You may wish to check out the website of the IV All-Diaspora Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The business at hand is the re-unification of ROCOR with the Moscow Patriarchate.
O Boże, któryś sługę Twego św. Jana Damasceńskiego, za obronę czci obrazów świętych, i za rozliczne cnoty wieczną nadgrodziłeś chwałą, za jego przyczyną użycz nam tej łaski, abyśmy na widok obrazów świętych przypominali sobie ich cnoty, i starali się usilnie je naśladować. Amen.
Prosimy Cię wszechmogący wieczny Boże, udziel nam ducha pokory, abyśmy wysoko o sobie nie rozumieli i na obowiązkowe nie narzekali prace, ale patrząc na przykład św. Izydora oracza naśladowali go w cnocie, pracy i modlitwie. Amen.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review carried a story by Craig Smith on May 4th concerning the firing of a Roman Catholic parish’s youth music director. The youth music director was fired by the “pastor” of the Roman Catholic Church in Sewickley, PA. The pastor is being backed up by the Pittsburgh Diocese of course.
The youth music director, Mary Lynn Pleczkowski, is the wife of a PNCC priest who serves with the United States Air Force. He was recently stationed in Afghanistan.
Mrs. Pleczkowski had worked for the R.C. parish for fifteen (15) years. Many in the parish were saddened by her sudden firing.
The Roman Catholic Church is using a little known provision in its ‘laws’ called the ‘Cardinal’s clause’ as the reason for the firing.
Mrs. Pleczkowski is now without work. I imagine that that’s quite a burden, you know with two children and with your husband away serving his country – most recently in harms way.
Now, the stated reason for using the ‘Cardinal’s clause’ is because the R.C. Church does not recognize Father and Mrs. Pleczkowski’s marriage. Father Pleczkowski was a R.C. priest who left the R.C. Church to get married. He subsequently joined and was accepted by the PNCC as a priest in good standing.
The R.C. Church has a double standard concerning PNCC clergy. They recognize our orders and other sacraments (the Tribune Review story states they do not which is in error), but refuse to recognize PNCC clergy in good standing who used to be R.C. priests.
This double standard opens up all sorts of problems and personally I think it is motivated more by “hurt feelings” than by good theology.
Imagine this. A R.C. parishioner finds him/herself in urgent need of the sacraments. They avail themselves of the sacraments from a PNCC priest. Should they have checked the ‘do not call’ list before doing so?
Many people who read this blog would understand the differences between sacraments being valid and licit (from an R.C. perspective). But what about that poor parishioner who hears half truths from certain R.C. pastors who carry an animus toward the PNCC? These pastors aren’t even familiar with the information printed in the back of the missalette they use.
Speaking of animus:
The October 2005 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and PNCC joint press release on the R.C. – PNCC dialog had this little tidbit in it:
Sacramental sharing between PNCC military chaplains and Roman Catholic military personnel was also discussed.
Actually that statement has been in a few of the releases. Hmmm, I wonder if someone got upset because Father Pleczkowski gave communion to an R.C. soldier (which is perfectly allowable)?
Here’s a few excerpts from the Pittsburgh piece: ‘Cardinal’s clause’ used in church firing
The use of a little known Catholic statute to fire a music leader at a Sewickley church has outraged some parishioners and divided a congregation that has been through controversy before.
The Rev. Ed Wichman removed Mary Lynn Pleczkowski from her paid position as associate music director at St. James Church because she’s married to a priest affiliated with a church the Vatican does not recognize.
Wichman invoked the “cardinal’s clause,” which, in part, prohibits people whose marriages are not recognized by the church from holding church positions. Pleczkowski married her husband, Robert, in a Methodist church about 20 years ago. He now is a priest in the Polish National Catholic Church.
The marriage didn’t show up on the radar screen until Wichman was assigned to the parish, Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese spokesman the Rev. Ron Lengwin said. Wichman attended Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. with Pleczkowski’s husband roughly two decades ago.
St. James announced Sunday that Pleczkowski was “moving on” from her post.
Pleczkowski did not return numerous calls. Wichman referred calls to Lengwin.
Pleczkowski had worked as associate music director at St. James for about 15 years.
Her dismissal stunned the youth choir Pleczkowski oversaw and hurt her family, said friends and relatives.
“She got kids involved in the choir, and that sparked them to be more involved in the parish,” said St. James parishioner Anna Villella, of Sewickley. “I understand there are rules and regulations but … this is tremendously difficult on the children.”
“Everyone is devastated. She is like a second mom,” said Lacey Gerle, 18, of Sewickley, who has been in the choir at St. James since the sixth grade.
…
A person who posted a comment at Kelly B’s Blog on Your Sewickley may have had a similar clue about revenge.
For info about St. James Parish (they have four websites):
St. James’ Diocesan website
St. James’ own website (Mrs. Pleczkowski is still listed under the Parish Directory, Music Ministry)
St. James’ music ministry website (Mrs. Pleczkowski is prominently listed)
St. James School
From their April 16, 2006 bulletin (note PDF format):
SHORT SERMON
We were called to be witnesses –
not lawyers and judges.
The URI for the bulletin is in part “/bull/20060416”. Yep.
