From the Abington Journal: St. Stanislaus Polish National Catholic Cathedral Block Party, from 5 to 10 p.m. continuing through the 27th. Corner of Pittston Avenue and East Elm Street, Scranton. Features a variety of foods, drinks, games and music. Info: 570.961.9231

From the Republican Herald: Around the Region

Shenandoah: Of all the houses of worship ever in the borough – there were 18, including those now defunct – only two are on the east side. They are St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church, East Oak Street, and the First United Methodist Church, Oak and White streets. The church/synagogue count includes Catholic (Roman [, Polish National,] and Ukrainian), Orthodox, Protestant and Jewish. Defunct houses of worship include Kehillat Israel Synagogue, the Russian Orthodox Church, Our Lady of Mercy Syrian Catholic and Holy Family German Catholic. Although the St. George Roman Catholic Church building no longer exists, the parish family remains functional. Still existing are Annunciation BVM, St. Stanislaus, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Stephen and St. Casimir Roman Catholic, St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic, Holy Ghost Polish National, St. John’s Lutheran, Trinity United Church of Christ, First Baptist, Restoration Fellowship, Primitive Methodist and First United Methodist. In years past, the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society sponsored tours of the various churches.

From The Dispatch: Holy Mother of Sorrows to host music convention

The National United Choir (NUC) 22nd Music Workshop/30th General Convention hosted by the Scranton Chapter Circle Choir will be held at Holy Mother of Sorrows Church on Wednesday, July 27, through Friday, July 29. This workshop brings together the many talents of organists, choir members and musicians dedicated to the music ministry of the Polish National Catholic Church.

The convention will open on Wednesday with a Mass at Holy Mother of Sorrows beginning at 5:00 p.m. concelebrated by the Prime Bishop Anthony Mikovsky of the Polish National Catholic Church, United States and Canada; Bishop John Mack of the Diocese of Central Scranton, New York and New Jersey; Bishop Thomas Gnat, Bishop of the New England Diocese, Bishop Anthony Popka, Bishop of the Diocese of Chicago and Father Zbigniew Dawid, Pastor of Holy Mother of Sorrows.

Five instructors will give their expertise in music over the two day workshop: Dr. Jim Ploshanka of Cleveland, Ohio; Dr. Neil Stahurski of Pittsburgh, Patrick Marsinko, II; Scranton; Lisa McConlogue, Scranton, Director of Vocal Music at Scranton High School and Wendy Blotzer, McKeesport, Math Teacher, Clairiton City, who has served the National United Choirs as a Music Commission member, Music Scholarship Reviewer and Composer.

The Convention/ Workshop participants will review the new organist handbook, expand the music scholarship program which has awarded more than $330,000 since its inception in 1966 to parishioners committed to the music ministry, prepare music selections for the two free concerts and introduce their newly published church hymnal. This one of a kind hymnal includes all of the traditional Polish hymns from all the holidays plus customary church songs with the Polish verses on one side and the English translation on the other side. Volunteers from all parishes throughout the continental United States spent 20 years crafting this hymnal.

On Thursday, July 28, and Friday, July 29, after the days convention the National United Choir will hold two concerts free of charge and will be open to the public. Both concerts will be held in Holy Mother of Sorrows Church starting at 7:00 p.m.

On Thursday the Ekumen Chorale the Premier Eastern European Choral Ensemble of Northeastern Pa. conducted by Patrick Marsinko, II will perform sacred choral works compiled by composers of Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Belarus.

Marsinko, founder and conductor of the Ekumne since its creation in 1985 is a native and resident of Northeastern Pa. and holds Bachelor’s Degree in Language and Music from the University of Miami. He studied for his Master’s Degree in Rome and at the Eastern European Institute at Fordham University. He has worked with the Miami Symphony, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. He has taught at Marywood University and Keystone Junior College, was Director of the Keystone Choir and has also taught in the Scranton and Archbald Public School Systems for the past 28 years.

Friday’s concert will include all the visiting Bishops with the workshop participants singing a selection of songs from the new hymnal featuring Dr. Neil Stahurski as organist.

