Recent Posts

Most Used Categories

Day: June 24, 2010

You are Here :
Christian Witness, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , ,

From the pulpit: crucify him

From Interia: Podpadł księdzu, bo ogrodził działkę

Mieszkaniec Rakszawy (woj. podkarpackie) ogrodził swoją działkę, przez którą niektórzy parafianie chodzili na skróty do kościoła. Nie spodobało się to proboszczowi parafii w Trzebosi, który skrytykował go za to z ambony. Sprawę nagłośniły nowiny24.pl.
Chociaż podczas kazania nie padło żadne nazwisko, na efekt słów proboszcza nie trzeba było długo czekać – jeszcze tej samej nocy ktoś pomalował panu Sławomirowi Prucnalowi sprejem elewację domu i budynku gospodarczego. Pojawiły się tam napisy “złodziej” i “zrób bramę”.

“Od tamtej pory odczuwam wrogość ze strony niektórych mieszkańców” – powiedział nowinom24.pl pan Sławomir. “To jest moja własność. Nie zrobiłem nic złego, na wszystko mam dokumenty i wymagane pozwolenia. Zresztą do kaplicy prowadzi droga publiczna, z której każdy może korzystać, a nie jak do tej pory chodzić przez moje podwórze” – dodaje.

Prucnal mieszka w Rakszawie jednak należy do parafii w Trzebosi. Jak zaznacza, jest osobą wierzącą, praktykującą i zaangażowaną w sprawy parafii – przed tegoroczną Wielkanocą ufundował np. witraż do kościoła wart 4 tys. zł, za co otrzymał podziękowania od proboszcza. Niestety, jak się okazuje, dobra opinia na nic się zdała. Proboszcz Józef Fila twierdzi, że ogradzając swoją działkę pan Sławomir zrobił krzywdę parafianom, bo utrudnił im dojście do kościoła i gotowy jest spotkać się z Prucnalem w sądzie.

Pan Sławomir zażądał, za pośrednictwem adwokata, by proboszcz podczas jednego z kazań, publicznie go przeprosił. Do tej pory jednak się nie doczekał i wszystko wskazuje na to, że przeprosin nie będzie. “Nie pozostaje mi nic innego jak pozwanie do sądu proboszcza o zniesławienie” – stwierdził pan Sławomir.

Konfliktem na linii proboszcz-parafianin zainteresowała się komenda policji w Rakszawie, która – pod nadzorem prokuratury w Łańcucie – prowadzi śledztwo w tej sprawie.

In short, the parish priest in Trzeboś, Poland, took his neighbor from Rakszawa to task from the pulpit because his neighbor closed off a portion of his land, which he uses as a garden. Parishioners visiting the chapel next to the parishioner’s land had been using the garden as a thoroughfare to get to the chapel. The chapel is easily accessed from the road, and there was really no need for the shortcut.

After denouncing the neighbor from the pulpit, his home was vandalized.

Interestingly, the neighbor, a good Catholic and member of the Trzeboś parish, is a huge supporter of that parish, recently paying several thousands of złoty for the installation of a new stained glass window at Easter. His good efforts, of course, have been forgotten. The pastor has stated that he will take the neighbor to court for “wronging his parishioners.”

Hearing this is chilling. These towns are small, and one negative word from a local pastor can ruin a person’s life (as well as his property). It gives great power to priests who see everything as belonging to them. Of course, these little chapels and sanctuaries are huge money makers for the local pastor. It is an undertaking, engaged in by some pastors in Poland; the promotion of special shrines and chapels for the sole purpose of financial gain. Of course the people tend not to see that, but rather operate on faith, giving glory to God by their hard work and donations.

It is interesting that this happened in Rakszawa. I’ve been there. One of the churches in the area was built during communist times, at night, by the labor of people who worked the entire day before. All material were donated. The story is similar to the one concerning the building of the Arka, the only Catholic church in Nowa Huta. One apocryphal story I heard noted that when the communist authorities showed up to put a stop to the work in Rakszawa, they inquired as to who was in charge. They were consistently pointed to an elderly grandmother who sat at her kitchen table all night. She, of course, let the communists know exactly what she thought of them – she sat silently refusing to answer their questions.

Bishop Hodur spoke strongly against priests who criticized and derided their followers from the pulpit. The pulpit is the place from which the sacrament of God’s Word goes forth. It is sad that it continues to be profaned in such a way.

