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Events

Polish-American Buffet at the Albany Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Ave Ext., Albany, NY on Friday, October 8th from 4-8pm. Call 518-456-3995 for more information.

Film Screening: The American Polish Central Committee of Lawrence County will show the movie “Nine Days That Changed the World — Pope John Paul II” at 5 p.m. Sunday, October 10th at Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church, 1708 S. Jefferson St., New Castle, PA as a part of the October celebration of Polish-American Heritage Month. The documentary is about Pope John Paul II’s historic nine-day pilgrimage to Poland in June 1979 just before the disintegration of Communism in Eastern Europe. The public is invited to the free showing, and refreshments will be served. More information about the American Polish Central Committee.

Ziti Dinner and Basket Raffle: Saturday, October 16th, 5-7 p.m at Resurrection of the Lord Polish National Catholic Church, 35 Zerby Ave., Edwardsville, PA. Adults pay $8; $4 for children 10 years old and younger. Salad, meatballs, ziti, bread, homemade deserts, and beverages served. Takeouts available. For more information call Margaret, 570-288-9350, Dorothy, 570-287-5843, the Rev. Pawel, 570-283-2686, or Rich Manta, 570-696-3668.

Harvest Festival/Dożynki at the Albany Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Ave Ext., Albany, NY on Sunday, October 17th from Noon until 8pm.

PNCC, , , ,

Coverage of the XXIII General Synod

At the Citizens Voice: Regional PNCC head elected church’s seventh prime bishop

Bishop Anthony Mikovsky, the leader of the Scranton-based Central Diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church, was elected on Tuesday to the denomination’s highest post.

The New Jersey-native, who has spent his 13-year priesthood serving in the city, was elected prime bishop during the 23rd General Synod in Niagara Falls, Ontario, by a two-thirds majority of the ordained and lay delegates, including the prime bishop-elect’s father.

Mikovsky has been bishop of the Central Diocese and pastor of St. Stanislaus Cathedral since 2006. Before becoming bishop, he served as the assistant pastor at St. Stanislaus, the mother church of the denomination, beginning in 1997.

In his new post he will move less than two blocks from the East Locust Street cathedral to the seat of the Polish National Catholic Church on Pittston Avenue.

“I’m overwhelmed,” he said by phone Tuesday, not long after the vote. “When people put trust in you to lead them in God’s field, and in going forward to build up the church, it’s a very humbling experience.”

The Rev. Jason Soltysiak, assistant pastor at St. Stanislaus, learned the news of the vote on Tuesday from “about 150 text messages” from church members, but he spread the word in the traditional way – by ringing the cathedral bells.

“That’s, I guess, our version of the white smoke,” he said, referring to the signal that indicates the selection of a new pope in the Roman Catholic church.

An elderly parishioner, hearing the bells, called Soltysiak and left a message.

“He said, ‘By those bells ringing I can only assume that our pastor is now the prime bishop,'” Soltysiak recalled Tuesday afternoon. “As he choked away tears he said, ‘I’m so happy I could cry.'”

Current Prime Bishop Robert M. Nemkovich must retire from the position because of age limits set by church law. He was elected in 2002.

Also at the Times Tribune and an earlier article here.

PNCC

Holy Synod Day 2

As noted yesterday, completely unofficial.

Call to Order

Report of the Agenda Committee.

Looks like an aggressive agenda for the day.

Report of the Mandate Committee, 217 delegates. Up two from yesterday. Reporting on Mandates by Diocese. Oath will be given delegates not here yesterday.

Morning prayer. Reading from 1 Kings 3:7-15.

Report of Nominations Commission.

Clarification from yesterday’s post, there were five nominees for bishop, two declined, one was approved prior to Synod. Two were interviewed last night. They were both approved by the Committee. There are three nominees for the Office of Bishop. Vote on the report – accepted. (Electronic voting – very cool).

Note on the vote for the new Prime Bishop, all current bishops are eligible excepting those who will reach mandatory retirement age prior to the end of the eight year term of office.

Correction after roll call, 218 delegates.

Test vote – all ok.

Bishops Bigaj (Canadian Diocese), Mack (Auxiliary of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese), and Mikovsky (Central Diocese) accept the nomination to the Office of Prime Bishop. Bishop Kopka (Western Diocese) declines.

Each Prime Bishop nominee addresses the delegates for 10 minutes.

The Prime Bishop reads from the section of the Constitution on the Election of the Prime Bishop. A two-thirds majority is required. As more than two candidates stand. If after 5 votes no Bishop is elected, the two top vote getters will remain standing. Bishop Peplowski offers a prayer to the Holy Spirit.

Bishop Bigaj graciously withdrew after the second ballot. No one elected after 15 ballots. The remaining candidates address the delegates for five minutes each.

After 25 ballots, no Bishop has been elected to the Office of Prime Bishop. The candidates readdress the Synod Body.

On the 42nd ballot Bishop Mikovsky has been elected to the Office of Prime Bishop.

The democratic Church in action. An emotional and wonderful moment.

Bishop Mikovsky, the Prime Bishop elect addresses the Synod. We are singing Sto Lat for him.

Break for lunch. Up next, election of candidates for Bishop. Three will stand for election, two to be selected

Reconvene.

Afternoon prayer, offered in petition for the continued action of the Holy Spirit in the Holy Polish National Catholic Church. Reading 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13.

