Tag: Announcements

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Worker Justice events

Supporting the Del Posto Workers’ Campaign for Justice & Respect!

A Fair Food Potluck will take place in front of Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich’s Del Posto Restaurant in support of the more than restaurant 40 workers at who are fighting to improve their workplace. They demand that managers be trained to stop discrimanation, racism, sexual harassment, and verbal and physical abuse on the job! The workers are also demanding an end to wage theft and the misappropriation of their tips by the company.

The Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York (ROC-NY) is a non-profit organization that seeks improved working conditions for restaurant workers citywide. ROC-NY assists restaurant workers seeking legal redress against employers who violate their employment rights. ROC-NY seeks to provide customers and the public with information about the litigation in this restaurant through these handbills, not to interfere with current workers or with deliveries.

Last Chance to Register for IWJ’s June 19-21 National Conference!

Share strategies for building labor-religion partnerships, fighting wage theft and strengthening worker centers by attending IWJ’s National Conference in Chicago June 19-21! Click here to register!

Special plenary and workshop sessions have been added on the Public Sector Worker Fights in response to the vicious attacks on public sector workers. Come learn, strategize, and collaborate as we take a stand against these unprecedented attacks. As people of faith, we are called to step forth and condemn these outrageous attacks on teachers, police officers, fire fighters, public health workers, and other public employees who provide vital services to our communities. An attack on public sector workers is an attack on all workers.

A pre-conference Interfaith Theological Symposium for Worker Justice will also take place. The interfaith symposium is a gathering of theologians, students, religious activists and labor leaders to connect with and be supported by the theological groundings offered within different faith traditions. The interactive symposium will highlight presentations from Muslim, Jewish and Christian experts in the field of economic justice.

If you can’t make the whole conference, join in on Monday June 20 for IWJ’s 15th Anniversary Celebration, which will include tasty appetizers, fine wines, inspiring union songs and gospel music, and 400 religious and labor activists. Reconnect with former staff, leaders, summer interns, and seminarians. Meet the new leaders of the worker center movement. Buy your tickets today or donate $100 so that one of IWJ’s senior citizen volunteers can enjoy the party!

United Brotherhood of Carpenters website on Employer Payroll Fraud: It’s time to play by the rules:

Learn about Worker Misclassification, Workers Comp Fraud, Untaxed Cash Pay, Money Laundering, and Racketeering and how these employer payroll frauds steal from taxpayers, the government, and insurers. It violates workers’ rights and costs jobs for law-abiding companies and their employees. Learn more about these multi-billion-dollar crimes and growing state and federal efforts to fight back.

Florida’s video: Cheat to Compete:

From Florida’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Fraud (BWCF), Division of Insurance Fraud. The video shows fraud schemes seen in the construction industry. Think what you are building is safe and above board? Always ask if your contractor’s workers are employees or independent contractors. If they are “independent contractors” choose someone else. When push comes to shove, the company you contract with will take no responsibility for the work of its alleged “independent contractors” who may also be uninsured.

Events, PNCC, , ,

Sacred Vocations Month

June is Sacred Vocations Month in the Polish National Catholic Church. During the month we particularly focus our prayer on vocations to Holy Orders within the Church. We further consider our loyal and dedicated clergy who have served many years, offering their guidance, counseling, assistance, hard work, and service in the cause of drawing all to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

First and foremost, we must pray for vocations. Too often we see dwindling congregations and the closing of churches all around us. Within the PNCC we sometimes lament over the state of the Church in our country, but the reality is far different. Throughout our nation, and all around the world, people are calling out to us, to our One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church with its democratic form of governance, and are asking for priests and new parishes. The only thing holding us back from going out into the field and reaping this harvest (Luke 10:2) is a lack of vocations.

The life of service within the Church is not without its occasional difficulties, but instead of focusing on temporary and occasional drawbacks, think rather to the blessing our God showers upon those who give generously of themselves (Malachi 3:10), of plain, hard working men who are ready to step up and work.

If you are ready to look past small roadblocks and set to work, please contact the Savonarola Theological Seminary of the Polish National Catholic Church, 1031 Cedar Ave, Scranton, PA 18505. School, (570) 961-9288, Office, (570) 343-0100.

Also, during the month of June, we are asked to give generously to our Clergy Pension Fund. The Fund was established to aid our retired clergy who have given service to the Lord all their lives. A small stipend aids and adds to their Social Security benefits. Currently, the stipend for the clergy is $600 per month. The theme of the Fund is: “Retire with Dignity.” So, on Father’s Day each year the Polish National Catholic Church sets aside a second collection to be taken for the Clergy Pension Fund. In 2011 the Clergy Pension Fund began accepting credit cards for donations to the fund through PayPal. Please donate generously to this worthy cause.





O Almighty God, look mercifully upon Thy Church and incline he hearts of many of her sons to offer themselves for the work of the sacred priesthood, so that by their labors Thy light may shine in the darkness of the world and the coming of Thy kingdom may be hastened by the perfecting of Thine elect. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — A Prayer for the Increase of Priests from A Book of Devotions and Prayers According to the Use of the Polish National Catholic Church.

