Recent Posts

Most Used Categories

Category: PNCC

You are Here :
Christian Witness, PNCC,

Bishop Ackerman’s shout out to the PNCC

To the PNCC from his address to Forward-in-Faith, from VirtueOnline:

Witnessing the breaking of relationship with the Polish National Catholic Church for many of us a tragedy, because he happen to live in areas where that was a viable ministry between Episcopal parishes and Polish National Catholics The ending of ecumenical relationships, or at least a pause. It didn’t look all that bright…

Of course, not a bright moment, but a sad consequence of becoming less than Catholic.

I fully understand his points, the “stew” issue. That said, there is Catholic and non-Catholic and the PNCC chose Catholic, therefore no deaconesses, priestesses, and other such innovation which is apart from Scripture and Tradition. The stew comes from good ecumenical relation and working to common purpose: making Christ known, peace, the heavenward journey. As Bishop Hodur pointed outSee: Address in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 1902 from Bishop Francis Hodur, Sermon Outlines and Occasional Speeches 1899 —“ 1922, (c) 1999 Theodore L. Zawistowski, Polish National Catholic Church, Central Diocese, we raise scandal when we criticize and ignore others who follow Christ. At the same time, we cannot be who we are not.

As my fellow blogger, the Young Fogey, might point out, you must decide who changes whom. Either the Church changes you or you change the Church. One way is Catholic, the other Protestant. Regardless of the selection, we all should stand together in witnessing the charism of the Spirit active in the Church’s many expressions. It does not mean we can abjure Scriptures and Tradition, because they are part of who the PNCC is – its central being. Each must choose their way, and as Bishop Ackerman points out, continue love each other as family without becoming who we are not.

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.

PNCC, , , ,

Another tribute to Ś.P. Walter Lasinski

From Fr. Randy Calvo of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in South Deerfield, MA: A Free Church

On May 27th a friend of mine and a dedicated historian of our church denomination passed away. His name was Walter Lasinski. He had visited our parish here in South Deerfield on several occasions over the years, always with his beloved wife Florence. His last visit was on May 31, 2008 when we hosted a talk by the local author Suzanne Stempek Shea. Mr. Lasinski would travel throughout our denomination to attend events that interested him about history, literature and music. When he was here, he took pictures of our church and cemetery for the extensive files that he maintained and constantly updated about all of our parishes. He even photographed the then-named St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church in South Deerfield since that was the parish from which we emerged in 1929. If Mr. Lasinski was anything, it was thorough.

He devoted much of his life to our church, and that only became more true after his retirement. Many of his vacations were planned around seminars and his historical inquiries. No one could make better use of a business card than he could. With his card as a church historian in hand, his extensive knowledge of our religious history, an amazing memory and gift for gab, doors opened.

He absolutely loved the original ideals of this church. He saw in them the emancipation of mind and soul, and an entire generation of immigrant believers. He always maintained a profound admiration for Bp. Hodur and a respect for those early generations who built this church with him. He wasn’t a cheerleader for the church, shouting her praises no matter what. He respected what the church was, what it could be, and also took the time to compliment a parish or a person when they did something good for the church in the present.

He worshipped in many places, in many churches. He knew clergy of various denominations, and he knew just about all of the priests of our church. In our frequent phone conversations if I mentioned a priest or a parishioner from anywhere, I would invariably hear in reply, —Oh yes, so-and-so is a good friend of mine.— I would also wager that he had visited every parish of our church at one time or another.

I am certain that I am not alone in benefitting from Mr. Lasinski’s voracious reading of newspapers, periodicals, church pamphlets, religious publications and most recently of the internet. If there was anything that he thought any of us should know, out came the scissors and tape to make articles fit neatly on a regular sheet of paper, and off they were mailed to us, always in a neat folder, always with his return mailing address attached so that we would remember from whence it came. I do not know how many such pertinent gems Mr. Lasinski mailed me over the years, but they were always appreciated.

