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Taking Action for Mont Pleasant Middle School

Good things happen when the community gets together! Come join in a Community Meeting and Discussion focused on Taking Action for Mont Pleasant Middle School on Sunday, February 9th at 2:30pm. This meeting will be focus on community action to encourage our youth, promote success, stop violence, and get the resources our children deserve!

This meeting is for Parents, Families, and Community Members. All are invited to come and hear from educational experts and ask questions. Coffee, Soda, and Desserts will be served.

Join fellow community members and educators on Sunday, February 9th at 2:30pm at Holy Name of Jesus Church Hall, 1040 Pearl Street (between Crane Street and Chrisler Avenue in Mount Pleasant), CDTA Route 353, Pearl Street Stop.

School Meeting Feb 2014

Christian Witness, PNCC, , ,

Congratulations Fr. Jerry

From the StarCourier: Father Jerry is Ambassadors’ 2013 Citizen of the Year, Pastor of Holy Trinity Church

Kewanee — The Rev. Jerry Rafalko is the 2013 Citizen of the Year. Rev. Rafalko was selected by the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassadors Club. He will be honored at a community dinner reception which will be scheduled in the next few weeks.

Fr. Jerry RafalkoRev. Jaroslaw “Jerry” Rafalko was born and educated in Poland. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1980 in Poland, and came to the United States in 1989 to join his mother and sister, who lived in Chicago.

In March 1990 he was assigned by the bishop of the Western District of the Polish National Catholic Church as pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Kewanee.

The parish has been part of the Kewanee community for 85 years, meeting the needs first of Polish immigrants and later of many local residents.

Moving to the United States opened new opportunities and presented new challenges for Father Jerry. He studied English and computer science at Black Hawk East College.

As a priest, his pastoral ministry includes spiritual and psychological counseling. Since 1999 he has been chaplain and bereavement coordinator first for Kewanee Hospital Hospice and now for OSF Hospice in Kewanee, offering spiritual comfort to those who are dying and grief support to their family members.

Father Jerry does a monthly radio show offering information on hospice and conducts weekly support group meetings at Kewanee Hospital and at Courtyard Estates in Galva.

Father Jerry’s community honors have included recognition by the Kewanee Kiwanis Club, the DAR and Kewanee Care, where he was named volunteer of the year in 2004. He also has received the Ambassadors Club Meritorious Service Award and the Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award for outstanding and meritorious service to humanity.

Father Jerry’s wife Leslie is a registered nurse in the emergency room and critical care unit at Kewanee Hospital.

Events, PNCC, , , ,

4th Annual Block Party at St. Stan’s in Scranton

From the Abington Journal: Cathedral plans fourth annual block party

St. Stanislaus Polish National Catholic Cathedral in South Scranton will hold its fourth annual Block Party from 5 to 10 p.m. August 24 and August 25 at the corner of East Elm Street and Pittston Avenue.

Ethnic foods such as pierogi, halushki, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and potato pancakes will be offered along with steak n’ cheese and chicken cheese hoagies, French fries, pizza, hot dogs, clams, beer, soda, coffee, pizza frita, homemade cakes and ice cream.

There will also be plenty of children’s games, bingo and basket raffles and other entertainment, including Jerry Sapphire on Friday and Saturday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., the band Blush from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday and the band Crock Pot Abduction from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, Contact St. Stanislaus rectory at 570.343.6017 or parish office at 570.961.9231.

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

PNCC Parish unites an entire community

New York Mills Bell Festival began when Sacred Heart of Jesus/Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church donated a bell from one of the former mills to the village. The bell is now part of a monument in the park, inscribed: “To the mill workers, with gratitude.”

View the history of New York Mills bell from the New York Mills Public Library and the work of Sacred Heart of Jesus/Holy Cross Parish in making the bell a treasure for the entire community.

From the Utica Observer Dispatch: NY Mills Bell Festival connects community, families

NEW YORK MILLS — Sisters Reneta Benenati, 84, and Josephine Krawczyk, 75, don’t live in the New York Mills area anymore.

