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Homilies,

The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Word of God, the Gospel plays a special role in the Polish National Catholic Church. Some would call it a unique role.

We believe that the hearing of the Gospel, in conjunction with its interpretation in the homily bestows sacramental grace —“ sanctifying grace. By this grace God calls us and leads us to change.

The verse, which is today’s alleluia verse, comes from 2 Thessalonians. The fuller context is this:

But we ought to give thanks to God for you always, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in truth. To this end he has (also) called you through our gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.

From St. Paul’s letter we understand that we are the firstfruits of salvation. We are the chosen, sanctified by the Holy Spirit by our Baptism and Confirmation, and living together in truth.

Because we open ourselves to hear God’s call in the Gospel, we will possess the glory of Jesus Christ. That is, the glory of His resurrection and life in heaven with Him forever.

There is yet another requirement. It is not just the choosing, the sanctifying, and the hearing, but that we stand firm and hold fast to what we have been taught, the Church’s sacred tradition as passed on to us through the Apostles and Fathers.

Right now you’ve about fallen asleep. Another ‘sermon’ on sacraments and what we must do, all couched in theological and biblical language.

I know that I receive God’s grace at Holy Mass —“ that’s why I’m here. I know God has requirements and that the Church has demands. Blah, blah, tradition, piety, blah blah…

So reflect on the words from today’s reading from Corinthians in which we hear:

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.

Does anyone watch American Idol? Can I see a show of hands?

It’s been pretty brutal. The people that were auditioning were for the most part horrible. They embarrassed themselves, and they got mocked…

Did anyone of us hear Paul’s message while we were watching? Did we view these folks as having gifts? Or did we get a chuckle out of them, and their miserable attempts at fame?

Remember, Paul said we are to stand firm and hold fast to what we were taught.

I think it is exceedingly difficult for you and I to buy into that message. In the face of daily entertainment, cynicism, and sarcasm the message passed down to us gets lost. The humiliation of those individuals on American Idol becomes the idol that displaces the Gospel.

So we will watch, many of us for sure. We’ll be unable to break away from the laughs and the dressing down others will receive.

We will forget, at least for that hour, that Jesus came to reveal Himself, not to hide. He revealed himself to the Jewish people and their Pharisees and Scribes dressed Him down like Simon Cowell would any rank amateur on American Idol.

When you watch next time think of Jesus’ dressing down. See the Sanhedrin in the front of the room, hey Jesus, you’re an amateur Rabbi and would be prophet —“ you don’t cut it, sorry, no.

When you watch think of Jesus, then see Jesus in that performer, that fearful person, that person being told no. Recognize Jesus in yourself when you are in the midst of pain and sadness.

So God has called us as His firstfruits, sanctified us in the Holy Spirit, made us members of His body and heirs to His kingdom. He’s given us the Apostles and Fathers to teach us and the Holy Church to guide us. We’ve received God’s gifts, His sacraments. He’s filled us with the graces received in three sacraments at Holy Mass, Penance, the Word, and the Holy Eucharist. But, have we changed? Do we see Him everyday, in that —“ that brother or sister? Have we even begun to believe in Him?

Through Isaiah God says:

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet

He keeps calling us to be His firstfruits for the salvation of the world. He will not be silent or quiet. We must respond. Believe, act, and see in accord with the Gospel – with Jesus.

Current Events, Poland - Polish - Polonia

R.C. Archdiocese of New York announces church closings

The announcement and a link to the list in Realignment Announcement Decisions from the Archdiocesan website (it’s loading real slow right now).

The closings as summed up in the NY Times in N.Y. Archdiocese Announces Parish Closings.

There’s two St. Stanislaus parishes on the list, one in Port Jervis, one in Pine Island. The Pine Island parish will in effect disappear and merge into another parish.

Our Lady of Vilnius is not on the list, anywhere, thankfully.

(UPDATE 1) The Our Lady of Vilnius, NYC blog notes that 1010 WINS is reporting Our Lady of Vilnius will be closed as well (as a footnote non-the-less). Stay tuned.

(UPDATE 2) The NY Sun states that it confirmed the closing of Our Lady of Vilnius with Archdiocesan officials. See N.Y. Archdiocese Will Close 10 Parishes.

Current Events, Poland - Polish - Polonia

From the R.C. Diocese of Rzeszów, Poland

Rzeszów, Poland is my family’s ancestral home. I’ve visited and taught there and I have family and friends there. I keep tabs on the area and came across this report from Catholic Church Conservation: Good news from Poland.

