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Man of faith – Roger Deffner

The Wausau Daily Herald honors Roger Deffner from Our Savior National Catholic Church in Mosinee, Wisconsin in its People of Faith column.

Church: Our Savior National Catholic Church, Mosinee

Ministry: Coordinates many of the activities offered at Our Savior

Motivation: “I help wherever they need help,” Deffner said. “I use my kitchen skills whenever and wherever I can for my church. I try to get young people involved at the start of each festivity. We bring our ideas to the table, and then decide how things should get done. I’m an active doer and enjoy helping others. I like helping people — in my law business and in my religion. To help people — that’s what the Bible is all about.”

Deffner, the Rev. Marion Talaga and a team of other volunteers will prepare a pancake feed with traditional Polish potato pancakes using Talaga’s recipe, and blueberry pancakes and sausage, serving from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 2 in the basement at Our Savior National Catholic Church, 706 Ninth St., Mosinee. The day will include a bake sale and pierogi sale. Pierogi orders will be taken at the church office, 715-693-2241; $4.50 per dozen.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, ,

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 4

Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in
all my ways, that l may always do thy holy will.
Incline my heart to that which is good, turn it
away from all that is evil, and direct me by the
path of Your commandments to the goal of
eternal life. Especially give your counsel within
the composition of our National Commissions.
Allow all those who are chosen to serve to
always depend upon this gift.

Calendar of Saints, Christian Witness, PNCC, Saints and Martyrs, ,

Pet Blessings across the PNCC

Blessing of animals in honor of the Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi at a PNCC Parish near you as follows:

Saturday, October 2nd, 10:30-11:15 a.m., St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church, 200 Stephenson St., Duryea, PA.

Saturday, October 2nd at 1 p.m. at St. Francis Parish, 1752 Harton Avenue, East Meadow, Long Island, NY.

Saturday, October 2nd at 2pm at St. John the Baptist Parish, 414 West Oak St., Frackville, PA.

Saturday, October 2nd, at 10am at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 1040 Pearl St., Schenectady, NY. A collection of pet food and other supplies will be taken in support of local pet rescue organizations.

Contact your local Parish for more information.

Perspective, PNCC, ,

Another sad tale

From the MyWebTimes: Small church many called home

Stefan and Teresa Pazur came to Streator (IL) with their family from Poland 27 years ago.

Since the first day they set foot in the United States, St. Casimir Church on Livingston Street has been their home.

“I didn’t know anybody,” Stefan said. “I didn’t know anything about Streator. I didn’t speak English. My family didn’t speak English.”

The smallest of Streator’s four Catholic churches made them feel at home because of its rich Polish heritage.

In 1916, a group of families of Polish descent requested the formation of St. Casimir’s parish. The parish purchased a church from the Beulah Baptist congregation at the corner of Livingston and Illinois streets.

The wooden Russian Orthodox Catholic Church was a gift from Czar Alexander III of Russia for the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. At the conclusions of the exposition, the building was dismantled, shipped to Streator and reassembled. It was used by a Russian Orthodox congregation until the baptists [sic] purchased it.

St. Casimir’s first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Eve in 1916. Dedication ceremonies were in April 1917 with Bishop E.N. Dunne. The Rev. Mieczyslaus T. Szalewski was the organizer and first pastor of St. Casimir Church.

Shortly afterward, an addition to the church provided two classrooms for parish children to attend school. The Franciscan Sisters ran the school until it was discontinued in 1931.

In 1962, the Rev. Marion Switka was appointed to the parish. He realized there was a need for extensive renovation or a new building.

The old building was razed and a new building, which currently stands, was constructed.

Parishioner Diane Safarcyk Crawford recalls the construction.

“It was sad to see the old church go, but it was no longer functional,” said Safarcyk, who played organ during high school for $1 a Mass. “I remember them raising the steeples and cleaning up after the carpenters.”

During construction of the new building, Masses on Sundays and holy days were in the Polish National Hall across the street and weekday Masses in the basement of the rectory.

Finally, the first Mass at the new church was celebrated on Christmas Eve in 1964. The Rev. George Dzuryo conducted the blessing and consecration of the altar.

The new edifice is of ultramodern pie-fold architecture.

The altar is made of gray granite, slightly tapered from top to bottom, and rests on a base of gray granite forms that create crosses encircling the altar. The altar signifies the firm, solid foundation of the Catholic faith.

Services were suspended in 2004 due to the Rev. Monsignor Jerome Ham’s health. Parishioners conducted a weekly Divine Mercy Novena on Wednesdays.

