From the Buffalo News: Polish Catholic Church may buy sites: Considers buildings closed by diocese

More than a century ago, Catholic communities of Polish-Americans around the country, including Buffalo, broke with the Roman Catholic Church in disputes over property and lay governance.

Now, two recently closed Roman Catholic churches are being considered for use as worship sites by the Polish National Catholic Church, a denomination established in 1897 as a result of the split.

Some of the vacant churches’ former parishioners —” many of whom objected to the closings —” are expected to be among those in the pews again.

The Polish National Catholic Church’s Buffalo Pittsburgh Diocese has expressed interest in purchasing Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Brant and Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Woodlawn.

The Polish National Catholic Church would establish a new parish at the Brant church, which closed last July.

Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church in Lackawanna wants to move permanently into the Woodlawn church, which the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo shut down last March.

Holy Trinity has been leasing the space for Sunday worship since mid- August, when a lightning strike sparked a fire, resulting in extensive water damage to its church on Pulaski Place.

—We’re hoping to buy it,— the Rev. Gary J. Spencer, Holy Trinity pastor, said of the Woodlawn site.

The parish was grateful that the Rev. John Kasprzak, pastor of Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church in Lackawanna, offered the use of the Woodlawn facility, Spencer said.

—It was truly a blessing from God. We didn’t miss one Sunday,— he said.

…

[John Chiavetta] predicted a Polish National Catholic church, which has a liturgy and customs almost identical to those of Roman Catholicism, in the Brant building would attract many former Our Lady of Mount Carmel members.

—They’re the closest thing to the Roman Catholic Church. Yes, you’re asking people to change their religion, but it’s a very minor change,— Chiavetta said. —The biggest thing is the parish would own the church. No diocese would ever close it.—

In the Polish National Catholic Church, as in most Protestant denominations, parishes decide for themselves whether they should close.

Bishop Thaddeus Peplowski of the Buffalo Pittsburgh Diocese said the Brant site could work.

—We do have people who live in that area,— he said. —And there are some Roman Catholics interested in joining with us. . . . It seems there’s enough interest there. In other cities, in other states, we’ve purchased Roman Catholic church buildings.—

Spencer said Holy Trinity would not actively seek to recruit former Our Lady of Grace parishioners.

—It would be a blessing if a lot of people in that neighborhood did check us out,— he said. —But I wouldn’t want to undermine the Roman Catholic Diocese in any way because of what they’ve done for us,— Spencer said.

Kevin A. Keenan, spokesman for the Buffalo Catholic Diocese, said the Polish National Catholic Church has inquired about the churches but has yet to meet with the diocese or make an offer.

Despite its name, the Polish National Catholic Church no longer encompasses only people of Polish heritage…

ACTS – the newsletter of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese notes:

So far, the negotiations for the closed church property have not been going too well, and that is the cause for the uncertainty.

However, Father Gary Spencer and the parishioners of Holy Trinity are optimistic, and have been praying that the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Buffalo and Holy Trinity Parish will soon come to terms on the purchase of the property.

The property consists of a church, rectory, two garages, a social hall, and two classrooms.

Everyone seems to feel right at home at Our Lady of Grace church, and getting in to church for some of the more senior seniors has been much easier as there are about 10 less steps to climb to access the nave.

Father Gary welcomes, and would be very grateful for, any support afforded to Holy Trinity by their sisters and brothers in the Buffalo —“ Pittsburgh Dioceses, but he especially asks for your prayers that Holy Trinity succeed in purchasing Our Lady of Grace church, and that the move results in substantial growth in their parish.

This seems to contradict Mr. Keenan’s statement.

Bishop Peplowski has worked hard at encouraging positive relations within Buffalo’s Polish-American community and between the PNCC and Buffalo’s Roman Catholic Diocese. I think that the Roman Diocese’s generosity, in allowing our parish the use of this building, is commendable and is ecumenically positive. Buffalo’s Roman diocese has a plethora of closed parishes and lots of land and buildings that need to be put to good use. Roman Catholic Canon law would not restrict the sale of the building to the PNCC (Canons 1222 para. 2, and in general 383 and 392). This is outlined nicely in a document prepared by the R.C. Archdiocese of Boston. Of course any reason could be cited for disallowing the PNCC purchase (price, the faith of Roman Catholics, etc.). As Fr. Gary asks, let us pray that the sale of the parish buildings succeeds and that the parish is blessed with a new and more accessible home.

In Bishop Peplowski’s ACTS article he notes:

We are now in the process of talking with groups that are interested in organizing new parishes. There has been increased interest in the Polish National Catholic Church by non members, and one person expressed her interest with the following comment: —The PNCC is a Catholic Church that is so American in its polity and government – the ideal Church that many of us are looking for.— This concept has been the hallmark of our structure as the Catholic Church from its very inception. There are Christians who are having difficulty understanding in their own churches questions that concern the ownership and policy regulating local parishes’ buildings and assets. They are discovering in the PNCC that these questions are clearly answered in the Constitution of the Church. Hopefully by our next issue of ACTS, we will have more information about the groups that are now developing into mission parishes.

With all of the problems concerning our economy, national security and the rise of secularism in our country, it is refreshing to hear that many people are still turning to the Church for guidance and inspiration. Even though we have a shortage of priests, we cannot turn away those who are seeking to renew their faith in Jesus Christ through affiliation with the Polish National Catholic Church. Yes, the harvest is great, even though the workers are scarce; we need to continue in our missionary zeal of evangelizing the Gospel as proclaimed by our Church. Growth comes through faith in Jesus Christ, trusting in His Will, and leaving all other things to fall into place as He inspires us to find the solutions to these problems.

It is a blessing when the faithful find a home, and when their need for a parish home can be met easily. May our Lord and Savior protect and encourage all those who seek His light.