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Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Events, PNCC, , , , ,

View PNCC Holy Masses and other Services available on-line

Several PNCC Parishes now stream their Holy Masses and other services online. If you are homebound or unable to attend on a particular Sunday you can still prayerfully participate in the life of the Church.

Holy Names of Jesus Parish in South Deerfield, Massachusetts televises Sunday Holy Mass and other services via Frontier Cable Access every Sunday and Tuesday on TV. Services are also recorded and are available via ‘Video On Demand.’

Tune in to Cable Channel 23 (Conway, Deerfield, Sunderland, and Whately, Massachusetts) and watch the previous Sunday’s Holy Mass at 9am and 9pm every Sunday, and rebroadcast on Tuesday’s at 4pm. Over 50 videos are now available in ‘Video On Demand.’

Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Chicago, Illinois has a live streaming web feed 24/7. You can view what’s going on at anytime, spending time in the Lord’s presence, and participate in Holy Mass and other services. Holy Masses are broadcast at 8, 9:15, and 11 am as well as 12:30 pm every Sunday in English, Spanish, and Polish.

Events, PNCC, , ,

Online Bible Study for Lent

Father John Kowalczyk of St. Michael the Archangel PNCC in Cedar Lake, Indiana will be conducting an on-line webinar Bible Study during the Lenten Season. The theme for this Bible Study is the “Character of Christ.”

  • Are you looking to participate in Bible Study?
  • Do you just not have time to go to the Church to participate?
  • Do you have an hour and a half for God on Tuesdays?
  • Would you like to join Bible Study from the convenience of your own home?

Join in on Tuesday evenings during Lent for the “Character of Christ”. Invite family and friends to attend as this intriguing topic is explored. We pray that you can make time in your busy schedule to join in for one or more of the Studies. There is NO COST for the Bible Study.

The Bible Study Webinar is held every week on Tuesday, February 19th through March 12th from 7 – 8:30 PM CDT.

To register visit GoToWebinar.

Once registered you will receive an e-mail confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.

System Requirements:

PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac® based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

PNCC,

Ś+P Rev. Kenneth Strawhand

Ś+P Rev. Kenneth Strawhand, SSM, Sayreville, NJ (February 2, 1949 – February 7, 2013) was called home to the Lord on Thursday, February 7, 2013. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 16th at Sayreville Memorial Home, 341 Washington Rd., Sayreville, NJ. Friends may call 3-7 pm.

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Ordained in 1985 śp. Fr. Strawhand was received into the Polish National Catholic Church in 1992 and served the Church for over 20 years at St. Casimir’s in Lowell, Massachussetts and more recently at St. Casimir’s Parish in Irondequoit, New York. Prior to entering the Polish National Catholic Church, Fr. Strawhand served in the Anglican Church in America. He also worked with the Fellowship Of Concerned Churchmen. He was educated at St. Anthony Seminary where he earned a Masters in Sacred Theology with concentrations in theology, liturgy, and philosophy.

Fr. Strawhand’s had served as Missionary Director, United Episcopal Church of America (New York State); President, Ministerial Alliance, Hot Springs, Arkansas; Former Member of the Matrimonial Commission, Diocese of the Southwest, American Episcopal Church; Former Recording Secretary, Diocese of the Southwest Diocesan Council; Examining Chaplain, Liturgy, Diocese of the Southwest, Anglican Church in America; Instructor and Examining Chaplain, Theology and Vice-President, Clergy Conference and Member, Eastern Diocesan Council, PNCC; Chancellor and Diocesan Secretary, PNCC, Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese, Chaplain, 191st Assault Helicopter Company (US Army); Contributing author to Ecclesia, a publication of the American Episcopal Church as well as Rola Boża (God’s Field) of the Polish National Catholic Church. Fr. Strawhand authored several papers, including “The Psychological Ramifications of the Sacrament of Penance” (1988). He was a member of The Society of St. Michael the Archangel, The Anglican & Orthodox Society of St. Willibroard, The C.S. Lewis Society, American Catholic Church Union, The Society of St. Luke the Physician, The Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, Alumni Association, Trinity Seminary, International Society of Theology, Society of Online Christian Theology and Philosophy.

Eternal rest grant unto your servant and priest, Kenneth, and may the perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for Quinquagesima Sunday

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What are you living for?
For forever!

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

We are about to embark on our Lenten journey. In 4 days, we come to church to have ashes imposed on our foreheads in an act of desire – desire for repentance, change, and victory. These desires puts us on the side of Jesus so that we live in accordance with His way and in faith that His promised victory will be fulfilled for us.

Many people don’t get it. They might ask us why we take on ashes. What’s the point of our desire? Aren’t we generally good enough, victorious enough already?

If we are honest with ourselves and with them, we state a faith in Jesus and a victory beyond the here and now. We admit that Jesus is our life; that we have complete faith in Him and in His victory. We admit that the ashes symbolize our shortcomings in not living Jesus’ way of life. We state that we want to make our lives like His. Our ashes symbolize a fact and a desire – We want to fix our lives so we live as Jesus asked us to live. Then we will find eternal happiness and victory.