One article that he did not need to mail me was written anonymously by him and printed in God’s Field on September 4, 1993. There he writes:

—In any research project in which you are reviewing page upon page of printed materials, looking for key events or facts in a person’s life that would be worthy of historical interest today, certain words or phrases, at times extraneous to the topic at hand, keep coming to the fore through constant repetition. … The word that appears constantly throughout the Polish texts in the pages of Rola Boza and Straz is wolny (free) and it always precedes the name of the church … as though it is an integral, inseparable part of the name of the Polish National Catholic Church.—

I share this selection of his with you during this month of Independence Day. I believe Mr. Lasinski was the first to point out to me that Fr. Hodur waited until the Fourth of July to bless the cornerstone of his church in Scranton. This reinforced the idea that by nature and design we are a —free— church.

Mr. Lasinski would work all day long at Scranton’s archives and sleep at the Seminary to save himself and the church money, and there, back in the day, we would share a beer at the end of the day. I hope to raise another glass with him again some day, but until then, may he rest in peace, and may he always be remembered for his good work.

A fitting tribute to Ś.P. Walter and also his co-workers who have passed before us.

They believed in a Church that was both Catholic and free. They belonged to the Church that espoused Scripture and Holy Tradition in combination with the gifts of freedom and culture which God provides to every nation and people. They knew that the Church’s lay members could and should have a voice and a vote over the resources they contributed to found and support the Church, and that no one could take the Church from them. They followed behind Bishop Hodur, in the Apostolic line, who followed Christ as our ultimate leader, teacher, and guide. They were the ones who stood firm against the whims of men for a Church that is Catholic in opposition to whatever current trends or popularity dictate. They were firm in adherence to the Catholic Church and its teachings, to the sacred ministry that cannot be changed by men who think they know better/more than the Church. They knew that freedom is not license to change the Church – and indeed why we did not melt away into just another Protestant sect changing with the breeze. May it ever be so.

PNCC, , , ,

In Dupont, PA

From The Dispatch: Sign-ups every Friday for Fred Lokuta Golf Tourney

The 4th Annual Fred P. Lokuta Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, September 25, at Edgewood in the Pines Golf Course, Drums.

This favorite local tournament is sponsored by the Fred P. Lokuta Memorial Committee and the Polish American Citizens Club. All proceeds from the event benefit Dupont Borough Religious and Civic interests.

Last year more than $4,000 was raised and the monies raised were shared by: Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Holy Mother of Sorrows PNCC and the Dupont Children’s Fund Christmas Party.

Cost is $75.00 per golfer and includes: green fees, cart, continental breakfast and lunch at the Polish American Citizens Club. Cash Prizes will be awarded for the longest drive, the —Packy Piechota— closest to the pin and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Flight Champions.

It will be a Captain and Crew 4 Man Scramble format with a shot gun start at 9:00 a.m. Registration and continental breakfast will begin at 8:00 a.m. Lunch will be served beginning at 2:30 p.m.

The committee has begun accepting reservations. For tournament information and/or registration contact Fred Lokuta at 451-1269; Michael Lokuta at 299-7212 or Joe Lacomis at 655-6337.

Hole sponsors are available at $25 for silver; $50 for Gold and $100 for Platinum. Registration will take place each Friday at the Polish American Citizens Club between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Chicken Barbecue

Tickets are now on sale for the 47th Annual Open Pit Chicken Barbecue sponsored by the Branch 2 YMS of R Holy Mother of Sorrows Church. The barbecue will be held on Saturday, July 17, on the church grounds from noon to 6:00 p.m. Ticket donation is $9.00 and can be purchased from any member of the society or by calling the rectory office during business hours.

Perspective, PNCC, ,

10 reasons I’m a National Catholic —” Reason 4: Unity in essentials, latitude in non-essentials

There is quite a history behind the famous saying: “In necessariis unitas, In dubiis libertas, In omnibus autem caritas” (In essentials unity, In doubtful things liberty, But in all things love). This saying is commonly referred to as the “Friedensspruch” or “Peace Saying.”