NOTE: The Prime Bishop elect assumes Office as of new business.

Election of candidates for bishop. Reading from the Constitution on the election of bishop candidates. Those elected must have a two-thirds majority. Each candidate will have 5 minutes to address the delegates, and two further minutes thereafter.

The vote begins.

Very Rev. Paul Sobiechowski elected candidate to the Office of Bishop on the first ballot.

After 50 votes, a motion to end the election. Serious discussion.

The vote for candidates has been ended. The Supreme Council to meet. On break.

Reconvened.

Getting locations for Diocesan caucuses.

Report of the Prime Bishop, Most Rev. Robert Nemkovich. Many thanks and positive things to report — the generosity and hard work of the people and clergy of the PNCC. Thanks to his wife and family for their support and perseverance.

Sto Lat for the Prime Bishop. Move to accept his report with gratitude.

Report of the Diocesan Bishops, Buffalo-Pittsburgh, Canadian, Central, Eastern, Western.

Buf-Pit, incorporating a new parish (this weekend), three more have opened discussions with the PNCC. Great evangelism efforts. ‘Our local R.C Bishop excommunicates, I communicate.’. Two more parishes in Italy are exploring the PNCC. A group in France and another in Bavaria as well. A new parish in Norway near the arctic circle. We are known. Give hope to others. Pray for your Church, and set about growing. A lot of joyful news.

A delegate from one of the new parishes, Our Lady in Brandt NY, approached and offered an emotional thank you to the Diocese and the Church. You have given us our home, hope, and the presence of Jesus in our community.

Adjourn for the day and for caucuses later.

This will end my report from Synod. I must return home. Please continue to pray for our Holy Church and the Synod.

PNCC

Live bloggong synod

This in completely unofficial!

Prime Bishop opens the Synod.

Opening prayers in Polish and English, Bishops Gnat and Bigaj

Welcome from Mr. Tony Jasinski, Chair of the Pre-Synodal Committee.

Welcome from Bishop Bigaj.

Banner over the Dias – And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Greeting from the Chairs of the various organizations: ANS, YMSofR, United Choirs, National Youth.

PNUA greetings.

Archbishop Emeritus Pierce – greetings from the Anglican Church of Canada. Talking about ++Runcie, “winter of ecumenism.”. The Romans and Russian Orthodox won’t talk to us. Winter is a trial time. We must proclaim the Gospel and pass through winter.

Bishop Kmiec of Buffao with RC greetings. He is co-chair of the PNCC-RC dialog. We are brothers and sisters as well as respectful/cordial friends. We must continue on this path and little divides us.

Business begins, appointment to Synodal Committees.

Rules & Regs Committee, Agenda Committee, Mandate Committee then Oath of Delegates. Initial appointments and reports will be voted upon after the oath.

5 minute break.

Roll call. 215 voting delegates.

Oath.

Votes on prior items and the minutes of the XXII General Synod.

Report of the Nominations Commission. Any nominees for the Office of Bishop from the floor will have credentials reviewed as well as interviews this evening.

Three nominees.

Business resumes tomorrow. Holy Mass at 7am.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, ,

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 9

Come, O Holy Comforter, and grant me a relish
for heavenly things. Produce in my soul the
fruits of virtue, so that, being filled with all
sweetness and joy in the pursuit of good, I may
attain unto eternal blessedness. As the Holy
Synod will gather tomorrow to begin its
historical deliberations and planning for the
next four years, allow Your gifts to be ever-
present in all that is said, done, prayed for,
believed in, and accomplished until
adjournment. Allow also that all that is decided
upon be for the praise of Your Holy Name and
for the benefit of all the members of the Polish
National Catholic Church.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, ,

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 8

Come, O Spirit of Wonder, penetrate my inmost
heart, that l may set You, my Lord and God,
before my face forever; and shun all things that
can offend You so that I may be made worthy to
appear before the pure eyes of Your divine
Majesty in the heaven of heavens, where You
live and reign in the unity of the Ever-blessed
Trinity, world without end. Especially allow
our Holy Synod to gather and deliberate while
all the while having wonder in Your Presence,
and allow them to depend on Your interaction
in all the deliberations that shall take place
during the time of Holy Synod.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, ,

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 7

Come, O Spirit of Piety, possess my heart;
incline it to a true faith in You, to a holy love of
You my God, that with my whole soul I may
seek You, and find You my best, my truest joy.
Especially give this gift to our Seminary, its staff,
program, and those who shall answer the call to
ordained ministry. Allow our Seminary to stand
with holiness in Your presence, as it prepares
shepherds of Your Holy Church.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, ,

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 6

Come, O Spirit of Knowledge, and make me
understand and despise the emptiness and
nothingness of the world. Give me grace to use
the world only for Your glory and the salvation
of Your creatures. May l always be very faithful
in putting Thy rewards before every earthly gift.
Especially give this gift to our fraternal
organization, the Polish National Union Spójnia.
Allow this organization to promote fraternalism
and concord within its membership and its
interaction with our Holy Church.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, ,

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 5

Come, O Spirit of Fortitude, and give courage to
my soul. Make my heart strong in all trials and
in all distress, pouring forth abundantly into it
the gifts of strength, that I may be able to resist
the attacks of the devil. Especially give this gift
of strength to those who shall comprise the
Supreme council of our Holy Church. Allow
them to always be strong within You as they
deliberate for the good of the Church for the
next four years.

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