Following this concert refreshment will be served in the parish hall. All are welcome.

The National United Choir has commissioned the hymnals for sale to the public. If you are interested contact Raymond Makowski, Librarian of the NUS at 1233 Rundel St, Scranton, Pa. 18504, or call 570-346-6756. The cost is $25.00 and $3.00 for shipping. He will also have the hymnals available after the concerts on Thursday and Friday.

From the Northwest Indiana Times: East Chicago church blesses new Cedar Lake home

The Rev. Anthony Mikovsky, seventh prime bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church, and the Rev. Anthony Kopka, diocesan bishop of the Western Diocese, are presented bread and salt by James Szalony and Katherine Long during Sunday’s dedication of St. Michael the Archangel National Catholic Church in Cedar Lake. Kopka mixed blessed salt, wine, ashes and water to make Gregorian water, which traditionally is used to consecrate churches and altars.

The church dedicated the first phase of its new complex in Cedar Lake on Sunday afternoon. In addition to parishioners and clergy of other faiths, special guests included Town Council President Robert Carnahan and two officials from Pangere Corp., which built the new building at 6629 W. 133th Ave.

“This day we bless our parish,” said St. Michael’s pastor, the Rev. John P. Kowalczyk.

As part of the ceremony, Pangere’s Robert Grow and Steve Pangere presented Kowalczyk, Dale Wynant, parish committee chairman, and Bill Burket, relocation committee chairman, with keys to the building. “May the building stand 100 years,” Grow said.

St. Michael’s sold its original church, in East Chicago, in 2007. Until the opening of the new church building, parishioners celebrated Mass at Great Oaks Banquets in Cedar Lake.

Carnahan presented the building’s certificate of occupancy on behalf of the Town Council.

“It is a privilege and an honor to do so,” he said.

The dedication ceremony was conducted by Kowalczyk, the Rev. Anthony Mikovsky, seventh prime bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church, and the Rev. Anthony Kopka, diocesan bishop of the Western Diocese. Other Polish National Catholic clergy attended, as well as ecumenical guests from United Methodist, Zion United Church of Christ and local Catholic churches.

After the keys and certificate of occupancy were presented, the processional cross led the way. The bishops first blessed the church entrance and the area of the building to be used as a hall. In the hall, Kopka mixed blessed salt, wine, ashes and water to make Gregorian water, which traditionally is used to consecrate churches and altars. The church’s sanctuary space was then blessed and its altar consecrated.
The bishop blessed items from the parish’s old church, including an offertory table, tabernacle, pulpit and woodcut panels depicting the stations of the cross.

St. Michael the Archangel National Catholic Church was first established in East Chicago in 1903. Its earliest parishioners were Polish. It reached 200 members by the 1940s.

A new church, with more than 50 stained glass windows donated by parish families, was built in East Chicago in the 1950s. English Masses were added in the 1960s and the church continued to grow. Its 100th anniversary was celebrated Sept. 28, 2003.

The last Mass in the old church was celebrated Nov. 18, 2007. The parish purchased 7.75 acres on 133rd Avenue in Cedar Lake in 2008. Groundbreaking for the new church complex was March 8, 2009.

From the Times Leader: Ashley Legion honors vets with monument: Tribute to fallen veterans and victims of 9/11 is dedicated at Club 79

WILKES-BARRE – With pomp and circumstance, the five uniformed members of the Ashley American Legion Post 673 paid tribute to America’s fallen veterans and the victims of 9/11 on Monday by dedicating a monument in front of Club 79 on Blackman Street.

The ceremony was arranged by Club 79 owner Charles Hoynowski, who also purchased the monument, which reads, “To all veterans and those 2,982 victims who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.”

The ceremony began with the Very Rev. Thaddeus Dymkowski of Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church in Wilkes-Barre saying a prayer and then blessing the monument with holy water. Legion chaplain Arthur Prandy then made some remarks.