The quote is sometimes attributed to St. Augustine. In reality it is properly attributed to Peter MeiderlinOn the, spurious claim that Augustine was the author, see especially Friedrich Lí¼cke, íœber das Alter, den Verfasser, die ursprí¼ngliche Form und den wahren Sinn des kirchlichen Friedensspruches “In necessariis unitas, in non necessariis libertas, in utrisque caritas!: Eine litterarhistorische theologische Studie (Gí¶ttingen: Verlag der Dieterischschen Buchhandlung, 1850), 4-6; Eekhof, Zinspreuk, 10-15., a Lutheran theologian and pastor who lived in Augsburg during the early seventeenth century. Meiderlin lived in a very troubled times, a time exposed to the ravages of the Thirty Years War and its aftermath. There was ongoing strife between Lutherans and Calvinists as well as within Lutheranism itself. The Lutheran movement had become a battleground for competing political forces and numerous doctrinal disputes based on theological differences among the leaders of the nascent Reformation.

Why go off into Lutheran and Reformation history? Really, to understand the basis for my reasons in joining the PNCC. Every confession has, to some extent, turned the “Peace Saying” on its head. This is perfected in the great departure from what was commonly believed among all Christians in the Church of the first 1,000 years to a development of unknown doctrines and laws.

Peter Meiderlin’s argument for peace is illustrated in the story of a dream he hadThe account of the dream is found in Meiderlin’s original Latin book, entitled Paraenesis votiva pro pace ecclesiae ad Theologos Augustanae Confessionis, based on the edition of Pfeiffer, was reprinted by Lí¼cke in íœber das Alter, 87-90.:

In the dream he encounters a devout Christian theologian in a white robe sitting at a table and reading the Scriptures. All of a sudden Christ appears to him as the victor over death and the devil and warns him of an impending danger and admonishes him to be very vigilant. Then Christ vanishes and the Devil appears in the form of a blinding light, moonlight to be exact, and claims to have been sent on a mission from God. He states that in this final age the Church needs to be protected from all heresy and apostasy of any kind and God’s elect have the duty to safeguard and keep pure the doctrinal truths they inherited. The Devil then alleges that God has authorized him to found a new order of these doctrinally pure elect, some sort of a doctrinal heritage coven. Those who join will bind themselves to an oath of strictest observance to these doctrines. The Devil then extends to our devout theologian the invitation to join this militant fellowship for his own eternal welfare. Our theologian thinks about what he has just heard and decides to bring it in prayer before God, upon which the devil immediately vanishes and Christ reappears. Christ tenderly raises the trembling Christian up, comforts him most kindly, and before he departs admonishes him to remain loyal only to the Word of God in simplicity and humility of heartFound at “In Essentials Unity”: The Pre-History And History Of A Restoration Movement Slogan by Hans Rollmann..

Meiderlin’s dream captures my state of mind in coming to the PNCC. Where was the essential Catholic faith I grew up in? Where could I find the Church which called me to hold the commonly believed truths, the foundations of the Church in Sacred Scripture and Holy Tradition, and which would stand strongly enough on those foundations so as not to attempt to control everything (Matthew 23:4).

I was trying to avoid being part of “[the] new order of [the] doctrinally pure elect, …a doctrinal heritage coven.” I understood the Catholic faith to stand on foundation of Scripture and Tradition, the infallible nature of the Church as a whole, which also acts as a guide along the path to eternal life, meeting people where they are and bringing them to Christ. I wasn’t looking for the Church that gave me free-reign to decide for myself. If I wanted that I could be Protestant, Universalist, or nothing at all, because in each, even the essentials of Scripture and Tradition are subject to debate and individual interpretation. I didn’t need doctrinal or liturgical, or sacramental innovation, nor priests and bishops who wing theology and kill Holy Tradition to suit the whims of the day. I know I needed the truth of Catholicism, but not thousands of pages of proscriptive rules and regulations no one can bear.

So, I needed truth, as well as the latitude to get to heaven in an environment that gave me peace and comfort in my struggles. I needed the essentials of the Catholic faith to be sure, and I needed that they be strictly adhered to, but I did not need regulations that acted to do no more than act as points of separation, points that made me feel unworthy and outside.