Check out the “Marriage Moments” articles from the bulletins. Ooops, not you Mrs. Pleczkowski.
[dels]blogs4god/polity[/dels]
Św. Grzegorzu z Nazjanzu, wielki Doktorze i Nauczycielu Kościoła! wstaw się za nami u Boga, abyśmy idąc za radami i wzkazówkami zawartymi w pismach twoich, doszli do niebieskiej szczęśliwości. Amen.
Boże, dla którego chwały, świątobliwy biskup Stanisław został porąbany mieczami ludzi bezbożnych, spraw prosimy Cię, aby wszyscy, którzy jego pomocy i wstawiennictwa szukają, prośby swojej skutek zbawienny otrzymać mogli. Amen.
See the Young Fogey’s take on St. Stanislaus.
A good friend introduced me to wines from Central Europe about a decade ago. Egri Bikavér (“Bull’s Blood”) is a wonderful Hungarian wine. When we used to drink it, it was a very inexpensive buy. Lately I’ve been hearing a few people talking about Georgian wines. I was at our local mega-specialty wine store yesterday and decided to look for a bottle or two.
Their selection from these countries was rather limited. I picked up one Georgian wine and I found an Armenian wine. The Armenian wine is a semi-sweet made from quince. We tried it with dinner tonight and, in my inestimably poor ability to judge anything, I give it a thumbs up. I noticed that the Armenian’s make a semi-sweet from pomegranate. I’m going to start looking. I also forgot to ask them if they carry Egri – that’ll have to wait for the next trip.
Na zdrowie!
I’m a Talent!
You’re a risk-taker, and you follow your passions. You’re determined to take on the world and succeed on your own terms. Whether in the arts, science, engineering, business, or politics, you fearlessly express your own vision of the world. You’re not afraid of a fight, and you’re not afraid to bet your future on your own abilities. If you find a job boring or stifling, you’re already preparing your resume. You believe in doing what you love, and you’re not willing to settle for an ordinary life.
Talent: 54%
Lifer: 41%
Mandarin: 38%
Take the Talent, Lifer, or Mandarin quiz.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
Amen, alleluia! This is good news! Jesus not only cares for us as our shepherd, but He knows us. He knows us through and through. He knows us, and even though we are weak and sinful, still loves us enough to voluntarily lay down His life for us.
If you were standing with Jesus the day He said this would you be amazed, confused, happy, or angry? What would you feel? What would you think? Why would you even be there? What are you looking for?
Well, you would know about sheep and shepherds. You would know about the dangers of shepherding. You might even know of someone who was killed by wolves or bandits while protecting his sheep. This wouldn’t be unfamiliar territory.
In John 9 and 10 Jesus is continuing His teaching. All the while He is being tailed by the Pharisees. He is engaged by them and there is a series of accusations and retorts. At one point, later in Chapter 10 the Jews say to Jesus:
“How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
He’s told them, He’s shown them, and even if He said, right there and then, —I am the Messiah— they wouldn’t have believed Him.
They were not looking for honesty or the Messiah. They were looking for evidence.
This Sunday our parish honors the Blessed Virgin Mary. The young women of the parish will crown this image of the Blessed Mother.
Why?
You well know that our Church does not follow or proclaim dogmas about Mary. We don’t proclaim the ‘Assumption’ or the ‘Immaculate Conception’. At the same time this very parish honors Mary and is dedicated to her. We seek her intercession constantly.
The loyal few who show up on Wednesday evening for Holy Mass, Exposition, a novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa, and Benediction have first hand experience of our love for Jesus’ mother. Every Wednesday and on Friday’s in May we specifically pray for all of your needs and we pray for all the sick by name. We offer up those names to Jesus through Mary.
Why?
Because Mary wasn’t looking for evidence; Mary didn’t demand proof. Mary just said yes. She accepted God’s will and God’s request without asking all the ‘W’ questions.
This past week we read about Ananias. Ananias was the disciple in Damascus who was sent by Jesus to Saul of Tarsus. Ananias, like so many others said yes to Jesus. And, like others he said yes, but…
But Ananias replied,
—Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,
what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.
And here he has authority from the chief priests
to imprison all who call upon your name.—
Maybe Ananias thought that he had to bring the Lord up-to-date with current events. You know Lord, since Your Ascension a lot of stuff has been going on —“ let me fill You in…
Mary simply said yes. Mary became the Theotokos —“ the God bearer. Mary bore Jesus to us in all His humanity and in all His nature as God.
So today, and every May, we crown Mary, Mary the God bearer, Mary who simply said yes. Mary —“ an example in human flesh of what we are called to be.
As you reflect on Mary’s example and as you reflect on the scripture of the day, recall the words of praise found in our psalm:
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his kindness endures forever.
Praise and bless the shepherd. Praise and bless Him:
“There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.—
This is the Good News of our salvation. Rejoice in it.
Amen.
[dels]blogs4god/sermons[/dels]
Św. Jakóbie, apostole i męczenniku, który umierając modliłeś się za swych morderców, uproś nam u Boga tę łaskę, abyśmy przebaczyli winy naszym krzywdzicielom, prześladowcom i oszczercom, zemsty nie pragnęli na nich, a przeciw ich napaściom bronili się poprawą własnego życia. Amen.