The sisters left the area to attend college and become teachers, however each year they return for the village’s annual Bell Festival.

“It’s become sort of sentimental for us,” Benenati said, adding they visit “old haunts” and where they used to live.

Having grown up in Yorkville — a neighboring village — the sisters said their parents were Polish immigrants who used to work in the mills.

The annual event pays homage to those very mill workers who lived rigid lives dictated by the ring of a bell — 6 a.m. wakeup call and a 9 p.m. curfew call.

The two-day event, which began Friday, features rides, games, a parade, garage sales, fireworks and food. The festivities attract hundreds of people, young and old, to Pulaski Park on Main Street where the historic bell is on display.

“It’s nice to remember where things came from and how things used to be,” said Paul Dudajek, president of the village historical society. “I think (the event) is good because it brings the community together.”

Village resident Julie Brych said she’s been coming to the festival with her sons for about three years.

“We like to support New York Mills. It’s a good cause,” she said. “The kids like the rides, and I like the food.”

For the last 12 years the Sacred Heart of Jesus Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church hosts a fish fry on Friday and polish food on Saturday strictly for the festival.

Debbie Vivacqua, church member and co-chair of the Bell Festival Committee, said it was unbelievable people came out despite the heat.

“It’s a nice family oriented (event) we’ve had in the village,” she said. “The people love it.”

Benenati and Krawczyk chatted over their fish fry, having the chance to connect during their time-honored visit for the festival.

“It means a lot to us,” Benenati said.

“And we’re together,” Krawczyk added.

Current Events, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , , , , ,

In Albany last night

From WRGB:

The ceremony was attended by the diversity of the Polish community, with members from the Polish National Catholic, Roman Catholic, and Ukrainian Catholic communities. Prayers were offered by each, including a beautiful panikhida by the Rev. Mikhail Myshchuk. Reflections were offered by the leaders of Polonian organizations as well as area political leaders. Greetings and marks of condolence were read from the Capital Region’s Jewish community.

From the Schenectady Gazette: Capital Region Poles unite to honor plane crash victims

More than 200 members of the Polish community in the Capital Region attended a memorial service Friday night honoring the president of Poland and 95 other members of that country’s political, military and religious elite killed when their jet crashed April 10 in Russia….

From YNN: Polish community honors crash victims

The local Polish-American community came together to remember and honor the Polish leaders who died in last week’s plane crash.

The memorial service was hosted by Albany’s Polish Community Center. There, people heard prayer readings and a speech that Polish President Lech Kaczynski was supposed to give at a ceremony before he was killed in the crash.

The Polish President and First Lady were among 97 of the country’s dignitaries killed in that crash one week ago. They were flying to Russia for a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Katyn Forest massacre where more than 20,000 Polish prisoners of war were killed by soviet agents.

Those who attended the memorial service say they are not surprised by the large turnout.

“It shows the deep emotion and feelings people have. It’s also indicative of the large numbers that we have in the Capital District area of people from Poland in the recent past and from Polish heritage background,” said Fr. Carl Urban.

Mourners also tell us that the most positive thing to come out of the plane crash is that many people are now aware of the Katyn massacre.

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Waymart, PA

From the Wayne Independent: Plan stars Waymart as heritage destination

US Route 6 is steeped in heritage as it winds its way 427 miles across Pennsylvania’s northern tier, and the unique legacy of Waymart as a cross roads community has not been missed.

‘The culmination of numerous meetings with interested citizens and other stake holders in the Waymart area is the presentation of a work plan of how to make Waymart an even more desirable and well known destination community for travelers. As was said Wednesday at a discussion of the plan at the D&H Gravity Depot Museum, the idea is how to get people to not just stop for gas but to stay a while and explore.

Waymart was one of several communities along Route 6 that applied and were picked as a Route 6 Heritage Community in the first round of the state tourism program. The goal is to have at least one town in each of the 11 counties selected; the next nearest is Wyalusing. Carbondale and Milford have been selected as Route 6 Heritage communities in the next round.