It appears that the Ordinary for the R.C. Diocese of Rzeszów has given permission for the establishment of Traditional Latin Rite Community (Duszpasterstwo Tradycji Łacińskiej) in the Diocese. The community will be using the Church of the Holy Cross which is in the center of the city.

Of course the inroads the SSPX has made in Poland (and the Ukraine), especially in areas like Rzeszów (See: St. Andrew Bobola Parish), would have nothing to do with this – right?

Current Events, Perspective, PNCC, Political

Miscellaneous

PNCC

Adam has a link to pictures from the November 30th Consecrations of four PNCC bishops. Note that the linked site is commercial.

Church and school closings:

Our PNCC seminarian and soon to be cleric, Adam has a post regarding closures in the Diocese of Scranton. See A Sad Situation… He rightly points out that the PNCC, a Church established along democratic lines, develops solutions to pressing issues in a manner that better serves its constituents.

In the same vein, at least one R.C. Bishop is taking first steps in recognizing the democracy and Church can co-exist. See In southern NJ, Roman Catholic churches preparing to consolidate from Newsday. Here’s an excerpt:

Unlike many, though, the bishop is leaving it largely up to lay people to figure out how the church should be reorganized.

Bishop Joseph Galante on Thursday announced a process that will shake up the configuration of churches that serve an estimated 500,000 Catholics in six southern New Jersey counties.

He envisions some parish churches and Catholic schools being closed, some churches sharing priests and perhaps some new churches and schools being planned in growing communities.

Committees from groups of parishes and schools are being formed to work out the plans. Galante said he would make the final decisions.

Anglicans Making Sense?

From the Guardian: Church of Ireland head wants end to ban on Catholic monarchs

Turkish PM – getting it right?

The BBC is reporting that prominent Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink has been shot dead. See Turkish-Armenian writer shot dead. Amazingly, the Turkish PM has condemned the killing as an affront to democracy.

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the killing and said two suspects had been arrested.

“A bullet has been fired at democracy and freedom of expression,” Mr Erdogan told a hastily convened news conference.

The attack on Hrant Dink was an attack on Turkey and on Turkish unity and stability, Mr Erdogan said, vowing that the “dark hands” behind the killing would be brought to justice.

Hopefully he really believes this and will move to overturn the Turkish Identity Law which prosecutes anyone who exercises freedom of speech and conscience.

Dink, 53, was found guilty more than a year ago of insulting Turkish identity after he wrote an article which addressed the mass killings of Ottoman Armenians nine decades ago.

…

Dink was among dozens of writers in Turkey who have been charged under 301 of Turkey’s penal code with insulting Turkish identity, often for articles dealing with the killing of Kurds and Ottoman Armenians.

Current Events, Perspective

Shoes a droppin’

From the Buffalo News: Catholic Charities sets goal of $11 million: Campaign facing added challenges

Amid growing anxiety about the future of Catholic schools and parishes, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec announced Wednesday that the Diocese of Buffalo will try to raise $11 million for Catholic Charities services and various diocesan programs.

No problem there. Catholic Charities does lots of great work in the Buffalo area.

Kmiec and campaign organizers acknowledged that they face an additional challenge in this year’s fundraising.

…

School closings are expected to be announced later this month, and an initial round of parish mergers, consolidations and closings is slated to be made public in February.

The plans are part of a restructuring process, known as “Journey in Faith and Grace,” that began in 2005. In some parts of the diocese, the process has heightened emotions and anxiety among many Catholics.

A problem for sure, but not something people have been unaware of. But wait, the process of self-destruction begins now.

David Uba, chairman of the 2007 appeal, said the campaign and the diocese’s restructuring efforts are “two separate issues.”

People continue to need Catholic Charities, regardless of whether there are fewer parishes and schools in the future, Uba said.

…

“What we really want to emphasize is, “We’re service-oriented and the need is there,’ ” said the Rev. Joseph J. Sicari, diocesan director of Catholic Charities.

Actually no. That’s the problem with Catholic social services, they separate Catholic from charity. They are ‘Catholic Charities’ in name only (it’s a fundraising trick). The underlying message, at least as conveyed by Mr. Uba, is that people need charity, not Jesus. People will pick up on this.

The Church, at a minimum, should understand that you can’t compartmentalize your efforts. These are not separate ‘goods.’ Good is a totality, starting with Jesus Christ, through His salvation, to service flowing from Him.

Now for the other shoe:

The diocese, which has a $2.1 million budget deficit this year, will set aside a greater percentage of the 2007 appeal funds for its own operations than it had in previous years.