Those laws of separation are too painful. Certainly they work for the benefit of those who hold themselves as doctrinally pure, elect, and on the inside. That high standard becomes so high that it often becomes insurmountable for many. As can be seen, some just ignore what they perceive as insurmountable (they ignore their Church’s teachings and doctrines, are essentially bad Catholics, but continue to go and commune without any change of heart — they are right, the Church is wrong). Some try to change it, fighting against the mountain that will not move (they battle from the inside until they are exhausted and lose heart, because it is quite impossible to win against an administrative culture based on absolutes). Some leave, whether in anger, hurt, disappointment, or out of an unwillingness to change, and in leaving abandon all faith. — I’ve done each.

The laws and doctrines of the non-essentials, the lack of charity (not financial, but that of the heart) works then to obscure the teaching of what is essential, and loses souls. How can people understand the teaching of Scripture and Holy Tradition if they are caught up in arguments over the disciplines imposed by men? How will people walk toward God if we formulate laws that push them away? We are not speaking with children when we say “My children,” but adults. I wanted to be treated like an adult on an adult path to God.

Yes, I hold the essentials and I desire no change in them at all. The creeds, humanity as saved and redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the ministry and Apostolic succession as established by the Catholic Church, the necessity of regeneration, the benefit of the sacraments, the call to live as Christ demands — not as man dictates, repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and living in the community of faith at every level — Church, Diocese, Parish, and home. Yes, I desire the Catholic way of life. Yet I have no love or respect for the elevation of man made, dubious, doctrine and law which obscure (and work to block) the path to heaven. The philosopher Seneca warned of cramming the mind with unimportant things. “We are ignorant,” Seneca writes, “of essentials because we deal in non-essentials.”

Bishop Hodur clearly stated that every person is called by God and that this call is to engage in a joyous journey toward heaven. Yes, it is not without struggle, against ourselves and the allures of the world, but in community that struggling together leads to victory. I needed that community. We must “remain loyal only to the Word of God in simplicity and humility of heart.” Humility calls for the elevation of God’s way (and yes, the Church teaches His way because the Holy Spirit abides in the Church) over our ways, our thoughts, our innovations. Simplicity means we must take great care not to obscure Scripture and Tradition by that which is man-made.

Meiderlin tried to avoid both extremes during the period in which he was writing. He sought to avoid disintegrating sectarianism and of a levelling orthodoxy by taking a middle position that affirms salvific essentials while maintaining responsible freedom. His principals were just as applicable in his day, in 1897, and today. I found that principle well respected in the PNCC, which maintains both and keeps the peace in love. This life then reflects what St. Paul calls “the most excellent way” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). This is Meiderlin’s dictum: “We would be in the best shape if we kept in essentials, Unity; in non-essentials, Liberty; and in both Charity.” That is what I sought and found. It made me free, and I found a much clearer path to the Jesus who loves me out of my sinfulness. Jesus called the sinners who came to Him to the path of repentance, a change of heart, not to the following of man made regulations which are of little consequence to the desired result – a relationship with God who saves.

The “Friedensspruch,” or “Peace Saying,” is key. I wish to live in unity with what Christ demands of me. He calls me to live in the Church He established, in which He exists through the working and inbiding of the Holy Spirit, in which we follow His way by the teaching of Scripture and Holy Tradition. I also need the latitude to be included, despite my faults and failings, because inside I will continue to walk the way, climb the ladder to eternal life.

Christian Witness, PNCC, , , ,

Valuing children with autism in worship

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: More congregations structure services for children with autism

Some great insights and a shout out to All Saints PNCC in Carnegie, PA.

May 23–Children ran happily up the aisle of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Peters, oblivious to the pastors and teachers who greeted them. The adults weren’t offended, though — they recognized the inability of those on the autism spectrum to recognize social cues.

They had come for Joyful Noise, a service held at 1 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month and designed for families in which someone has autism. The service is short and structured, with traditional prayers and opportunities to play rhythm instruments. No one minds if someone squeals during prayer or walks away during a sermon delivered by animal puppets.

