Month: November 2008

PNCC

Bishop Hodur Choir records Christmas CD

The Bishop Hodur Choir of St. Stephen’s PNCC, Reading, Pennsylvania has recorded a new CD containing fourteen Christmas hymns, songs, and kolędy. From traditional Polish kolędy to contemporary numbers and instrumental works, this CD would be a great addition to your Christmas collection.

The CD is available for $14 (shipping and handling included). Please mail your order with pre-payment (check or money order) to:

The Bishop Hodur Choir
% Sally Urban
541 Summit Ave
Reading PA 19611-1964

Poland - Polish - Polonia, , ,

Capturing history, showing faith, church tours

From the Republican Herald: Tours give glimpse of Frackville churches

FRACKVILLE —” Thanks to the efforts of the Frackville Historical Society, those who took part in the Frackville Church Tour on Sunday had a chance to learn about various churches’ doctrines, architecture and the history of the people who built them.

—We thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for the people of the town to see the beautiful, rich history of these religious buildings in Frackville, where people have worshipped for generations and generations,— said Diane M. Berkheiser, president of the historical society.—

—Also, with the rumors of some of the churches closing, we thought it was important to do it this year,— she said.

Participants of the tour first picked up maps at Frackville Borough Hall. They could then visit the churches at their leisure and return to the hall for refreshments and conversation.

The golden spires of both St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church and Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church indicate they both might come from the Byzantine Catholic tradition. Both share some of the same architectural features with richly symbolic paintings on the altar and stained-glass windows; however, St. Michael follows the Roman Catholic Pope and Holy Ascention [sic] does not.

While telling of the determination of early Frackville residents, the Rev. Archpriest John M. Fields, pastor of St. Michael, drew visitors’ attention to a brown thee-barred Eastern metal crucifix prominently displayed near the altar. Fields said he discovered the cross in storage in 2004 when he first arrived to serve the parish.

—This is an important historical object that should not be hidden away … If you see any of old photos of the church or any activities, this cross is in the photo. It is the cross that was used in the dedication of our church in 1921,— he said.

Other churches on the tour were St. John the Baptist Polish National Catholic Church and St. Peter’s United Church of Christ.

Some of the folks I knew back in my Buffalo days do this on Buffalo’s East Side both on Holy Thursday and at other times of the year. I also know that this has been recreated in other immigrant cities like Hamtramck, sometimes tying it in with the Holy Thursday visitation of seven churches.

History and cultural awareness are more than textbook issues, they are the components upon which our lives have been built. I applaud these efforts. Get out there and see the neighborhoods and churches. Find inspiration so that we can reclaim, at least in part, the culture of neighborhood and community. If you are a pastor or parish committee, get your parish on the tour. What better audience then people who are there because they are interested in matters of faith and how faith is represented.

Fathers, PNCC

November 6 – St. Dionysius the Areopagite from the Liturgy of St. Dionysius, Bishop of the Athenians

Priest: “Further, according to the tradition, and Divine recommendation of those, who were eye witnesses of Thy mysteries, and interpreters of Thy wonderful acts, we offer this Eucharist before Thee, O Lord, and through it we commemorate Thy charity towards us, — and the universal dispensation of Thine Only-begotten One, in this world, that Thou wouldst also be reminded through it of Thy mercy, cognate and natural to Thee, which, at all hours, is shed upon Thy creatures, and wouldst snatch us from the wrath, reserved for the wicked; and from the punishments of those who work iniquity; and from the cruel attack of demons, who attack our souls, when we shall go hence; and wouldst make us worthy of Thy kingdom, and the habitations of those who have kept Thy precepts; and we will render to Thee, glory and the giving of thanks, &c.”
People: “Amen.”

Priest: (bending) “By Thy words, that cannot lie, and by Thy most true teachings, Thou hast said, O Lord, that great is the joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. Rejoice then now, O Lord, in the conversion of Thy servants, who stand here before Thee; add also, exultation over us, to the souls of the pious and just Fathers — Patriarchs — Prophets — Apostles — Preachers — Evangelists — Martyrs — Confessors — Zealots of Divine Worship — Benefactors — Givers of Alms — of those who minister to the necessities of the poor — and from all, may there be one act of praise today, before Thee, at this holy Altar, and in the heavenly Jerusalem.”

