The XXIII General Synod of the Polish National Catholic Church will be held from Monday, October 4th to Friday, October 8th, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 5685 Falls Ave., Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. The XXIII General Synod is being hosted by the Canadian Diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church.
The Synod registration fee is C$750. Hotel reservations may be made directly with the hotel by calling 1-800-519-9911. Guests should request the special convention rate for the Polish National Catholic Church which is separate from the Synod registration fee.
Synod Registration will take place Sunday, October 3rd from 5-9pm and Monday, October 4th from 8am to noon. Opening Holy Mass will take place on Monday, October 4th at 1pm. Synod banquets will be held on Monday and Thursday evening. Dinning vouchers will be provided to cover Tuesday and Wednesday evening. The Synod will close with lunch on Friday, October 8th.
Elections will be held for the Office of the Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church. Two candidates for the Office of Bishop will also be elected. As more details become available I will offer them here.
Additional information may also be obtained from the Pre-Synod Committee, Holy Trinity Parish, 880 Barton Street East, Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 3B7, Canada. Telephone the Parish at 905-549-0470 or contact Mr. Anthony Jasinski at 416-543-8910 or by E-mail.
National United Women’s Societies for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament – Women’s Retreat
The Heart of a Woman – The National United Women’s Societies for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament 2010 retreat at the Bishop Hodur Retreat and Recreation Center, 596 Honesdale Road, Waymart, PA 18472 – August 12 – 14, 2010. Please download a copy of the 2010 Retreat Registration Form or contact Jean Macionus for registration information and forms.
YMS of R Track & Field Meet (Zlot)
The 82nd Annual YMS of R Track and Field Meet – Zlot – will be held Saturday, September 4, 2010 at the YMS of R Park on Kane Street in Scranton, PA. The rain date is Sunday, September 5, 2010. For further information, contact Nick Kazinetz.
70th Bi-Annual Convention of the National Young Men’s Society of the Resurrection
The 70th Bi-Annual Convention of the YMS of R will be held October 23rd and 24th, 2010 at Holy Mother of Sorrows Polish National Catholic Church, 212 Wyoming Avenue, Dupont, PA. The convention theme is to unite the youth of the PNCC in God’s name and in the name of the endeavor for the perfection of life. For further information, please contact Nick Kazinetz.
Utica Monday Night Polish Heritage Celebration: Holy Spirit PNCC will be at the Utica Monday Night Polish Heritage Celebration on Monday, August 2nd, selling homemade Polish food at Chancellor Park, Bleecker & Kent St., Utica. The Utica Monday Night Polish Heritage Celebration will feature a performance by Jasiu Klocek and the Salt City Brass Polka Band from 6:30 —“ 9:00.
Ychtis Polish Girls’ Group: To perform at Corpus Christi Church, 199 Clark St., Buffalo, NY on Friday, August 6th at 7:00 p.m.
Ychtis, the award-winning girls’ song and dance group from Poland, will visit Buffalo August 6 with a performance at Corpus Christi Church. The name of the ensemble is taken from the Greek word for fish. The group specializes in religious songs. Among their repertoire is music based on the poetry of the late Fr. Jan Twardowski, one of Poland’s beloved poets. They also sing songs about the former Polish city of Lwów, which has a warm place in the hearts of many Poles even though it is now in Ukraine.
The five member group of 10-15 year old girls will sing in Polish and in English as well as tap dance. The group has been in existence for 15 years and is based in the city of Katowice in the industrial region of Silesia.
Ychtis’ mission is to give young people with difficult family situations the opportunity to develop their inner and outer talents through song and dance. Ychtis has appeared on Television and toured Europe where they have won first place in a number of contests. This is their second visit to Buffalo and other cities in North America, where, in addition to Buffalo they will perform in Chicago, Cleveland, Yonkers, Newark as well as a number of cities in Canada.
The group’s performance in the beautiful sanctuary of Corpus Christi Church promises to provide an uplifting experience for all. Admission is free, but a free will donation will be requested at the end of the show to help offset the group’s expenses.
For further information, please call 716-896-1050.
Canal Days Celebration in Little Falls, NY: Enjoy a fun day at Little Falls’ 23rd annual Canal Days, August 13th to 15th. Holy Spirit PNCC will be serving Polish food prepared by its members. Polish dishes will be available as follows:
Fri. 8/13, at 5pm and during the parade in front of —Rick’s Style-Inn— 580 East Main Street, Little Falls.
Sat. 8/14, from 11am to 4pm at the church, 618 E. Gansevoort St., Little Falls.