“Our goal is to give them the message that Jesus loves you, and make church a comfortable, welcoming place,” said the Rev. Ann Schmid, senior pastor of Our Redeemer, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

From Joyful Noise to efforts to help synagogues integrate autistic students into Hebrew School, Pittsburgh is home to pioneering efforts at religious outreach to those on the autism spectrum. A Catholic religious-education program developed at one South Hills parish has become a national model.

“Everybody has the right to be part of our faith. We have a responsibility to include everyone,” said Deacon Larry Sutton, a psychologist and manager of the state Bureau of Autism for Western Pennsylvania, who developed the catechism program at Our Lady of Grace in Scott.

People with autism range from those who can’t speak to brilliant, articulate people who are devoid of social skills and obsessed with certain topics. What they have in common, Deacon Sutton said, is difficulty in processing information, sensory stimulation and social cues.

“All that I learned about welcoming children with autism into the congregation, I initially learned from the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh,” said former Pennsylvania first lady Ginny Thornburgh, director of the Interfaith Initiative at the American Association of People with Disabilities in Washington, D.C.

Diocesan advocates taught her to bring those with autism into the worship space when it’s empty, to prepare them for a future service. The diocese published a picture book, “We Go to Mass,” to guide them through worship. Ms. Thornburgh encourages Muslims, Hindus and others to make similar books

She tells all of them that people with autism bring gifts, and should be welcomed as musicians, office helpers and other types of volunteers.

“I gave a speech once and a woman on the autism spectrum said to me, ‘I don’t want to be welcomed. I want to be valued,’ ” Ms. Thornburgh said.

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh developed a “Best Practices Guide for Including Students with Disabilities,” with a section on autism, and sent it to every parish. Its many recommendations include constructive ways to respond quickly to potentially disruptive behavior.

It takes only one bad experience to drive a family away.

When Tina Brown moved to Scott four years ago with her autistic son, John, then 4, they attended one Mass at nearby SS. Simon & Jude. The loud music made John cry, so she took him to a vestibule. A priest who spoke to them there “told us I should look elsewhere for another parish,” she said.

Four generations of her extended family now attend All Saints Polish National Catholic Church in Carnegie, where she said the priest told them, “If people can’t handle children crying, they don’t belong in my church…”

…

Elliot Frank, chairman of the Advisory Board on Autism and Related Disorders, is always surprised when he hears of difficulties at worship. He believes that some parents are unnecessarily embarrassed by behavior that others are willing to accept.

His son, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, received individualized instruction at Temple Ohav Shalom in McCandless. At 13 he had a normal Bar Mitzvah, where the only sign of his disability was what he said in his Bar Mitzvah speech.

“He talked about how with autism he had to work to communicate with people, and Moses had to work to communicate with God. So he made a connection between himself and Moses,” Mr. Frank said.

Rabbi Art Donsky said Temple Ohav Shalom’s previous director of lifelong learning sought assistance from the Agency for Jewish Learning in Squirrel Hill, which offers advocacy and training to help synagogues serve students with special needs. Ohav Shalom also tied into “wrap-around” programs from seven school districts that provide aides to help autistic students outside of school.

…

After class at Our Lady of Grace, Ms. Cicconi takes her sons into the empty church. They have tried to attend Mass from a “quiet room,” but once the music swells, Gus can’t tolerate it.

“At this point we are barely making it through the entrance hymn. We are making tiny, tiny steps. The point for me is to get them into a consistent habit of going to church on Sunday,” she said.

That was why she helped Our Redeemer to start Joyful Noise. Both boys attended the Lutheran church’s Noah’s Ark preschool, which has an 18-year history of welcoming children on the autism spectrum. The 30-minute service averages about 15 worshipers.

A church member made prayer shawls with weights in the hem because it calms some autistic children to be wrapped in something heavy. All have buttons or fringe that the children can twist.

Sheila and Gary Coquet of Peters attend with their sons Chase, 5, who has autism, and Grayson, 3, who doesn’t. They are grateful to worship without worrying what other people think of them.

Chase’s favorite song is “Puff the Magic Dragon.” One Sunday, in the middle of Joyful Noise, he began demanding to hear it.