The church will now be closed to consolidate into St. Michael the Archangel, along with St. Anthony, St. Stephen and Immaculate Conception churches.

“It’s sad,” said Grace Gura, whose husband Ed has a strong Polish heritage. “My husband helped building it. Our daughter was the first one christened in the new church and we were the last ones married in the old one.”

Another Parish where the people honored and kept the presence of Christ, even in the absence of a priest. Sad that they could loose what they had built. Ownership by the laity goes a long way to stopping such closures — part of why the PNCC exists, and why many former Roman Catholics are approaching us after their parishes are closed against their will.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, ,

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 3

Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten
my mind, that l may know and believe all the
mysteries of salvation, and may merit at last to
see the eternal light in Your light; and in the
light of glory to have the clear vision of Thee and
the Father and the Son. Especially give this
spirit of understanding to our General Synod in
the area of tithing and program support. Let us
know and believe that our donations go for the
work of bringing Your kingdom here on earth.
Allow the Synod to have this gift in its
discernment.

Christian Witness, PNCC, , ,

Spójnia Sunday, Niedziela Spójnii

Zawsze naprzód, nigdy w tył
Always forward, never back — motto of the Polish National Union, Spójnia

The Polish National Union of America, also known as PNU or Spojnia, is a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society which provides life insurance protection, annuities, retirement plans and numerous fraternal benefits to its membership.

The late Prime Bishop Franciszek Hodur organized the Polish National Union of America in 1908, eleven years after the organization of the Polish National Catholic Church. Since its inception the Polish National Union served the people in America as well as in Poland. One of the initial purposes of Spojnia was to help people belonging to the Polish National Catholic Church and others who shared in the organization’s goal to achieve financial security. This action brought about an important idea to promote brotherly love and to maintain a sense of identity.

Headquartered in Scranton Pennsylvania since 1908, the Polish National Union of America has lived up to Bishop Hodur’s high standards by providing material and spiritual security to the members and friends of the Polish National Catholic Church.This spirit of cooperation between Spojnia’s leaders and members brought about the means, the force, and the responsibilities of deeds to meet the challenges of today.

From the signing of its first member, John Drwal in 1908, the Polish National Union of America has remained true to its principles and has grown in membership over the years to nearly 25,000 members, making the Polish National Union of America one of the largest fraternal organizations in America.

Today, as in 1908, the Polish National Union of America consistently provides its membership with quality fraternal insurance products and an avenue for participation in the Polish National Union of America’s religious, national and ethnic heritage.

With grass-roots ties to the Polish National Catholic Church, the Polish National Union of America works closely with the church and its members to perpetuate Bishop Hodur’s philosophy.

To date, the Polish National Union of America has provided millions of dollars in the form of loans and subsidies to Polish National Catholic Church parishes and Polish National Union of America members. “Spojnia” has also provided thousands of families the security of affordable, quality insurance and annuity products, college stipends, and support for youth focused Church programs.

Today, we remember in prayer the work and mission of the Polish National Union, all current members and beneficiaries, and all those who have passed to their eternal rest.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, ,

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 2

Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my
soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their
exceeding greatness, and power, and beauty.
Teach me to love them above and beyond all the
passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Show me
the way by which I may be able to attain to
them, and possess them, and hold them
hereafter, my own forever. Especially reveal the
mysteries of heavenly things within the souls of
those priests who aspire to the office of bishop.
Allow them to partake of these mysteries in
their life.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, ,

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 1

[To be used in preparation for the 23rd General Synod of the Polish National Catholic Church, upon our Parish, Parish Delegates and on all Delegates attending. This Prayer is to he said from Saturday, September 25 – Sunday, October 3, inclusive.]

Begin with this prayer each day:

O Holy Spirit, my Lord and my God, l adore You and humbly acknowledge here in Your sacred presence that I am nothing, and can do nothing, without Your operation within me. Come, great Paraclete, thou Father of the poor, thou Comforter of the blest, fulfill the promise of our Savior, who would not leave us orphans, and enter my mind and heart as You descended on the day of Pentecost upon the holy Mother of Jesus and upon His first disciples. Grant that I may have a part in those gifts, which You did so prodigally bestow upon them.

Take from my heart all that is not pleasing to You and make of it a worthy dwelling place for Jesus.

Illumine my mind, that l may see and understand the things that are for my eternal welfare.

Inflame my heart with pure love of the Father, that, cleansed from attachment to all unworthy objects, my whole life may be hidden with Jesus in God.