Priest: (Elevating his voice) “And on account of these, and other things of the same kind, may Thy holy Church, which is from one end of the earth to the other, be established, and preserved in tranquility and peace, in doctrines evangelical and apostolical, by Divine Hierarchs, rightly dispensing the word of truth, and instructing, by the dogmas of true religion: through holy Priests, who embrace the word of life, and carry themselves illustriously in dispensing Thy celestial mysteries: through Deacons, who are modest, and perform the pure and royal ministry without flaw, through true, faithful ones, who occupy themselves in words and acts worthy of a Christian; through choirs of virgins of each sex, bearing about in their members the life-giving mortification of Thy Only-begotten Son. And from hence, in one troop, may we all be sent to that Church, the Jerusalem of the firstborn, whose names are written in the heavens, and there let us spiritually glorify Thee, O God the Father, and Thine Only-begotten Son, and Thy Holy Spirit.”
People: “Amen.”

Priest: “Assist also, O Lord, all those who assist Thy Holy Church, by offerings — by tenths — by ministry — and by oblations; and those also, who ask the prayers of our littleness, give to them the object of those their prayers, O Lord, Lover of men.” (Raising his voice) Send also perfect attention and full health to all those who have the charge of the poor, who provide food for orphans and widows, and visit the infirm and afflicted. Restore to them, here indeed abundance and goods, there also delights incorruptible, because Thou art Lord of each age, and distributor of immense reward. And to Thee beseems beneficence, both here and there, and to Thine Only-begotten Son.”
People: “Amen.”

Priest: (bending) “Restrain, O King of Kings, the wrath of kings, mitigate the fury of soldiers, take away wars and seditions, cast down the pride of heretics, and the sentences pronounced against us by Justice, may Thy love for mankind overcome, and turn into the gentleness of benignity”; (raising his voice) Tranquillity and Peace from Thee, concede to the earth and all its inhabitants, visit it with Thy benefits and the care of Thy mercy, with a good and temperate condition of atmosphere, copiousness of fruits, and abundance of crops, and variety of flowers; preserve it from all pests of fury, and all unjust attacks of enemies, both spiritual and sensible, that without any injury of passion, we may sing perpetual hymns of praise, to Thee and to Thine Only-begotten Son.”
People: “Amen.”

Priest: (bending) “At this altar, and at that more exalted one in heaven, may there be a good remembrance of all those, who, out of the world, have pleased Thee — chiefly indeed of the Holy genitrix of God, of John the Messenger, Baptist and Forerunner, of Peter and Paul, and of the holy company of the Apostles, of Stephen also, and of the whole multitude of Martyrs, and of all those, who, before them, with them and after them, have pleased, and do please Thee.” (Raising his voice) And since indeed Thou art Omnipotent, to the company of those beloved ones and to Thy family, join our weakness, O Lord, to that blessed congregation, to this Divine part, that, through them may be received our oblations and prayers, before the lofty throne of Thy Majesty, inasmuch as we are weak and infirm, and wanting in confidence before Thee. Forsooth, our sin and our righteousness are as nothing in comparison with the ocean, broad and immense, of Thy mercy. Looking then, into the hearts of each, send to each one good returns for their petitions, that in all and in each may be adored and praised, Thy Majesty, and that of Thine Only-begotten Son.”
People: “Amen.”

Priest: (bending) “Remember, O Lord, all Bishops, Doctors and Prelates of Thy holy Church, those, who from James, Apostle, Bishop and Martyr, to this present day, have pleased, and do please Thee.” (Raising his voice) Engraft in us, O Lord, their true faith, and their zeal for the true religion; their sincere charity without defect; their morals without stain; in order that, adhering to their footsteps, we may be partakers of their reward, and of the crowns of victory which are prepared for them in Thy heavenly kingdom, and there, together with them, we may sing to Thee, Glory unceasing, and to Thy Only-begotten Son.”
People: “Amen.”

Priest: (bending) “Remember, O Lord, all those who are fallen asleep, who have laid themselves down in Thy hope, in the true faith. More especially, and by name, our Fathers, Brothers and Masters, and those, on behalf of whom, and by favor of whom, this holy oblation is offered,” (raising his voice) join, O Lord, their names, with the names of Thy Saints in the blessed habitation of those, who feast and rejoice in Thee; not recalling against them the memory of their sins, nor bringing to their memory the things which they have foolishly done. For no one is tied to the flesh, and at the same time, innocent in Thy sight. For One alone has been seen on earth without sin, Jesus Christ, Thine Only-begotten Son; Simplex, who came to composition, through whom we also have hope of obtaining mercy.”
People: “Keep quiet.”