“He was fixated on it and couldn’t get off of it,” his mother said. Instead of ignoring him or expecting his parents to silence him, music director Mary Helen Barr realized the nature of his obsession and played a verse of “Puff.” That allowed Chase to calm down and focus on the service.

“It’s so nice not to be embarrassed,” Mr. Coquet said.

Joyful Noise is timed so families can also attend their own churches. The bulletin invites participants to follow their own traditions, whether that means crossing themselves or praying with arms raised.

“We’re not doing this so more people become Lutheran,” said the Rev. Steven Broome, the associate pastor. “We’re doing it so people have a place that’s welcoming and safe.”

Homilies, PNCC, , ,

On the Sacrament of the Word

As you may know, the PNCC considers the hearing the the Word of God, and the preaching on it, to be a sacrament. Samuel Giere, Professor of Homiletics at the Wartburg Seminary writes on Preaching as Sacrament of the Word at WorkingPreacher, a project of the Luther Seminary.

Certainly there are a number of important vantages from which to view this question —“ biblical, theological, ecclesial, historical, liturgical, etc. What follows is a swipe at the question from the theological perspective with implications that can inform other perspectives on the whole. In addition, it may impact how we as preachers envisage what we do and what it is that happens Sunday after Sunday, sermon after sermon.

To help crack open the nut of this question, let us explore a few insights from Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1948). In his lectures on preaching, given at the Confessing Church seminary at Finkenwalde (1935-1937), Bonhoeffer rooted his homiletic in the incarnation of the Word. Furthermore, he emphasized the real presence of that same Word in the ordinary words of the preacher. In his own words:

The proclaimed word is the incarnate Christ himself. As little as the incarnation is the outward shape of God, just so little does the proclaimed word present the outward form of a reality; rather, it is the thing itself. The preached Christ is both the Historical One and the Present One… Therefore the proclaimed word is not a medium of expression for something else, something which lies behind it, but rather it is the Christ himself walking through his congregation as the Word…

The question, of course, remains: What is preaching? While not wrapped up neatly with a pretty bow, we can say with respect and confidence “that Christ enters the congregation through those words which [the preacher] proclaims from Scripture.”

A very good source of reference which supports the PNCC’s declaration on the sacramentality of the Word. It would also seem that the PNCC had this down before Bonhoeffer considered the question.

Also see Theology of Preaching by John McClure, Charles G. Finney Professor of Homiletics at the Vanderbilt Divinity School for some insights.

Theologies of preaching ask questions such as: What is God doing during the sermon? What is the nature of the Word of God in preaching? It is important for preachers to consider how to understand preaching as God’s Word.

Recently, the homiletic conversation about the theology of preaching has revolved around the type of theological imagination developed by the preacher. Mary Catherine Hilkert speaks of two basic forms of theological imagination in preaching: a dialectical imagination which locates God’s redemptive work more narrowly in the redemptive actions of God in and through Jesus Christ, and a sacramental imagination which locates God’s Word more widely within the whole of God’s creation…

WorkingPreacher has a lot of great resources on homiletics and some wonderful insights on the art of preaching.

Christian Witness, Perspective, PNCC

A student discusses faith in college

From the GW Hatchet: Andrew Pazdon on Being Catholic in college

A former PNCC member talks about his experiences and his faith journey. I wish him well and support his effort at understanding his faith. Of course I do not appreciate his uninformed view of the Church in which he was raised. His limited comments on the PNCC seem to come out of an early 1900’s Roman Catholic diatribe against the PNCC – calling it a sect, and referring to its being a part of the Old Catholic Churches of Utrecht (no longer true since they long left Catholicism and we left them). Perhaps, as a student of international affairs, he should better understand the beliefs of others before labeling them.

As his journey continues, perhaps his views will be softened, and he will not disparage the faith in which he was raised, likely the faith of his parents and grandparents. He may also come to understand that the distinctiveness of the R.C. Church lies solely in claims which are disputed throughout the rest of Catholicism (Orthodoxy, Oriental, and PNCC). It has never been about the R.C. Church’s understanding of Catholicism, to which we all subscribe, but its troubling papal and doctrinal claims. The troubles the R.C. Church is having find their roots in those claims.