Sun. 8/15 12 noon until sold out, at the church, 618 E. Gansevoort St., Little Falls.
Mystery Dinner Theater at the Albany PCC: The Albany PCC will host “Home on the Mystery Range” on Saturday, August 14th at 6:30pm. A cocktail hour will be followed by a Polish-American buffer dinner at 7:30pm. Tickets are $35 per person. For tickets please call 518-456-3995
National “Back To Church Sunday,” slated for September 12th, which is also the Solemnity of Brotherly Love in the Polish National Catholic Church. What a great way to put our brotherly love into action, by inviting those we know, people who once attended church – but who don’t anymore, and the “unchurched” and “dechurched” on this Sunday.
Last year, hundreds of churches took part in the first national “Back To Church Sunday,” which saw members invite more than 700,000 friends and family. This year, an estimated 1 million “unchurched” and “dechurched” people will be invited to the special day.
A survey by Outreach, Inc., a California-based church marketing company supporting the initiative, found that last year’s participating churches increased their weekend attendance on average by 19 percent.
“A recent survey of 15,000 Americans indicated that 67 percent would be open to an invitation to church coming from a member of their family,” said Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, an organization dedicated to church health and effectiveness. “‘Back To Church Sunday’ is a great opportunity for reminding and refocusing church members to reach out to their unchurched family members.”
In a separate study, the 2008 American Religious Identification Survey showed that 83 percent of American adults identify themselves as Christians. In contrast, another survey that same year by the Barna Group, a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture, indicated only about 20 percent of Americans attend a church on any given Sunday.
When Mount Sterling First United Methodist Church in Mt. Sterling, Ky., participated in “Back To Church Sunday” in 2009, response was well beyond expectations.
“Our sanctuary was full,” said Debi Lambert, the church’s evangelism and outreach leader. “We saw our attendance that day increased 40 percent over our normal attendance for that time of year.”
Unchurched families that visited that Sunday have become members, Lambert said. Others attend periodically. That’s why the Mount Sterling church anticipates an even greater response to the 2010 event. “Everybody at church has gotten on board and is excited and involved,” Lambert said.
Inviting newcomers is only part of the campaign. Churches are also encouraged to make their facilities visitor-friendly, paying attention to details important to those who haven’t tried church in a while.
In support of “Back to Church Sunday,” Outreach also supports the “Back To Church Sunday” Facebook page and a roster of participating churches on the Back to Church Sunday website. When churches go to the website and register their participation, their names and locations are added to the roster.
Edwardsville, PA: Congratulations to Juliann Perikonis, Diminik Tarnawczyk and Larry Mazurek, recent recipients of the Lawrence Reilly Jr. and Lawrence Reilly Sr. scholarships presented at The Resurrection of The Lord P.N.C.C., Edwardsville. The three members of the parish and youth group wrote essays about their academics, sports, hobbies and participation with the church and youth group, as per the requirements set forth by the Lawrence Reilly family. The scholarships were presented by Robert Albee. Perikonis was the senior high school winner; Tarnawczyk was the junior high winner; and Mazurek was the elementary winner.
Shenandoah, PA: Holy Ghost Polish National Catholic Church, 28 N. Chestnut Street, will hold a Chinese auction, Sunday, September 12th at the church. Doors will open at noon. Admission is $3. Light refreshments will be available. Everyone is welcome. Proceeds will benefit the church.
Save the Dates for Interfaith Worker Justice’s Organizing for Worker Justice Training to be held October 3-7, 2010.
Do you want to learn how to strengthen partnerships between religious and labor leaders? Understand the fundamentals of Direct Action Organizing? Design creative interfaith actions? Develop strategies for building your organization? Develop effective fundraising strategies? Frame the message about religious values and workers rights to the media? If so, then this training is for you! Stay tuned for registration details…
Holy Mother of Sorrows PNCC, 212 Wyoming Ave., Dupont, PA will be holding its 47th Annual Open Pit Chicken Barbecue on Saturday, July 17th from 12-6 p.m. on the church grounds. Dinner includes: half chicken, french fries, homemade coleslaw, beverage, cake, and rolls from Cwikla’s Bakery. Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased in advance at the recory or from any YMSofR member. Tickets are $9.
Good Shepherd Polish National Catholic Church, 269 E. Main St., Plymouth, PA will hold a pierogi sale on Sunday, July 25th. Varieties include potato with cheese and potato with jalapeno peppers. Cost is $7 per dozen. Call 570-690-5411 to order. Pickup potato and cheese orders from 3-5 p.m.; potato and jalapeno from 5-6 p.m.