Priest: (bending) “Remitting our and their voluntary sins, knowingly or ignorantly committed. Be propitious, O Lord, Lover of men.” (Raising his voice) And grant to us a peaceful end, departure with mercy, that we may stand without fault on the right hand; and, with open face, and confidence, run to meet the arising of Thine Only-begotten Son, and His second and glorious manifestation from heaven; and may hear from Him, that blessed voice, which He shall pronounce at the last day to the Blessed.” “Blessed of my Father receive the inheritance of the heavenly kingdom,” “that in this, as in all, may be glorified and praised, Thy most venerated Name.”
People: “That, &c.” — Anaphora (Commemorations).

PNCC, ,

Auction at Transfiguration PNCC Wallington, NJ

From an announcement in the Leader:

A Chinese auction will be held at the Polish National Catholic Church of the Transfiguration, 135 Hathaway St., Wallington, NJ on Sunday, Nov. 9th. Doors will open at 1 p.m.; auction begins at 2:30 p.m. Admission is $7. Contact Father Gregory at 973-779-4329 or Linda Zulkowski at 201-791-9272.

Stop by and say hello to Fr, Mludzik and a great group of parishioners.

Fathers, PNCC

November 5 – St. Dionysius the Areopagite from the Liturgy of St. Dionysius, Bishop of the Athenians

Priest: (The Priest bending, says the prayer of the invocation of the Holy Spirit.) “I invoke Thee, O God the Father, have mercy upon us, and wash away, through Thy grace, the uncleanness of my evil deeds; destroy, through Thy mercy, what I have done, worthy of wrath; for I do not extend my hands to Thee with presumption, for I am not able even to look to heaven on account of the multitude of my iniquities and the filth of my wickedness. But, strengthening my mind, in Thy loving-kindness, grace and long-suffering, I crave Thy holy Spirit, that Thou wouldst send Him upon me, and upon these oblations, here set forth, and upon Thy faithful people.”

Priest: “Hear me, O Lord.”
People: “Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy”

Priest: “Through His alighting upon them, and His overshadowing, may He make this bread indeed, living body, and procuring life to our souls; body salutary — body celestial — body saving our souls and bodies — body of our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ — for remission of sins, and eternal life, for those receiving it.”
People: “Amen.”

Priest: “And the commixture, which is in this cup, may He make living blood, and procuring life to all our souls; blood salutary — blood celestial — blood saving our souls and bodies — blood of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, for remission of sins to those receiving them.”
People: “Amen.” — Anaphora (Epiklesis).

Perspective, Political

Where prayer and politics meet

Prayer and politics meet in the intentions we put before God.

I have commented, over the past few months, on my views concerning bishops and clergy members who inject themselves into partisan political battles. That is not where the Church should be. Where we should be is in prayer, begging of God His beneficence toward our nation. We should be asking Him to inspire leaders to be like David – a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

There are many views on voting. I will vote (I haven’t missed an election since I was 18 years old, even school board elections). In N. Dan Smith’s reflection on the book Electing Not to Vote: Christian Reflections on Reasons for Not Voting he points to the fact that Christians may elect not to vote, but more importantly must move beyond “just voting” to real action in living the Gospel.

Whether you choose to vote or not, offer up a prayer today. Spend a few minutes placing yourself in the Lord’s presence and ask His mercy in sending us leaders who are after His own heart.