The priest involved is the Rev. Józef Fila of Divine Providence Parish in Trzeboś, Poland. The chapel in Rakszawa: B.V.M. of Częstochowa. Sad…

Christian Witness, Perspective, PNCC, ,

Marketing schools, incorrectly

Both my wife and I have been the frequent recipient of late of continual marketing mail from the Catholic Alumni Partnership, a firm seeking to “secure the future of Catholic education.” The organization touts Regis Philbin as their spokesperson.

The firm, a privately sponsored and funded venture, with “anonymous backers” seeks to raise funds, which I understand. They also are attempting to tie into the social network needs of the individuals they solicit using buzzwords like “Reminisce” and “Reconnect.” That seems to be more marketing than reality. Their sole strategy in that regard is to have a Facebook page.

A few things that raise questions in my mind… They are attempting to solicit alumni from schools (and often their founding parishes) long since closed. It doesn’t exactly give one a warm and fuzzy feeling to be giving money toward empty, closed, and defunct buildings — and people like me have a lot of bad feelings about that. Further, I would love to know exactly where the money is going. They present stats on their website, but I see no accountability for the outlay of the money. Is this direct scholarships to students? Is it investment in buildings and grounds? Is it paying salaries? Is it going to a diocese or a parish to underwrite their investment in education? Financial statements?

Their material paints a bleak picture for the futureThey cite a 2008-2009 report by the National Catholic Educational Association..

  • 162 Catholic schools closed last year due to financially strapped budgets. [Generally, the parents of the schools fought the closings, but were given no choice. As with parishes there’s always another one nearby, or so says the bishop.]
  • Tuition in schools covers only 54% of student costs. [Community parishes that served their members, and were part of tight knit communities, always found a way to run a school, and back in the day, without tuition. Tuition wasn’t charged in my school till I reached the 6th grade, and it was $50 a year. Now parish communities are mega-churches with 5,000 plus members and little connection as a community]
  • Last year, more than 75,000 fewer students attended Catholic elementary school than in the previous year. [By choice, due to closings, due to fear and scandal? The why is most important so that the root causes can be addressed.]
  • Catholic elementary school staff —“ once comprised of religious men and women —“ is now predominantly made up of lay men and women. In fact, nationwide, only 4% of staff is religious. [The sad aftermath of Vatican II in large measure, as well as wishy-washy catechesis by Am-Church laity. How many R.C.’s know what the Eucharist is?]

Certainly they are correct in stating that Catholic elementary schools are strained, and that families have a declining ability to pay. There very well might be a need for philanthropy. Unfortunately, the track record on school and parish closings does not lead one to want to support this effort. Before going down that road, what is necessary is that every diocese, parish, and school recommit clearly, publicly, and unequivocally to maintaining their presence. Chicken or the egg — certainly, but money cannot fix commitment. Otherwise, people are sending good money down a black hole. There is also a question sitting in the background as to where the money will go when year-over-year declines in enrollment and continued closings wipe out the last of the schools?

I do not disagree with the organization’s underlying (at least public) intent. I do disagree with marketing to people hurt by closings – yes, where is my heritage? I also disagree with the lack of a greater strategy, transparency (anonymous backers, no financials), community focus, and the overall lack of a guaranteed commitment to maintaining Catholic education from the people who are the deciders – the bishops. It is not always about money.

One other thing, my wife never attended Catholic school, in her hometown, which was certainly not in New Jersey. The organization needs to fix-up its database.

Now my plug for the PNCC. The Church is committed to maintaining its school at St. Stanislaus in Scranton. Like our parishes, a bishop cannot step in and close anything without the consent and agreement of the parishioners/those affected. That is democracy in the PNCC. Also, do you know of a Church anywhere where children and the parents are not charged for the activities the Church offers. All PNCC Parishes I know of, and their supporting organizations like the PNUA (Spójnia) and YMSofR, underwrite the entire cost for children’s participation in events. No charge or out-of-pocket for parents for Christian education, the acolyte retreat, the KURS camp, or CONVO. Pretty amazing. Couple that with college stipends and other scholarships — the Church caring for its future.

Catholic education is important, and I was a recipient of its benefits. In many ways it formed me. We used to have three schools in walking distance, now there are none. That is sad, and there are ways to fix it. That model starts with unshakable commitment where faith comes before money, and where money is never the problem.

All Right Reserved © 2005 - 2023