Tag: Albany

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, Political, , , , , ,

Labor-Religion Coalition Announces Moral Mondays

Throughout the month of March, clergy, community, and labor allies will come together to call for a faithful New York State budget that values every member of society, prioritizes the common good, and lifts the burdens of poverty. Our many faiths call us to reject tax breaks for the wealthy and demand a budget that serves the people.

screenshotIn Albany- March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 12 PM – Gather at the War Room on the 2nd floor of the NYS Capitol for a vigil led by clergy and faith leaders as well as those directly impacted by cuts to education and the social safety net as well as reductions in wage theft enforcement. More details at the Coalition’s Facebook page here.

In NYC – March 3, 10, 17, 24 at 11 AM – Gather in silence at the lobby of the Millenium UN Plaza Hotel, 44th St. and First Ave, proceed to the governor’s office at to protest and to pray.

Additional events are shaping up for Binghamton, Rochester and other New York cities starting March 10th. For more information or for help setting up a Moral Monday event near you, please contact Joy Perkett.

Christian Witness, Homilies, , , ,

Reflection for Back to Church Sunday

A place for you

Welcome to
Church

Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.

Welcome! We are happy that you joined us on Back to Church Sunday! Whether you attend church on a regular basis or accepted an invitation from a family member or friend today, we hope that you will feel comfortable and enjoy spending this day with us.

Many of us have perceptions about church that make us wonder, “Is this the place for me? Will I fit in? Why does church make a difference? Who is Jesus?” You may want to learn more about who God is and what He has to say about your life. Others of you may have been involved in a church at one time, but for a variety of reasons stopped attending; now you feel it’s time to reconnect with God and others like you. And still others of you may already be involved in church and want to grow deeper in your relationship with God and as part of this community.

Wherever you are in your spiritual journey and whatever your connection to your local church, we would like you to know we care about you and the things that concern you. Our hope is to come alongside you and share what God says in Scripture—most importantly that He loves and cares for you deeply.

St. Paul gives us a telling example of the greatness and generosity of God’s love. Paul was a sinner struggling to do right – as he perceived it. On the road to Damascus he encountered the overwhelming light of Jesus’ love. He was commissioned to do right as God sees right.

In recalling all that, he hopes that we will see how much we are offered. Church helps to bring us into relationship with Jesus. We experience His patience, kindness, and forgiveness. We find God’s way of living life – a life without end. We find community in which we encourage each other and do good for the wider community – not just because, but because we have a hope that goes beyond the here and now. We live a compelling over-arching story. It is God’s story and we fit into it; it supports our lives.

We pray that you will be encouraged after you hear today’s message and walk away inspired to become part of Church, part of an amazing relationship with God, His Son Jesus, and a beautiful community that lives His life.

Art, Events, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , , ,

Movie Night at the Albany PCC

A movie night will be held at the Albany Polish Community Center on Friday, January 18th at 7:30 pm featuring Chopin: Desire for Love.

The movie night is sponsored by the Center’s Ladies’ Auxiliary. The Polish Community Center is located at 225 Washington Ave. Ext. Albany, NY 12205

plakat02Chopin: Desire for Love is in Polish with English subtitles

The drama chronicles the stormy affair between the great piano virtuoso Frederic Chopin and the flamboyant feminist writer Aurore Dupin, who called herself George Sand. Academy Award nominated Jerzy Antczak directs this sweeping portrayal of the famed composer and his intense but hurtful relationship with George Sand and her children. Chopin’s music, known and loved by millions worldwide, provides a powerful score that underlines the drama. The world recognized Yo-Yo Ma (cellist), Emmanuel Ax (pianist), Yukio Yokoyama (pianist), Janusz Olejniczak (pianist), Pamela Frank (violin), and Vadim Brodsky (violin) use their talents to brilliantly perform Chopin’s music.

Pizza and soda will be served. Donations of $2 for Ladies’ Auxiliary and PCC members, $5 for non-members. Children free!

A meeting of the Ladies’ Auxiliary will precede the event starting at 7 pm.

Christian Witness, PNCC, Work, , , , , , ,

A Prayer for the Unemployed on Labor Day

Almighty God,

As we reflect on this Labor Day in fellowship and in hope we call ourselves a people committed to following You to serve the well-being of others. We commit to one another’s dignity and welfare. We know that our creativity is a gift from You; and we commit the work of our hearts and hands and minds to Your service and to Your glory in all that we do.

We see in one another and in those whom we serve Your divine signature, and we honor it. We know that You are present among us as we offer this prayer in one voice to You, Lord God of compassion and mercy. We ask that You remain with us and strengthen us as we endeavor to ensure that Your justice is served.

We remember particularly today those among our brothers and sisters who are without meaningful and sustaining work, those who struggle to provide for themselves and their families. We ask that You guide us and grant us the wisdom to address the problem of unemployment and underemployment in our community and in our nation.

Encourage us now, Lord, as we seek to find solutions to these challenges. Lord, in Your presence and filled with hope; guided by Your grace we are determined to preserve the well-being and dignity of working people and their families across this country. Grant that we persevere with faith and hope, and in the sure knowledge that justice will certainly triumph. Amen.