In 2005, Governor Rendell named Route 6 in Pennsylvania as a State Heritage Corridor under the Pa. Heritage Areas Program of the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

Although the interest is high and the Waymart area is seen as having a lot to offer, the plan’s implementation will require funding. State grants may be hard to find with the austere budget just passed. Suggestions were made to apply to private foundations. The Route 6 Heritage Corp. also has a certain amount of funds already allocated. Dan Perry of the Lackawanna Valley Heritage Authority said that their organization may be able to assist.

Rick Truscello, Manager of Planning Services, EADS Group, represented the consulting firm hired by the state to help Route 6 Heritage communities develop a plan and implement it.

A main focus ahead for the heritage effort in Waymart is development of a visitors center in what is referred to as the Brick House, on top Farview Mountain and once a part of the Farview State Mental Hospital operations. The State Legislature recently approved transfer of the three acre property along Route 6, to the Waymart Area Historical Society.

Jane Varcoe president of the Waymart Area Historical Society, states that several organizations, from the area historical societies to the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, are behind the project. The Brick House is seen as a —northern gateway— to the Poconos, as well as a visitors’ stop to the cultural and natural resources westward, in adjoining Lackawanna County. The two sides of the Moosic Mountain range have a shared heritage, between the mining and moving of anthracite coal.

The Brick House is a principal structural asset identified in the work plan. Most of the focus, however, will be on community activities, said Truscello. The plan also recommends enhancements at the Route 6/296 intersection.
No major street scape improvements were advised. A historic district also may not apply here, Truscello said. There are fleeting remnants of the D&H Gravity Railroad, although a few good examples exist.

Other wonderful assets Truscello pointed out included St. Tikhon’s Monastery, Salvation Army Ladore Lodge & Conference Center, and Spojnia Manor, founded by the Polish National Catholic Church. Views of the Waymart Wind Farm are also an important attraction.

An information kiosk, interpretive panels and other signs are recommended.

Varcoe said that a principal goal is to establish a recreational trail on the former gravity Railroad bed. The first phase of this effort would be to establish a trail connection between the rail bed section behind the Brick House, to the D&H rail bed at Simpson, which is the trail head for Northeast Pa. Rails to Trails. The second phase would be to establish the trail on the rail bed down the mountain to the D&H Gravity Depot on South Street.

Waymart is notable as the location of Bishop Hodur’s “Ustronie,” literally “retreat” or secluded place, the small home he went to on retreat and to write. It was from there that he wrote his “Apocalypse, or, The revelation of the XXth century.” Also in Waymart, the Bishop Hodur Retreat and Recreation Center where the PNCC holds its annual KURS encampment for youth, the Central Diocese’s annual acolyte retreat and other events.

For more information visit the Pa. Route 6 Heritage Corp and the Waymart Borough.

PNCC, ,

Happy Birthday Middleport, PA

From the Republican-Herald: Middleport turns 150

Middleport Legion Post 144 members lead the borough's 150th anniversary parade, walking past St. Joseph's Polish National Catholic Church, St. Clair Street, on Saturday.
Middleport Legion Post 144 members lead the borough's 150th anniversary parade, walking past St. Joseph's Polish National Catholic Church, St. Clair Street, on Saturday.

MIDDLEPORT – When the borough council met for the very first time, there were only 33 states, Pennsylvanian James Buchanan was in the White House and the nation was headed for a civil war.

The country has changed radically between 1859 and Saturday, when Middleport celebrated its 150th anniversary. The speakers at Middleport Gardens, however, were nearly uniform in praising the timeless small-town values and attitudes they said they remembered growing up and still see today.

U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, D-17, contrasted how he was greeted with shouts of “Hey Timmy!” while walking in the noon parade with the greeting he’d get from neighbors on his morning walk to work in Washington.

“If you say ‘Hello’ to them, they look at you like you’re going to mug them,” Holden said to laughter. “But that’s not the way we live in Middleport and Schuylkill County, because we all know each other, we all care about each other and we all want to help each other.”