If we lived only by our own desires and practices our lives would be empty. We would always be chasing after perfection in what we want, but never find what we need. We know, in the end, that our ways, our desires, our wants and needs are ultimately unfulfilling. They offer no hope beyond today (and not that much).

By aligning ourselves with Jesus’ way, in striving to be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord we conform our lives – we focus on living the right way. Living Jesus’ way brings us to eternal life which is God’s offer and promise of victory. Jesus’ victory helps us along the way and brings us to perfection even when we fall short. His love covers our failures giving victory.

In taking on ashes, in working through the season ahead, we implore God’s help to get back on track. We ask Him to help us in living for what is greater and more powerful than any temporary desire; better than anything the world can offer. We place our trust in His mercy that overcomes all weakness.

What can the world offer? The world offers more work, rules, temporary solutions, and a day’s wage. Are they enough? Where will they lead? Nowhere! With faith, and a re-commitment to Jesus we live for glory. All else will fade except happiness forever – our complete victory in Jesus.

Christian Witness, Homilies, , ,

Reflection for Sexagesima Sunday

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But he hit me!!!!
You’re older. You can take it.

“But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.”

Don’t you just hate it when justice isn’t done, when someone wrongs you and they don’t get what’s coming to them?

In the words above we may find a childhood memory. The young people here may recall saying and hearing the same thing recently. Dad or mom step in and tell us to act our age, take it. There might be some discipline involved, but it is never really satisfying to us. Once someone has hurt or wronged us they cannot take it back. They cannot put the genie back in the bottle or the toothpaste back in the tube.

This is the problem of sin.

Holy Scripture describes sin as the breaking, or transgression, of God’s law (1 John 3:4). It is also defined as disobedience or rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:7), as well as independence from God. The original translation of “sin” is “to miss the mark” of God’s holy standard of righteousness.

If someone hates us, curses us, acts as an enemy, abuses us, hits us, or takes our stuff our natural reaction, based on our tendency to sin, is to do the same. Hit back, take their stuff, punish them, and wage war. Doing all that perpetuates sin.

Think of it this way, if someone passes me in their car, cuts me off, honks at me, and is otherwise rude and annoying, what do I feel like doing? My broken self calls out to do the same to them, or even to others. I might be so perturbed that later that day I let a door slam in someone’s face, I fail to hold the elevator, or I give someone a dirty look. What do they do? More of the same! On and on, sin perpetuating the next sin.

Jesus’s instructions break that cycle. They call us to live holy and righteous lives without sin. We live as light in the face of darkness, responding differently.

Jesus is telling us to act our age. He considers us to be the older children of His body. As such we need to act maturely in the face of sin. When the rude driver cuts us off, we need to say a prayer for them and do additional acts of kindness. In doing so we have followed Jesus’ instructions. In doing this we trust in God’s justice. We can’t put others toothpaste back in the tube, but we can make sure ours doesn’t get out. Doing that, we are on the mark, hitting God’s holy standard of righteousness.

Homilies, PNCC, , ,

Reflection for Septuagesima and Music Scholarship Sunday

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How can I know you’re happy?
I’m singing to God.

Make a joyful shout to God all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious – Psalm 66:1,2.

Our Holy Church places a right emphasis on the place of music in worship. In the ancient Church, the Bishop as minister of the Eucharist sung the words of the Eucharistic prayer, raising people’s minds to the beauty and glory of God.

Our worship transcends time. Heaven will always resound with worship. When we complete our life on earth, we will have eternal careers as worshippers praising Him around His throne.

Our days in the community of faith – the Church – are to be spent in preparation for this eternal career through worship.

Jesus said: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him.”

Therefore, we encourage each other to worship and take this opportunity to stress the importance of worship through song. We further encourage study by our youth and adults through scholarships so that their talents might add to our worship.

Worship through music provides the body of Christ in the Church, and here in our parish, with an opportunity to engage in heartfelt and meaningful praise of the Triune God. The style of our worship songs varies, but through each we offer to God our praise and adoration in singing, choral music, ensembles, and special presentations.

Worshipping through song glorifies God, edifies the body, prepares our hearts for hearing the Word preached, and is our response to teaching. St. Paul told the people of Colossae, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

It is the Church’s goal that worship in song be a vital part of each believer’s life, allowing God to mold our attitudes and actions as we give voice to the “new song” He has placed in our hearts (Psalm 96:1).

The ministry of music plays a very important role in our worship. It expresses our joy in a special way and is a unique and vital aspect of our worship.

Our heavenly Father expects absolutely everything we do to be an act of worship. The purpose of worship in music is to bring Him glory by rehearsing His character through song. What better way to show Him, and each other, the joy we have in Christ.

Events, PNCC, , , ,

National United Choirs – Music Scholarship Sunday

Make a joyful shout to God all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious – Psalm 66:1,2

UnknownJanuary 27th, the last Sunday of January, has been set aside by PNCC Synodal resolution as Music Scholarship Sunday, which puts special emphasis on the Music Scholarship program of the National United Choirs of the P.N.C.C. It is the Sunday when the choirs, organists, directors and choir members should be recognized for their contributions to the music ministry of our church. It is also the Sunday when we look to the future and identify those that we hope will be part of the music ministry of the church. Thank you for your support of the music scholarship program. Scholarship applications are available on-line at the NUC website.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, , , ,

Honoring Dr. King

From the StrtfordStar: Stratford Clergy honors Dr. King

Father Michael Gitner of St. Joseph’s Polish National Catholic Church encouraged people to embrace freedom, justice and to promote love in their everyday lives during a service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on Sunday.