For your consideration I offer two texts from the Book of Common Prayer (1979):

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers
and privileges: Guide the people of the United States
in the election of officials and representatives;
that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of
all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill
your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

…and

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,
in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront
one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work
together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fathers, PNCC

November 4 – St. Dionysius the Areopagite from the Liturgy of St. Dionysius, Bishop of the Athenians

Priest: (bending) “Holy art Thou, O God the Father, Omnipotent, Maker and Creator of every creature — Invisible and visible, and sensible; Holy art Thou, O God, the Only-begotten Son, Power and Wisdom of the Father, Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ; Holy art Thou, O God, the Holy Spirit, Perfector and Sanctifier of Saints. Triad, Holy and undivided: — co-essential and of equal glory, Whose compassion towards our race is most effusive. Thou art holy, and making all things holy. Who didst not leave that, our very race, in exile from Paradise, although in the meantime involved in every kind of sin, but wast manifested to it by the Word, Who, in the presence of the world, suffered extreme poverty; it in very truth, He, the Word, took, being made like to it in all things, sin excepted, that it might make Him prepared beforehand unto holiness, and disposed for this life-giving feast. (Raising his voice) Who being conceived, formed and configured by the Holy Spirit, and from virgin blood of the Virgin Mary, holy genitrix of God, was born indeed Man, and from the pure and most holy body of the same, and receiving Deity in Flesh, whilst the law and properties of nature were preserved, but in a manner beyond nature, and was acknowledged God in the Spirit, and Man in the flesh; and inasmuch as the Word existed before the ages, from Thee, as was worthy of God, was born, and by power and miracles, such as became the Maker of all, was testified that He was such, from the very fact that He has freely imparted a complete healing and a perfect salvation to the whole human race.

Likewise, in the end and consummation of His dispensation on our behalf, and before His saving Cross, He took bread into His pure and holy hands, and looked to Thee, O God the Father; giving thanks, He blessed, sanctified, brake and gave to His disciples, the holy Apostles, saying, ‘Take and eat from it and believe that it is my body, that same, which for you and for many is broken and given, for the expiation of faults, the remission of sins, and eternal life.'”
People: “Amen.”

Priest: “Likewise, in the same manner, over the cup also, which He mingled with wine and water, He gave thanks, blessed, sanctified, and gave to the same disciples and holy apostles, saying, ‘Take, drink from it, all of you, and believe that this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed and given for you and for many, for the expiation of faults, remission of sins, and eternal life.'”
People: “Amen.”

Priest: “Himself also, through the same holy Apostles, gave a precept to the whole company and congregation of the faithful, saying, ‘This do to the memory of Me, and as oft as ye shall eat this bread and drink the commixture which is in this cup, and shall celebrate this feast, ye shall perform a commemoration of My death until I come.'”
People: “Of Thy death, O Lord, we perform a memorial.”

Priest: “Obeying, then, Thy sovereign precept, and celebrating a commemoration of Thy death and resurrection, through this sacrifice in perpetual mystery, we await also Thy second coming, the renovation of our race, and the vivification of our mortality. For, not simply, but with glory worthy of God, in Spirit ineffable, Thou wilt terribly come, and seated upon the lofty throne of Thy majesty, Thou wilt exact the acknowledgment of Thy royal power, from all things created and made: and justly, Thou wilt take vengeance for Thy image upon those who have corrupted it through evil passions. This sacrifice, here celebrated, we commemorate to Thee, O Lord, and the sufferings which Thou didst endure on the Cross for us. Be propitious, O Good, and Lover of men, in that hour full, of fear and trembling, to this congregation of those adoring Thee, and to all sons of the holy Church, bought by Thy precious blood. May coals of fire be kept from those who are tinged with Thy blood, and sealed by Thy sacraments in Thy holy Name, as formerly the Babylonian flame from the youths of the house of Hanania; for neither do we know others beside Thee, O God, nor in other have we hope of attaining salvation, since indeed Thou art the Helper and Saviour of our race; and on this account, our wise Church, through all our lips and tongues, implores Thee, and through Thee, and with Thee, Thy Father, saying”

People: “Have mercy.”
Priest: “We also.”
Deacon: “How tremendous is this hour.” — Anaphora (Institution narrative)

Fathers, PNCC

November 3 – St. Dionysius the Areopagite from the Liturgy of St. Dionysius, Bishop of the Athenians

Deacon: “Let us stand becomingly.”
People: “The Mercies of God &tc.”
Priest: “Charity &tc.”
People: “And with thy spirit.”
Priest: “Lift up your hearts.”
People: “We lift them to the Lord.”
Priest: “Let us give thanks to the Lord.”
People: “It is meet and right.”