My faith has been tested, yet strengthened by my time on campus

Growing up in the woods of New Hampshire, the thought never crossed my adolescent mind that fasting, constructing advent wreathes from moss and pine trees in my backyard, spending hours in Church, and various other Catholic customs (with a hearty dose of Polish folk customs) were not normal.

That didn’t mean I didn’t dread sitting through Mass every week. But now that dread is gone and, in the midst of my 20-something partying years, it’s very likely you will find me every Sunday at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle.

My faith and relationship with the Catholic Church have evolved, been tested and, in the end, been strengthened. Today, I am just as likely to tell people I am Catholic as I am a Polish-American from New Hampshire. I am proud of both my heritage and my faith.

I didn’t grow up in the Roman Catholic Church, but rather in a sect of the Old Catholic Church called the Polish National Catholic Church. Despite this, and now in a time during which Roman Catholic Church pews are being deserted, I have found a reawakening of my relationship with God.

Through much of high school I was, religiously, a lamb that had wandered astray from the herd. I challenged my childhood religion. I considered my options, including agnosticism, Islam and other Christian denominations. But I knew something was ultimately missing from my religious and spiritual life. It wasn’t until I actually left home and came to D.C. that my faith really felt reaffirmed.

I didn’t think my faith would be strengthened in college. When I thought of college, I thought Sunday morning was for nursing headaches, not for Mass. I do not know for certain what changed inside of me. But perhaps it was the everyday freedom that allows for sleeping in and drinking that allowed me to feel on my own, in a no-pressure venue, the comfort of faith. Yeah, I’d like to sleep in sometimes, but I feel better when I act on my faith instead.

I’ve even found I’m not the only GW student who gets up early on the weekend to spend some time with Jesus Christ. There are a number of fellow Catholics I have come across who are also deeply religious, yet manage to lead normal college lives filled with partying, college hook-ups and hours spent Facebook-stalking instead of deep in prayer.

I found that faith of any kind does not have to be forsaken in college, even in a bastion of liberalism and free thinking that is GW. If anything, being at GW and college in general has taught me that my faith doesn’t have to be all or nothing. I can be a Democrat and a Catholic. And I can party as hearty as anyone else and still be Catholic. I can lead a normal life, enjoying the pleasures the world has to offer, while simultaneously fulfilling a spiritual and religious yearning.

It’s not an easy time to be a Catholic. The strength of the church has been tested at the same time the strength of my faith has. Back home, the clergy abuse scandal is local and hard-hitting. Many of the early allegations, settlements and incarcerations happened in New England towns not far or different from mine. These unimaginably horrible actions caused many of my hometown friends and their families to vacate the church. I certainly don’t blame them. But as an original outsider who came back into the flock, I have looked past these heinous acts and missteps by the church to find comfort and joy.

This disease of abuse by clergy and the subsequent cover-ups has now spread to infect the church’s communicants all over the world. But this situation does not spell out the fall of the church. Rather, the church is now forced to seriously, unequivocally and firmly address structural problems. The current tenuous situation can become an opportunity for the church and its leaders to refocus on tending to the herd, so that everyone who wants to can find same comfort that I have found.

Life is full of ups and downs, but that is an integral part of the journey. My questioning of my own faith before and during college has helped to cement my commitment to it. I have faith too that my church will heal and many will once again heed the trumpet call.

Christian Witness, PNCC

Former PNCC member with a balanced view

From Abel Pharmboy: Congratulations to Chris Mooney on his Templeton-Cambridge Journalism Fellowship in Science & Religion

I’ve highlighted this writer’s work in at least one prior blog post. To me, the views he expresses represent a very balanced view of Christianity. I appreciate that he takes the time to express this view, which as he notes, is not popular in academia or the scientific community. This type of reasoning, in fact common sense, is something I’ve commonly encountered among current and former PNCC folk. Further, his views are what we as Christians encounter among those who either do not know the Church or have left. They are not against us, but may not fully understand some aspects, and may not know what to do with some of the hypocrisy and failings common among the people of the Church (we are after-all sinful). In terms of his understanding of PNCC views, he is off on the issue of abortion, and some of the other nuances of what makes the Church Catholic, but otherwise not bad.