Gitner and other members of the Stratford Clergy Association conducted the service at the Stratford United Methodist Church not only to honor Dr. King, but to promote the spirit of peace and generosity.

Referencing a 1954 Dr. King sermon that was read by Rev. Dr. Bob Genevicz of the Stratford Baptist Church earlier in the service, Gitner mused on Dr. King’s sermon of Rediscovering Lost Values.

“Go back to the basic world values,” Gitner said. “Love our God above all things and love our fellow human beings as we are called upon to love ourselves.”

Sunday’s service included little in the way of extemporaneous speeches or sermons. Rather, a choir sang inspirational music in between readings of some of Dr. Kings many writings.

The Rev. Koonae Lee of the Stratford United Methodist Church offered a formal greeting and welcome to those in attendance and Father Bruce Roby of St. James Church offered an opening prayer.

The Rev. Lesley Hay of Christ Episcopal Church offered a reading of Dr. King’s The Most Durable Power sermon and the Rev. Ed Rawls of First Congregational Church read from Dr. King’s Riverside Church speech selections.

Following the reading of a portion of Dr. King’s Nobel Prize Speech offered by Rev. Meg Williams of the Stratford United Methodist Church, a litany was read before the choir and those gathered sang Let There Be Peace on Earth.

During the call for offering, Father Gitner made his remarks and explained the Stratford Clergy Association’s commitment to the spirit of Dr. King.

“For a number of years, the Stratford Clergy Association has been supporting Stratford and Bunnell high schools with scholarships in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” he said.

Gitner explained how the scholarships at first had been given only to African-American students.

“But then we realized, if we support only African-American students, then perhaps we are not living up to the ideals of Dr. King,” he said. “We have to go beyond that when we talk about equality and when we talk about love in concrete and tangible terms.”

Gitner said that over the years, the scholarships honoring Dr. King have grown to include not only one each for an African-American student per school, but one additional scholarship for ‘any student regardless of race’ per school.

“Hopefully, we the people of Stratford can rediscover lost values, especially the value of love,” he said.

Sunday’s collection will go toward funding the scholarships.

The service closed with the choir and congregation singing We Shall Overcome.

Christian Witness, DNKK, PNCC, , ,

Ś+P Abbot Dom Klaus Schlapps OPR

śp. Abbot Dom Klaus Dieter Schlapps OPR of the Abbey of St. Severin in Kaufbeuren, Germany, which is part of the Christ-Catholic Church in Germany under the auspices of the Nordic Catholic Church, entered into his eternal rest on Sunday, January 20, 2013. śp. Dom Klaus was also the Abbot General of the Order of Port Royal, an Ecumenical Cistercian Congregation of secular professed monks, nuns, and oblates.

śp. Dom Klaus’ passing was sudden and unexpected. He passed in the midst of his brothers in the Abbey. Our thoughts and prayers are with the brothers as well as his family, friends, and all in community of the Order of Port Royal.

Brother Johannes, speaking on behalf of the Abbey of St. Severin recalled śp. Dom Klaus as a candle burning at both ends. “He spread twice as much light, but his life was thus shorter. Dom Klaus helped so many people. He had a deep abiding faith and trust in God. Whenever problems arose he encouraged his brothers, saying: ‘Faith in God, trust in God, it opens up a path, there is a solution.’ God used him as an instrument of his love.”

śp. Abbot Klaus Dieter Schlapps, 9/30/1959 + 1/20/2013
śp. Abbot Klaus Dieter Schlapps, 9/30/1959 + 1/20/2013

The cords of death encompassed me,
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me,
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
He reached from on high, he took me,
he drew me out of many waters.
He brought me forth into a broad place;
he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all his ordinances were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from guilt.
Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. (Psalm 18:4-6,16,19-24)

Eternal rest grant unto your servant, priest, and abbot Klaus and may the perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.

Ewige Ruhe schenke ihm, o Herr! Und das ewige Licht leuchte ihm!
Lasse ihn ruhen in Frieden. Amen.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, ,

Dr. Jim Ploskonka on “God & Finances”

Holy Mother of Sorrows PNCC, Dupont, PA held the next in its Sermon, Soup & Sandwich series on Saturday, January 12th featuring Dr. Jim Ploskonka speaking on “God & Finances.” Dr. Ploskonka spoke on the subject of personal finances, specifically providing documented insights into how God has provided us means to be at peace with money and its use.

Dr. Ploskonka is a graduate of Mansfield University where in 2012 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for distinguished educators. He received his master’s degree from Boston Conservatory, his PhD from the University of Kentucky and was the recipient of the Sagan Scholarship for the dissertation of the year. Most recently, Dr. Ploskonka completed studies at Harvard University focusing on critical issues in higher education.

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