The Ladies Adoration Society of St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church, 200 Stephenson St., Duryea, PA will have spaghetti dinner Sunday, July 25th from 1-3 p.m. at the church. Takeouts will be available from 12-1 p.m. The menu includes salad, spaghetti and meatballs, and rolls with butter. Beverages and desserts are extra. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased in advance by calling Ladies Adoration Society President Dolores Biscontini at 570-457-9381. You may also place an advance order for takeout meals by calling Mrs. Biscontini.
NEW YORK MILLS —” The annual Village Bell Festival will be held today and Saturday in the Main Street park. Food, rides, and games will be going on throughout the weekend. There will be an two-day long villagewide garage sale and craft fair starting at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. respectively.
The festival is a family affair and no alcoholic beverages will be allowed on village property.
Saturday
Starting at noon and lasting all day:
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish National Catholic Church will offer various Polish dishes.
The New York Mills Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will offer hot dogs, beverages, and a summer basket raffle.
The Red Knights will offer strawberry shortcake, a snowmobile trailer raffle, and a variety basket raffle.
Malson-Jones VFW Ladies Auxiliary will offer fruit turnovers.
Noon – 9 p.m. Kiddie rides and games.
Noon – Chicken barbecue sponsored by the New York Mills Lions Club
4 p.m. Hot air balloon walk and balloon tethering, weather permitting.
5 p.m. Gigantic Parade
6 p.m. Citizen of the year award
7-8:30 p.m. Joe Angerosa Elvis impersonator show in Veteran’s Park.
Dusk – Fireworks display from Twin Ponds Hill.
From the Rolco Sports Network: International Polish Sports and Culture Celebrated by Jeff Weiser
DETROIT — It was a spirited and enthusiastic audience. Polish sports and culture was the topic being celebrated. The international achievements of the 2010 inductees of the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame were staggering. The pedigree of accomplishments of Danny Ozark, Kristy Kowal and Jane ‘Peaches’ Bartkowicz was inspiring. They were being honored at the special event at the Hockeytown Café adjacent to Comerica Park.
(L-R) Baseball ambassadors, Greg Luzinski, Raymond Rolak and Tom Paciorek celebrate at the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame luncheon event to honor the 2010 inductees. Danny Ozark, Kristy Kowal and Peaches Bartkowicz were this years NPASHF inductees. PHOTO CREDIT: courtesy of DSBALively and amusing questions were at the forefront of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association meeting. It was at this luncheon when the athletic achievement of the 2010 induction class of the NPASHF was highlighted.
Jim Conrad, Chairman of the NPASHF, welcomed the media and talked golf. He said there were still golf packages available for the July 23, outing at the Greystone Golf and Banquet Center in Romeo, Michigan.
Kristy Kowal, of Reading, Pennsylvania was both an NCAA Champion and Olympic Medal winner. Besides her athletic success, Kowal graduated with academic honors from the University of Georgia, School of Education and currently is an elementary teacher in her hometown. She was NCAA Women of the Year in 2000.
Danny Ozark was celebrated not only for leading the Phillies to three straight NL East titles in the 70’s, but also for his famous fractured English. Ozark, who passed away at 85 last year, had been retired and living with his wife Ginny, in Vero Beach, Florida. He had a very long career in professional baseball, starting with the Dodgers.
Junior tennis sensation, ‘Peaches’ Bartkowicz, was noted for all her International Championships including the 1964 Women’s Jr. Wimbledon title and three medals at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics (demonstration sport). In 1970, along with Billy Jean King, they partnered to win the doubles in the Wightman Cup championship. They also were some of the pioneers to elevate the women’s professional tour. She won the Florida Orange Bowl title four years in a row in the 1960’s, and trained in Indian River County.
Kowal was especially pleased to share the day with her parents, Ed and Donna Kowal. Kristy regaled the group with the retelling of how she just missed gold at the 2004 Olympics in Sydney by a touch. Also, she kept everyone smiling as she retold of her mothers efforts (Donna) on making the best stuffed cabbage east of Philadelphia. She also reminisced how her teammate, Amanda Atkins, used to push her to excel at practice.
Former White Sox broadcaster Tom Paciorek kept the audience lively with baseball tales and stories of dugout snacks, both prudent and clandestine. Paciorek exclaimed boldly, —I am 1,000 % Polish and proud of it.— He told the humorous story of his ill-fated, one day summer vacation job at the famed Hamtramck Kowalski Sausage Company and Polka concerts by the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra.