By-the-way, I would happily encourage him and his family to attend next year’s YMSofR bowling tournament. We could use his talents.

Great news came across my RSS reader the other day that author and journalist, Chris Mooney, was among twelve journalists selected by the John Templeton Foundation for an intensive two-month fellowship on the relationship between science and religion. The Templeton-Cambridge Journalism Fellowships in Science & Religion provide financial support for scholars to study at their home institution and engage with US and European scholars at the University of Cambridge UK to “promote a deeper understanding and more informed public discussion of this complex and rapidly evolving area of inquiry.”

As one might suspect, the vast majority of the 239 comments at Chris’s blog post contain vitriol and bile that Chris would take such tainted money as that from the Templeton Foundation because the organization is partisan and this will forever constitute a conflict of interest, that Chris has formally left science, how dare he still call himself a journalist…blah-dee-blah.

As my colleague PhysioProf is wont to say: Bring out the fainting couch and some vapors.

I think all of us in the biomedical sciences know investigators who have taken funding from the tobacco industry before it was fashionable not to and very few of them have tied down friends and neighbors and forced them to smoke cigarettes.

And wait. How is it that 2% of the US population and 0.25% of the world population is Jewish yet 27% and 28% of Nobel laureates in Physiology/Medicine or Chemistry, respectively, are Jewish? Seems more consistent, although not causal, that a little religion helps your science.

I applaud Chris for devoting time to exploring science and religion with leading experts in the field. A journalist with another 40 or 50 years of writing ahead of him is wise to avail himself to all opportunities for inquiry and learning, especially on such a topic that is ubercontroversial to some and of obvious resonance to others.

My family and I don’t belong to any organized religion but I was raised in a Protestant-like offshoot of the Roman Catholic Church called The Polish National Catholic Church (our priests could get married, have families, birth control was ok, abortion was ok but not encouraged). One of the most critical skills I learned in the Polish church was how to bowl, laying the foundation for my future glory as an undergrad when my team won the intramural bowling title during my senior year.

But spending a third of my life in the southern US has opened my eyes as to the role that religion plays in the lives of good people who are otherwise highly-critical thinkers. Understanding religious faith in my community has been important in helping to convince African-American men of the need for prostate cancer screening and women for breast cancer screening. I have dozens of students who have chosen to pursue careers in nursing or the laboratory sciences because they feel it is a service to their community that is consistent with their faith. And yes, they know how to conduct well-controlled experiments and think that my belief in a PCR fairy is ridiculous.

I don’t support the tax-exempt status for religious organizations with huge properties and hordes of vehicles nicer than those I drive but, like it or not, religion that is not at the extremes does serve the public good. Yes, at the extremes religious differences are at the heart of the 30 or so wars going on in the world right now. Religion is used by some to attack, devalue, or deny science. Mindless religious belief can lead to sloppy thinking in other areas of one’s life.

In many cases, religion is a threat to science. Religion is often used as a shield for racism and other discriminatory behaviors. I hate this part of religion. I see it here in the southern US. It is ugly. I’m even mystified how the faith that sustained the ancestors of some of my colleagues through slavery is now used to justify discrimination against my other colleagues who are gay and lesbian. These are problems – a big problems that we must fight.

But in other cases, religion drives people to become excellent scientists and live meaningful lives of service, generosity, and altruism. Yes, one doesn’t have to be religious to live this way. But why is that? Why can some great scientists also be religious pillars of their respective communities?

So that is why I’m happy that Chris is doing this fellowship. He’s a great writer who recognizes the need for lifelong personal and professional development. I’ll be very interested to read his writing that comes out of this fellowship.

Congratulations, Chris, on being awarded this fellowship. Best of luck in your journey!

All Right Reserved © 2005 - 2023