Mayor Josh Leshko echoed Holden’s sentiment when he issued a “simple challenge” for the future success of the borough.

“One person alone cannot drive the success of a town. What can we do? Can we share a friendly smile with our neighbors? Can we share the memories of Middleport with our younger generations?” Leshko said. “The smallest and simplest actions, when brought together, can make a profound and noticeable difference.”…

PNCC, ,

New York Mills PNCC Parish continues to support its community

From the Utica Observer Dispatch: Bell Festival kicks off in New York Mills

When the Floyd Band invited its audience to dance Friday, only one couple was brave enough to accept the offer.

Beverly Floyd of New Hartford and Anthony Ricci of Schuyler cut the rug to a lively polka during the 7 p.m. concert in New York Mills’ Pulaski Park.

The concert was one of the first events held as part of the 10th Annual Bell Festival. The festival continues today with a chicken barbecue, a parade and fireworks.

The village also will present its annual Citizen of the Year award during a 6 p.m. ceremony.

Mayor Robert Maciol said the Bell Festival is a way to —honor the community’s heritage.— It’s held on Boilermaker weekend because many people who have moved away come back to the area for that event.

—It’s an opportunity for the whole community to come together,— he said. —…an old-fashioned, family-oriented, fun weekend.—

Event co-chairwoman Doreen Czupryna said the event began 10 years ago when the Sacred Heart of Jesus Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church donated a bell from one of the former mills to the village. The bell is now part of a monument in the park, inscribed: —To the mill workers, with gratitude.—

The festival, which has drawn crowds of more than 2,000 people in previous year, also serves as an annual fundraiser for several local community groups including the fire department, the Lions Club and the VFW, Maciol and Czupryna said.

—The support is always great,— Czupryna said. —It varies every year with the weather and everything else, but we have good support. We really do.—

On Friday, kids with cotton candy walked past older couples on park benches, and families gathered at picnic tables to enjoy fair foods like fried fish, hotdogs, lemonade and strawberry shortcake.

The food booths were one of the first stops for Tammy Hall, her son Evan, 12, and her parents, Robert and Selma Mickel of Clinton. Hall said she and her son were attending for the first time after moving to the village recently.

—We’re starting a tradition,— she said.

Chris Jarosz, 30, said he’s lived in New York Mills for 23 years and hasn’t missed a Bell Festival since the event started in 2000. For the last two years, he’s been accompanied by his girlfriend, Renee Palumbo of New York Mills, and his nephew Jaedon Jarosz, 8, of New Hartford.

Palumbo said they primarily come for the food and to hang out, but that the festival’s location on Main Street is part of its appeal as well.

—It’s quiet,— she said. —It’s a good community. It’s good for kids. It’s good for adults.—

Jaedon had nothing but good things to say about the fish fry dinners sold by the church, and said he had enjoyed playing carnival games earlier in the evening.

—I just love the festival,— he said. —I love the food. I love everything.—

PNCC, ,

Wait, aren’t those latkes?

From the Pittston Sunday Dispatch: Potato pancakes and soup on menu at Holy Mother of Sorrows Church

Dinner Chairman Paul Kaspriskie, left, at the grill with Al Micka
Dinner Chairman Paul Kaspriskie, left, at the grill with Al Micka

It was just what the doctor ordered, as the saying goes. The perfect foods to fill one’s belly on a cold, wintry day: hot soup and potato pancakes.

That’s what was on the menu at Holy Mother of Sorrows Polish National Catholic Church, Dupont, on Friday, Dec. 5, all topped off with an assortment of homemade desserts.

The annual fundraiser —“ a bargain at $6.00 per person —“ also featured a Chinese auction.

Lottie Hoban and Stella Kotula served as co-chairs for the event with Arnold Borc serving as ticket chairman.

You will notice the interesting crossover between Polish and Jewish foods – i.e., the potato pancakes or latkes. The event featured clam chowder – very New England, and a Chinese auction. Hmmm – who said the PNCC was “Polish only?” 😉 flag-poland

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