“We are gathered here today to dedicate this memorial in honor of the victims of the terrible 9/11 tragedy, where so many people lost their lives, and to honor all of our deceased veterans,” Prandy said.

Following Prandy’s comments, three members of the legion fired blanks from guns in memory of the honored, and legion bugler Charles Falcheck played “Taps” on his bugle. An American flag was hoisted up a pole behind the monument.

Ashley American Legion members are responsible for attending local military funerals and delivering military honors. They receive their assignments from Officer Warren Gallagher of Scranton, who gets his information from Fort Dix in New Jersey.

Post Commander Tom Paul of Ashley was pleased with the ceremony.

“I think it’s a great thing,” he said. “We should have more monuments out there for our veterans and for what happened during 9/11.”

Hoynowski, 68, was inspired to place the monument due in part to his own experiences in uniform; he served in the U.S. Navy from 1961-67 and was a state trooper from 1972 to 1992.

“We were supposed to place the monument five years ago, but the club was having financial problems,” he said. “Now that the club is doing better, we’re finally doing it.”

In addition to dedicating the monument, Club 79 will also donate a $100 check to the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign Fund in Washington, D.C. This campaign raises funds for a proposed memorial located in Shanksville to honor the Flight 93 passengers who thwarted another terrorist attack on 9/11.

From New London Patch: Under The Gold Star Bridge, A Small Church With A Big Heart: It plans to keep meeting, but the St. Peter and Paul Polish National Catholic Church may soon be giving up their building to the Homeless Hospitality Center

When I was working to put together some of the directory for this website, the St. Peter and Paul Polish National Catholic Church at first eluded me. A business located farther down State Pier Road informed me that I’d overshot the building, and I found it amid a small cluster of buildings. The small wooden structure is slightly obscured by trees, located next to a housing project and the larger Faith Fellowship church, across from the Old Town Mill, and almost directly under one of the ramps leading to the Gold Star Bridge.

The denomination itself dates back to 1897 when it split from the Roman Catholic Church to incorporate Polish language and culture. The New London church was founded 90 years ago, in 1921, when the area had a Polish neighborhood to help sustain it. With attrition and the changing surroundings, the membership has dwindled to about 20, and only about 10 people were at the service I attended on Mother’s Day (the third Sunday of Easter). It’s a small but vibrant group dedicated to keeping the church active.

Stepping inside the church almost seemed like entering another world. The interior was well-maintained, with a bright altar holding several religious figures. Simple blue and gold windows let in the light, but none of the sound, from outside. Inside the sanctuary, the rumble of the interstate traffic overhead was nonexistent.

Rev. Stanley Kaszubski, the church’s pastor, says the Polish church is similar to the Roman Catholic Church, but does not fall under the Pope’s administration. Other differences include the right of priests to marry and a ceremony at the beginning of the service where confession is done silently and followed by general absolution. The program does not outline every step of the service, but the members seem to know where to find the necessary responses in a booklet entitled “The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.”

The service is remarkably quick, lasting about 45 minutes. A significant portion of that time includes the prayers and proclamations leading into the communion, presented by Kaszubski at the front of the church. Kaszubski also gave a brief address, smiling as he dedicated the mass to the mothers and encouraged everyone to enjoy the beautiful weather. His lesson gave another encouragement, saying Christians often look to personally experience Christ but don’t share it with others.

“We really need God every day in our lives,” he said.

Kaszubski, a native of Poland, has served in other churches in the denomination, including one in Manchester and one in Webster, Mass. He served 12 years as administrator of the New London church before he was appointed pastor last year. The services are open to all, not just those of Polish descent, and he said he is always available to assist anyone with their troubles.

“We are here, we will be here, and anyone is invited to worship,” he said.

Kathy Donlon, who has attended the church for five years, said Kaszubski’s upbeat and welcoming attitude was one of the main factors that made her decide to become a member. She said she particularly enjoys the homilies Kaszubski delivers, as they make a strong connection with the congregants.

“You feel like he’s almost family, because it’s such a small church,” said Donlon.