Paciorek remembered fondly how Ozark helped him master the art of playing first base in his early major league days with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Greg ‘Bull’ Luzinski shared his best ‘Wimpy’ Paciorek stories with anecdotes about voracious hamburger eating episodes. Luzinski gave a running account of where the best burgers could be found in Chicago near old Comiskey Park and in Polish-Town on Milwaukee Avenue. Paciorek countered by gushing about the wonders of a Connies Chicago Pizza.
The conversation always got back to Ozark chronicles. Center stage became brighter as Luzinski reveled in the humanistic coaching techniques that Danny Ozark employed in the big leagues. —The Phillies would not have had the great 70’s teams if it wasn’t for Danny Ozark,— said Luzinski. —We had some great horsepower but it was Skip (Ozark), who kept the personalities together.—
Paciorek amused the group with Tiger Stadium stories also. He started the narrative of how former DSBA member and Detroit Tiger broadcaster Larry Osterman got knocked out. It was while announcing the game on television; Osterman got flattened after being struck in the forehead with a foul ball. Bill Freehan was his broadcast partner and it was his first game. Freehan was overcome with so much air time to fill with the accident, he never did another broadcast. Paciorek added with a smile, —The booth behind home plate didn’t have a screen. Ernie Harwell always said those games should have come with combat pay. You could get shell shocked in there from all the serious foul balls.—
He also told of how he lost out to the Bull for being able to use —Beer Barrel Polka— as his theme from the organist at Comiskey Park. —Look at the size of his neck,— said Paciorek. GEEZE (long pause and pointing to Luzinski), who is ever going to argue with the Bull? Look at that neck,— he again emphasized smiling.
Ken Kal, and Raymond Rolak kept the roundtable luncheon spirited with hockey stories and their baseball memories of old Tiger Stadium.
Kal, the radio voice of the Detroit Red Wings, told of the saga of George Eichorn being the producer for the unique radio presentations of Detroit sports-talk host, Ron Cameron. —I only did it for a year,— said Eichorn with a wink. —I got to talk to Howard Cosell, what an issue that was,— he added. Cameron was also known for his Florida restaurants with Dick Vitale. Eichorn received a testimonial plaque from the NPASHF.
At the back table, Rolak spoke on how Stan Musial could keep a crowd entertained and awed with his harmonica concerts. —People forget that Stan was the General Manager for the 1967 World Series winning St. Louis Cardinals,— said Rolak. Musial was the first inductee into the NPASHF in 1973.
Boxing referee Frank Garza presented to Conrad, a poster from a championship fight in Poland to be displayed at the NPASHF Museum, located in Troy, Michigan.
Kowal, donated her U.S. Olympic cap and USA swimsuit from her last World Championship competition also for the NPASHF Museum.
At the induction banquet she was honored to be presented into the Hall of Fame from her University of Georgia swimming coach, Jack Bauerle. Bauerle was also the U.S. Olympic coach at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Bauerle, who is passionate about telling the story of Kristy’s success, said emphatically, —She is the best of the best.—
The Polish Community Center at 225 Washington Ave Ext, Albany, NY is hosting a Polish Summer Festival 2010 on Saturday, July 17th from 2:30-8:30pm and Sunday, July 18th from 2-7pm.
Saturday’s activities include music by the Maestro’s Men & Stephanie’s Honky Band, a Polish- American kitchen with take-out available, a Polish Cultural Exhibit, as well as a Basket Raffle, bake sale, and an imported Polish beer tasting. Saturday admission is $15. Children 16 and under free.
Sunday is Family Day with kids activities, games, and a Bouncy Bounce. There will also be a participatory pierogi making demonstration. Music by the Polka Family Band with special appearance by “Hexplay” reunion from 5-6 pm. The St. Adalbert’s Dance troop will perform and the Polish- American kitchen, Polish Cultural Exhibit, as well as a Basket Raffle, bake sale, and an imported Polish beer tasting will continue. Sunday admission is $12. Children 16 and under free.
Advance ticket price for Saturday and Sunday is $22, a $5 savings. Advance tickets must be purchased and paid-in-full by July 9th.
The PCC has a spacious dance floor, plenty of parking. All Are Welcome!
Last year, hundreds of churches took part in the first national “Back To Church Sunday,” which saw members invite more than 700,000 friends and family. This year, an estimated 1 million “unchurched” and “dechurched” people will be invited to the special day.