Strengthen my will, that it may be conformable to the will of my Creator and guided by thy holy inspirations.

Aid me to practice the heavenly virtues of humility, poverty, and obedience, which are taught me in the earthly life of Jesus.

Descend upon me, O mighty Spirit, that, inspired and encouraged by You, I may faithfully fulfill the duties of my state in life, carry my daily cross with patience and courage, and accomplish the Father’s will for me more perfectly. Make me, day by day, more holy and give to me that heavenly peace which the world cannot give.

O Holy Spirit, thou Giver of every good and perfect gift, grant to me the intentions of this novena of prayer. May the Father’s will be done in me and through me. And may You, O mighty Spirit of the living God, be praised and glorified for ever and ever. Amen.

Then follows the hymn to the Holy Spirit: Come, Thou Creator

Come, Thou Creator, Spirit blest,
And in our souls take up Thy rest;
Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid,
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

Great Paraclete, to Thee we cry,
O highest gift of God most high;
O living Fount, O Fire, O Love,
And sweet anointing from above.

The mystic seven-fold gifts are Thine,
Finger of God’s right hand divine,
The Father’s promise sent to teach,
The tongue a rich and heavenly speech.

All glory while the ages run
Be to the Father and the Son,
Who gave us life; the same to Thee,
O Holy Ghost, eternally.
Amen.

Then is said the Our Father and Hail Mary.
Then follows the prayer proper to the day:

Come, O Holy Ghost, the Lord and Life-giver;
take up Your dwelling within my soul, and
make of it Your sacred temple. Make me live by
grace as an adopted child of God. Pervade all
the energies of my soul, and create in me a
fountain of living water springing up into life
everlasting. Especially take up residence within
our General Synod and allow he who shall be
elected to be the next Prime Bishop Your store of
abundant grace. Allow him to feel Your
presence within.

Perspective, PNCC, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , ,

Debunking nativism and stereotyping

From The Bristol Press: Addressing Polish stereotypes

Author and scholar Danusha V. Goska came to CCSU to give her “Fiedorczyk” otherwise known as “Brute Polak” lecture, poking holes at stereotypes to a receptive audience Thursday night.

Particularly in the United States, stereotyping of different people is commonplace and unfortunately, socially acceptable, she said.

“In America, Poles have become the prototypical ethnicity associated with the working class. Prejudice against Poles is often commingled with contempt for working class people, and for manual labor itself.”

She discussed the toxic nature of stereotypes and pointed out that “If you think stereotypically, you will stereotype everyone, including yourself.”

Professor M.B. Biskupski, the S.A. Blejwas Chair of Polish American Studies introduced Goska, who teaches at William Paterson University. Biskupski has dedicated his academic career to “setting straight the misinformation about Poles,” according to CCSU media relations officer Janice Palmer.

Goska has written a book on the subject, titled “Bieganski,” which specifically addresses the issues associated with the interaction between people of different cultures, nationalities, ethnicities, and religions, but specifically Jewish, Christian and Muslim relations. This subject encompasses everything from stereotypes, racism, immigration, tolerance, and multiculturalism, the media’s treatment of the concept of ethnicity, the online spread of stereotypes and hate, and the Holocaust.

…

The process of finding someone willing to publish one’s writing is never an easy feat, but for Goska, it seemed impossible. She began showing publishers “Bieganski” in 2002 and continuously received the same reaction: initial praise, promise of publication, and then a final backing-out. Each of the rejections in this series always employed the same reasoning; although compassionately moving, her words were to be written by some famous scholar, not an unknown Polish-[Roman] Catholic writer.

Finally in 2009, her long search ended when she found a pair courageous enough to take on the controversial book and set it out into the world. Antony Polonsky, Albert Abramson Chair of Holocaust Studies at Brandeis University, suggested Academic Studies Press, run by Igor and Kira Nemirovsky.

Before her speech, Goska told reporters, “I knew that somewhere out there were my fellow Poles and Polish Americans, and I vowed that I would reach them someday with a book that would serve them, serve my ancestors, and serve my own family. In the upcoming lecture at CCSU, I will finally reach my audience.”

It would be interesting to see the author address the role of the PNCC and other early Polonia organizations, such as the PNU (not necessarily Roman Catholic at the time, but inclusive of R.C., PNCC, Protestant, and Jewish Polish immigrants), in both fighting nativism and in building the underpinnings of the success found by future generations.

Bishop Hodur, of course, stressed the idea of cohesive community, education, literacy, representation, Trade Unionism, participative democracy, and self-sustaining communities.

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