Priest: (bending low), For truly the celebration of Thy benefits, O Lord, surpasses, the powers of mind, of speech, and of thought; neither is sufficient every mouth, mind and tongue, to glorify Thee worthily. For, by Thy word the heavens were made, and by the breath of Thy mouth all the celestial powers; all the lights in the firmament, sun and moon, sea and dry land, and whatever is in them. The voiceless, by their silence, the vocal, by their voices, words and hymns, perpetually bless Thee; because Thou art essentially good and beyond all praise, existing in Thy essence incomprehensibly. This visible and sensible creature praises Thee, and also that intellectual, placed above sensible perception. Heaven and earth glorify Thee. Sea and air proclaim Thee. The sun, in his course, praises Thee; the Moon, in her changes, venerates Thee. Troops of Archangels, and hosts of Angels; those virtues, more sublime than the world and mental faculty, send benedictions to Thine abode. Rays of light, eminent and hidden, send their Sanctus to Thy glory. Principalities and Orders praise Thee, with their Jubilate. Powers and dominions venerate Thee. Virtues, Thrones and Seats inaccessible exalt Thee. Splendors of light eternal — mirrors without flaw — holy essences — recipients of wisdom sublime — beyond all, investigators of the will hidden from all, in clearest modulations of inimitable tones, and by voices becoming a rational creature; many eyed Cherubim of most subtle movement, bless Thee. Seraphim, furnished with six wings intertwined, cry Sanctus unto Thee. Those very ones, who veil their faces with their wings, and cover their feet with wings, and flying on every side, and clapping with their wings, (that they may not be devoured by Thy devouring fire) sing one to another with equal harmony of all, sweet chants, pure from every thing material, rendering to Thee, eternal glory; crying with one hymn, worthy of God, and saying,”

People: “Holy, holy, holy &tc.” — Anaphora (Preface)

Christian Witness, Poland - Polish - Polonia

All Souls Day in Poland – Candles at the tomb of Kornel Makuszyński

From Wikipedia: Kornel Makuszyński

Kornel Makuszyński (8 January 1884 in Stryj, currently Ukraine —” 31 July 1953 in Zakopane) was a Polish writer of children’s and youth literature.

He went to school in Lviv (Polish: Lwów), and wrote his first poems at the age of 14. These were published two years later in the newspaper Słowo Polskie, in which he soon became a theatre critic. He studied language and literature at both the University of Lviv (then Jan Kazimierz University in Lwów, Poland) and in Paris. He was evacuated to Kiev in 1915, where he ran the Polish Theatre and was the chairman of the Polish writers and journalist community.

He moved to Warsaw in 1918, and became a writer.

He was buried at the Peksowe Brzysko cemetery in Zakopane, where he lived from 1945. There is a museum dedicated to him there.

His children’s books have an enduring popularity in Poland, whatever the sharp changes in the country’s fortunes and its political system. They have been translated to many other languages. Among others, they are very popular in Israel, where Polish Jewish immigrants since the 1920s and 1930’s took care to have many of them translated to Hebrew and introduced them to their own children.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Political

A Bishop speaks

From the Albany Times-Union an editorial by Bishop Paul Peter Jesep of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Kyiv-Patriarchate:Please do not beleaguer me with all sorts of comments about Ukrainian politics and Canonical vs. non-Canonical Churches. I know the history here. What I am pointing to is this Bishop’s Christian witness. Real Christians accept differences

Efforts by Christian conservatives to discredit the Democratic presidential nominee highlight how they secularize the country. They attempt to influence an election with fear.

It is the misuse of something sacred that drives the spiritually hungry from God while making them jaded, critical and suspicious of faith. Ironically, those seeking God will be called anti-faith for challenging the improper behavior of not-so-loving Christians.

This letter is not an endorsement of Barack Obama. But it is an endorsement for Christian love and intellectual honesty. There are ways to respectfully disagree with Sen. Obama’s policies without trying to unleash the darker angels within voters. America is home to Christian denominations that dramatically differ from one another. Getting into a debate about who is the “real” Christian is divisive and smacks of hubris.

There is one fundamental bond that should keep God’s Christian children together as a family, though a dysfunctional one. Love God and one another as Jesus unconditionally loves us. No Christian conservatives must like Sen. Obama but they must love him as a brother equally cherished by the same creator.

The politicking of some Christian conservatives proves why a strong metaphorical wall to separate church and state must exist. It keeps politics from compromising the holy. At a time when faith is misused and criticized, the Christian Right shows why the wall must be higher.