Rev. Fryderyk Banas (Holy Cross Parish, Ware, MA), Rev. Dr. Z. Stanley Kaszubski (Pastor Emeritus of St. John’s and currently serving Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, New London, CT), Rev. Michael Gitner (St. Joseph’s Parish, Stratford, CT), and Rev. Adam Czarnecki (St. Valentine’s Parish, Northampton, MA). Several ecumenical guests from the area also attended including Rev. Michael Donnelly, of Compassionate Ministries in Andover, CT and Rev. Leo McIlrath, Chaplain of the Lutheran Rehabilitation Center in Sandy Hook, CT.

Saint John’s church was founded in 1928, and primarily served Polish immigrants. Today the church is is a reflection of our diverse community. Holy Mass is held at 9am each Sunday. All are welcome.

Christian Witness, PNCC, , , ,

Holy Cross Church Breaks Ground

From the Daily American – Johnstown: Members of the Holy Cross Church broke ground on the 5-acre site of the new church.

As a hand-made, wooden cross leaned against a maroon truck, the Rev. Paul Zomerfeld, Bishop John E. Mack and committee chairwoman Pam Crum Fish dug shovels into hard, rocky soil.

Holy Cross GroundbreakingAt the groundbreaking ceremony July 13, Zomerfeld and Mack blessed the new site of the Holy Cross National Catholic Church. The church is being relocated from 534 Woodland Ave. in Moxham to Richland Township.

On the 5-acre property along Mount Airy Drive, members of the church sat in the sun as Mack sprinkled Holy Water in the dirt. The members plan to construct a social hall, rectory and church. The social hall will serve as an event building and church service hall until the new church is constructed.

Through further festivals and fundraisers, the members plan to build savings to pay for their long-term plan.

During the ceremony, Mack said in a sermon that the road of construction ahead will be difficult, but it is all in God’s plan.

Zomerfeld, the church’s pastor, prayed that God will bless the members and the church for the months and years to come.

The project is being funded by Indiana First Bank and contracted by Wes Kestermont of Laurel Mountain Structures. “Here our church will be erected to the glory of God and the continued protection of the blessed Virgin Mary, under the patronage of our Lord’s Holy Cross,” Zomerfeld said.