Colleen (Rzepniewski) Pinckney said she was christened in the church and has attended regularly since 2000. She feels a personal connection to the church, as her grandfather helped found the church and her father retrieved the chandelier hanging in the sanctuary as part of his work in house demolition.

“The feeling that I have when I’m here, the feeling of belonging…there’s definitely a connection for me, and I can’t explain it because it comes from my heart,” said Pinckney.

With increasing expenses and decreasing membership, the church is still going but poised to make a big change. It is working to sell the church to the New London Homeless Hospitality Center, at which point they would move both the daytime operations and night shelter into the building. The members would continue to meet next door, in the conference room in the rectory.

For Pinckney, the change will be bittersweet. She said she was initially upset with the idea of turning over the church to another group. However, she said she was happy it would be used as a “continuation of God’s work.”

From the National Council of Churches: National Council of Churches member communions say the death of Bin Laden must be a turning point

New York, May 3, 2011 – The death Sunday of Osama Bin Laden does not “eradicate the scourge of terrorism,” but it should stimulate the churches to commit themselves “to moving forward together as witnesses for God’s love and peace.”

The statement, released Tuesday on behalf of the National Council’s member communions, says:

The death of Osama Bin Laden is a significant moment in the turbulent history of the past decade. It does not eradicate the scourge of terrorism nor does it bring closure to the grieving and pain the world has endured since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, for which he was the primary architect. The National Council of Churches deplores and condemns the extremism he personified, the twisted illusions that wrought years of violence and evil in the world.

Now the member communions of the National Council of Churches pray for God’s help as we commit ourselves to moving forward together as witnesses for God’s love and peace. In November 2001, as the world reeled from the terror attacks, the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches and Church World Service challenged their communions to take the lead:

It is time [we said then] for us as an ecumenical community to make a renewed commitment to a ministry of peace with justice, and to make real in these days the call of Jesus, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) In his Beatitudes, Jesus calls us, his followers, to be merciful if we are to receive mercy; he reminds us that the peacemakers are blessed and will be called children of God. And, he proclaims us “the light of the world”; our good works should be a beacon to others so they may give glory to God. (Matthew 5:14-16)…

The NCC includes the PNCC and the statement was signed by the Rev. Robert M. Nemkovich, Jr., Ecumenical Officer of the Polish National Catholic Church in America.

From the Albany Times Union: Seeking divine sustenance: The Capital Region’s faithful celebrate Easter with a truly diverse range of traditional fare

Throughout the generations, Christian immigrants brought along not only the rituals of their religion but also favorite foods for the celebration of Easter.

After sundown on Holy Saturday, a cauldrum of fire to light the paschal candle — signifying Christ, the light of the world — burns outside a Loudonville church of a longstanding Polish National Catholic congregation.

In Albany on Sunday, Nigerians and Ghanaians in African garb celebrate Christ’s resurrection with drumming and singing in their native dialects at the International Christian Fellowship Ministry.

After the Easter service at the First United Methodist Church Hispanic Emmanuel Faith Community in Rensselaer, Caribbean sweet drinks quench the thirst of the congregation led by Pastor Mariana Rodriquez. Some three dozen members gather in the parish hall for a chicken dinner and a Cuban drink made from sweet potatoes, and one from red beans with roots in the Domincan Republic.

Sweet is also favored by Germans in delicacies like marzipan, an almond paste, in the shape of a lamb. “Jesus was the lamb of God, and that means good luck,” says Glen Eggelhoefer, owner of Rolf’s Pork Store in Albany’s West Hill. Ham and lamb are the most common main courses.

“After 40 days of Great Lent, after fasting, it is now time to celebrate and taste food — a gift from God,” said the Rev. Mark Gnidzinski, pastor of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Czestochowa. Founded by Polish immigrants in Albany in 1920, the parish celebrated its first Mass at its suburban home on Easter Sunday in 1999.