Homilies, PNCC, , , ,

Reflection for the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Freedom is not free…
But we are free because the Lord has delivered us!

“Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties.”

There was a lot of anxiety in 1897. The people of Scranton had scrimped and saved to build a church. The parish they had built, that their generous donations supported, didn’t want them. They had been ejected from their former parish by a cruel pastor who demanded only obedience, who derided the hard working people, threatening them will hellfire. He sought only to be the lord and master of the people.

Think of their anxiety. They were outcasts, without a parish, without a pastor, without a spiritual home. Their investment in a spiritual home was gone and its doors were shut to them. In their anxiety they reached out to God and in doing so found comfort in a pastor, a shepherd who made the grace of God available once again. Not a pastor who demanded to be their lord and master, but a pastor who was their brother, teacher, and guide; a pastor whose heart was for the people.

God sent Ś.P. Bishop Hodur to take their commission. He let them know the one key way to alleviate anxiety. It was not submission to priests, bishops, and a pope who defined themselves as royalty, as lords and masters, but instead knowledge of the one Lord and Savior who frees us.

Bishop Hodur showed them the true Jesus who came to give us His word, to teach us, to show us the way to the Father. He showed them that Jesus was not preparing hellfire for His people, but rather the joys of heaven. He pointed and led to Jesus who takes up every one of our anxieties, big and small, and frees us; Jesus, who promises us joy.

Today we honor our freedom as we exercise our voice and vote in our annual parish meeting. This freedom was hard won, but has given us the best of all churches – one that is fully Catholic and fully democratic.

The people of Scranton took their anxiety to the Lord and He showed them the way, provided for them. Let us too rely on the Lord who has made us free.

Events, , , ,

Midnight Holy Mass in Schenectady

All are welcome, tonight at midnight, to join in celebrating the Shepherd’s Holy Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 1040 Pearl Street, Schenectady, NY. We will begin with a beautiful and traditional candlelight procession to the manger, there to worship the new born King. This is the place to be, in Schenectady, tonight at midnight.

Following Holy Mass we will offer our festive repast, the “cós do chelba.” In friendship, fellowship, with open doors and hearts, we will continue in the spirit of community that Jesus came to gather.

Events, PNCC, , , , ,

Basket Social – one week away

Please join us for our annual Basket Social on Sunday, April 3rd at the VFW Hall – Fifth Avenue, Schenectady (Crane St. to 6th Ave. then right on Webster to 5th Ave.).

  • Doors open at Noon
  • Admission $2
  • 50+ Themed baskets to be raffled
  • Door Prizes
  • and Polish Food!!!

Come out and enjoy Spring, socialize, have a good time, and try your luck. Everyone is welcome! Please call 518-372-1992 for more information.

Basket Social in Schenectady NY, theme basets, raffle, Polish kitchen

Art, Events, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , ,

Movie night at the Albany PCC

The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Albany Polish American Community Center is sponsoring Movie Night at the PCC with a screening of the film, In Dessert and Wilderness (W Pustyni i w Puszczy).

The movie is based on a story by Henryk Sienkiewicz. It tells the story of 15 year old Stas Tarkowski and 9 year old Nel Rawlinson, kidnapped by rebels fighting for the great Arab leader – the Mahdi. Their fathers desperately organize a search party, but the Mahdi uprising is spreading rapidly across North Africa and the chances of finding the children seem remote. Forced to rely on themselves, Stas and Nel, together with two young African slaves, Mea and Kali, escape their captors and head south across desolate country. In their search for a way home, they must battle wild animals, thunderstorms, hunger and malaria. Their journey to freedom brings them into contact with some colorful characters: Kaliopoli, a displaced Greek, guides Stas through a critical encounter with the great Mahdi, and Linde, an eccentric Polish cartographer, himself lost in the jungle, offers hope when Nel comes down with malaria and all hope for her survival seems lost.

The movie is in Polish with English subtitles. The movie will begin at 7:30 pm. Pizza, popcorn, and soda will be provided. A donation of $2 to support the Ladies’ Auxiliary is kindly requested from PCC members, $5 from non-members. Children are FREE!

Events, Poland - Polish - Polonia, Xpost to PGF, , , ,

Valentine’s Dinner & Dance at the Albany PCC

The Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Ave Ext, Albany NY is presenting a Valentine’s Dinner & Dance! This night of romance, fine food, music and fun will take place on Friday, February 11th from 7pm to 12:30 am at the PCC Grand Ballroom.

Tickets are $59 per person for singles and $54 per person for couples. Those reserving a table of 6 or more are $49 per person.

The evening includes a Rose, Music & Entertainment by Legendary DJ Ric Mitchell, a Four Course Dinner, Dancing, Late Night Buffet, Cash Bar, and Couple Photos by Chris Milian Photography.

Reservations are required in advance and tickets must be purchased by Tuesday, February 8th. Please phone (518) 456-3995 or contact Charles Newton. Cash, Check, and Major Credit Cards accepted.