About $6.4 million of the $11 million goal – down from $6.6 million in 2006 – will go toward the operating budget of Catholic Charities, which serves about 180,000 people per year at 56 sites in eight counties.

The rest – $4.6 million, up from $4.3 million in 2006 – is earmarked for the Bishop’s Fund for the Faith, which helps pay for diocesan programs, such as seminary training, the diocesan retreat house and subsidies for central city parishes and schools.

Again with the business model. Budget deficits, closings, restructuring, fancy titles of journeying in faith… I take it that some of these folks were sick on the day they studied logic in seminary.

“We’re service-oriented and the need is there” so were re-balancing and focusing more on deficit reduction over direct aid. We’ll reduce Catholic Charities programs by $200,000, up the ante by $100,000 and put the combined total of $300,000 into Diocesan operations – instead of ‘Catholic Charities.’

We’re going to put the money into seminary training (for the – how many men studying for the priesthood?), a retreat house (vacations not vocations), and subsidies for city parishes and schools which will be — CLOSING.

Try to sell that one to the pockets in the pews.

Poland - Polish - Polonia,

Niech Żyje Starbucks

From the Lansing State Journal: Starbucks gets in the paczki game

DETROIT – The paczki – a popular Polish pre-Lenten pastry – is putting in an appearance for patrons at about 60 Detroit-area Starbucks outlets.

Beginning Tuesday, the Detroit-area Starbucks stores will sell the deep-fried jelly-filled doughnuts. Paczkis (POONCH’-kees) pack lots of calories and are customary on the eve of Lent, the 40-day period of self-denial that many Christians observe before Easter.

Starbucks Corp.’s Great Lakes regional director, Scott Hasselbach, told the Detroit Free Press that selling paczkis is a way for the international chain to be ”locally relevant.”

Starbucks is offering them with apple cinnamon, raspberry and Bavarian cream fillings for 95 cents. Starbucks said it will take orders for boxes of six for pickup on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 20, the day before Lent.

Smacznego!

Poland - Polish - Polonia

Washington D.C. Internship Opporunity

The Washington, D.C. office of the Polish American Congress would like to invite you to apply for an internship position during the Spring semester 2007.

Internship in the Washington DC office provides a wide spectrum of opportunities to improve one’s research abilities by learning about the legislative process and the political environment in the Nation’s Capital.

Interns work on individual and team projects that include:

  • Conducting in-depth research on specific pieces of legislation, particularly those affecting the Polish American community;
  • Conducting projects relating to immigration issues;
  • Attending various events such as congressional hearings, press conferences, lectures and briefings (e.g. organized by Heritage Foundation, Freedom House, coalitions on immigration policy, East Central European ethnic groups, as well as other foundations and organizations);
  • Conducting research on various matters concerning Polish Americans and Poland, and
  • Performing various office duties, as assigned.

General notes regarding internship in the Washington D.C. office of the Polish American Congress:

  1. At least a one-month commitment is required;
  2. During the Fall and Spring semesters we offer flexible hours (full time, part time and everything in-between) to accommodate the student’s schedule. Of course, the more time a student can spend with us – the better.
  3. The internship program is built upon three components: legislative, research and office. Sample activities include research on particular pieces of legislation; attending press conferences, seminars, lectures etc. (after each outside event you will be asked to write a 1-2 page report); updating databases, and participating in everyday office activities. Depending on the semester and the number of interns in the office, you may be asked to work as a team with other interns. A detailed, individualized program is prepared for each intern and discussed with him/her during our first meeting at the office.
  4. The internship program is unpaid. As much as we would like to, we do not provided monetary compensation for the time and support we receive from our interns.
  5. We are particularly interested in taking on only responsible and reliable persons. Professionalism and dependability are a must. Also, our interns must possess strong writing and interpersonal skills as well as have an interest in matters/issues relating to Poland, Polonia and/or Central Europe. Proficiency in the Polish language is a plus, but is not required.

To apply please send your current CV with a cover letter to Dr. Barbara B. Andersen, Internship Program Coordinator.

The Polish American Congress is an umbrella organization representing 3,000 Polish American organizations, ranging from national fraternal benefit societies, such as the Polish National Alliance, Polish Women’s Alliance, Polish Roman Catholic Union, Polish Falcons and others, including veteran, cultural, professional, religious and social associations, with an aggregate membership of over one million.

Polish American Congress
1612 K Street, N.W. Suite 410
Washington, D.C. 20006
Tel: (202) 296-6955
Fax: (202) 835-1565

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