In Polish and Eastern European tradition, swieconka is the blessing in church of decorated Easter baskets filled with kielbasa, horseradish, bread, butter lambs and colored eggs that signify new life. The food graces the Easter dinner table…

From the Times-Tribune: Residents still dependent on community to help make ends meet

At first, Sally Kurtz felt strange walking into a neighborhood food pantry and accepting a box of items that would help her make it through the week. But as it became harder and harder for the Scranton woman, who retired from her maintenance job two years ago, to make ends meet, she found herself depending more and more on the soup kitchens and other community services.

“Buying heating oil is expensive; all my utilities are expensive,” she said. “I don’t know what I’d do without the food pantries and the soup kitchens around here.”

On Saturday, Mrs. Kurtz joined dozens of others at St. Stanislaus Polish National Catholic Cathedral’s Youth Center, 530 E. Elm St. in Scranton, for a monthly free hot meal. It is one of several places around the area where people can gather for some food and friendship, and organizers said they have seen an increase in the number of people who come to eat since they began the program three years ago.

“We’re seeing more people every month,” said Carol Nasser, who helps out at the monthly meal. “The recession isn’t over, not for a lot of people.”

Also at the youth center for a free meal was Ann Thorne of Scranton. She has been out of work since August and has had little success in finding even temporary jobs. And though it was the first time she had ever been to St. Stanislaus, she said she was glad she had heard about it.

“I’m worried about paying bills,” she said. “I’m trying to make it on my own, but it’s hard.”

Both women say they worry about state budget cuts proposed earlier this month by Gov. Tom Corbett, some of which may make it harder for agencies that help people struggling with unemployment and soaring bills. Funding for food pantries, homeless shelters and other social services is in jeopardy, and both women said they are not sure where else they would go for help if local programs were to disappear.

“It will make it harder for me,” Ms. Thorne said.

Father Charles Csirip, one of the volunteers at the monthly meal, said the church and other community groups have come forward in the last few years to help those struggling and would continue to do so.

“People are doing better, but they’re uncertain that they’re going to stay better,” he said.

From the Baltimore Sun: No Polish Festival this year for shrinking Fells Point community: Festival was at Rash Field, Patterson Park

Warm, melodic polka music still fills the Polish Home Club in Fells Point every Saturday night, where rounds of the house drink — golden, honey-flavored Krupnik — are passed around the bar and quickly drained.

But the decidedly older crowd — one member recalled the first time he walked into the club, still recovering from injuries he sustained fighting in World War II — has thinned as residents from the Polish community die off, with many of their children already having left the neighborhood.

And now, a major symbol of the community’s vibrant past is fleeting: There will be no Baltimore Polish Festival this year for the first time in nearly four decades. When the celebration returns next year, it’s likely to be held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.

“We’ve been in the city all of this time. It’s a sad thing we have to move now,” said Steve Lesniewski, president of the Polish Community Association of Maryland, which organizes the festival. Lesniewski is also the vice president of the Polish Home Club. “You hate to see things fall by the wayside but it happens. … Polish organizations are drying up.”

Each June, the festival has attracted throngs from all over the city over a three-day weekend to celebrate Baltimore’s Polish community — largely congregated in Southeast Baltimore’s Upper Fells Point neighborhood, where immigrants established a number of churches, small businesses and social clubs.

The festival featured pierogies, golabki (a stuffed cabbage dish) and kielbasa. Guests drank beers such as Zywiec and Okocim, and danced to music at three stages. The celebration kicked off the city’s ethnic festival season each summer. This would have been its 38th year in Baltimore; after a long run at Rash Field, the celebration moved to Patterson Park in 1990…

Baltimore’s PNCC Parish, Holy Cross, always had a food sales booth at the festival.

From the Times-Tribune Namedropper:

The Most Rev. John F. Swantek, prime bishop emeritus of the Polish National Catholic Church, was a guest speaker at the weekly Lenten Soup and Sermon series at Elm Park United Methodist Church, Scranton. The series is based on the theme, “Words to the Cross.” Ed E. Rogers, a trustee at Elm Park Church, introduced Father [sic] Swantek. The Rev. C. Gerald Blake Jr., is pastoral associate at the host church.