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The lnstallation of the Eighth Bishop Ordinary of the Central Diocese

The lnstallation of the Rt. Rev. John Mack as Eighth Bishop Ordinary of the Central Diocese and Pastor of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr Cathedral will take place on Sunday, June 5th.

The Holy Rite of lnstallation will be celebrated during a Holy Mass scheduled for 4 pm. A celebratory reception will be held in the Cathedral Youth Center following Holy Mass.

Bishop Mack has been serving as Bishop Ordinary since February 1, 2011.

Please join in formally welcoming Bishop Mack by your presence, and if unable to attend, through your prayers.

Update from the Scranton Times Tribune: New bishop to be installed Sunday in Polish National Catholic diocese

The new bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church’s Central Diocese will be installed during a Mass at St. Stanislaus Cathedral on Sunday, four months after he assumed the post in Scranton.

The Right Rev. John Mack became bishop of the denomination’s largest diocese on Feb. 1 when he arrived in a snowstorm from his previous assignment as auxiliary bishop in the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese.

The installation ceremony will officially mark the start of a new era in the diocese under its eighth bishop.

“The work has gone on before – you were on the job already – but now it is official,” Bishop Mack said.

Bishop Mack was selected for the post after the diocese’s previous bishop, the Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky, was elected Prime Bishop last fall. Bishop Mack is also pastor of St. Stanislaus Cathedral, the denomination’s mother church.

Sunday’s ceremony will draw parishioners and more than 30 priests from across the diocese, which stretches from New York to Maryland. Bishops and pastors from other Polish National Catholic dioceses and other denominations also are expected to attend.

“It’s a time for the diocese to come together and celebrate,” Bishop Mack said.

The Mass will begin at 4 p.m. and will be followed by a reception in the parish youth center.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, , ,

Consecration of Bishop Elect Flemstead of the Nordic Catholic Church Announced

We have a rather momentous occasion to take place on the last Monday of July, July 25, 2011 the Feast of St. James the Greater, Apostle.

Through the ministry of Bishop Thaddeus Peplowski (Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese), a number of churches in the Nordic countries have accepted the practice and norms of the Polish National Catholic Church and have developed into the Nordic Catholic Church, coming under the umbrella of the Union of Scranton.

At the synod held in Oslo, Norway late last year, a priest of the Church, the Rev. Roald Nikolai Flemestad, was elected as a candidate for bishop. This in one way will bolster the churches looking for stability and focus as it looks to serve its people in the future.

Father Flemstad’s consecration to the episcopal office will take place on the Feast of Saint James the Greater at Saint Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr cathedral in Scranton. What a joyous occasion it will be!

Father Flemstad addressed our Holy Synod in October 2010. He so looked forward to visiting the American church, and now will serve as the leader of the Nordic congregations.

Members of the churches in Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Italy will travel to Scranton to take part in the service. The readings and liturgy will be celebrated in both languages. The bishops of our Church will serve as co-consecrators, with, Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky, our Prime Bishop serving a principal consecrator.

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Workshop for Writers

This summer, One Story will again be offering an intimate 6-day fiction workshop for writers. The week will include morning workshops, afternoon craft lectures, and evening panels with authors, agents, MFA faculty, and editors. The workshop will be held July 24 – 29, 2011, at the One Story office in The Old American Can Factory in Brooklyn, New York (232 3rd St. #E106, Brooklyn, NY 11215).

One Story is crafting a unique experience, both practical and creative, for writers looking to take the next step in their careers. One Story Associate Editor Marie-Helene Bertino will be returning as workshop leader. Editor-in-Chief Hannah Tinti, as well as other established writers chosen for their ability to teach the craft of writing in engaging ways, will teach afternoon craft classes. Every night, there will be a wine and cheese reception and panel discussion with industry professionals. Last year’s lecturers and panelists included Myla Goldberg, Terese Svoboda, Allison Amend, Ann Napolitano, Sam Lipsyte, editors from n+1, Electric Literature and Akashic Books, literary agents, and MFA directors from local area programs.

Please join One Story at the Old American Can Factory on Thursday, May 5th for a free craft lecture from Hannah Tinti on the art and skill of revision. The event will begin with a reception at 6:30 pm. This is a rare chance to sample a craft lecture like the ones offered during the workshop, and an opportunity to meet some of the faces behind One Story.

Applications for the One Story Workshop for Writers are being accepted now until May 31, 2011.

Art, Events, , ,

American roots music at the Shaker Meeting House

Here’s some exciting news and an invitation for you to hear the very best contemporary American roots music this Saturday, May 21st, from 7:30 to 9:30 P.M. at the renowned 1848 Shaker Meeting House. Stephen Iachetta will be performing as Shaker Fiddle in a warm-up set for violin-fiddle-master, Grammy Award nominee, Sara Milonovich and her recording artist guitar partner Greg Anderson. This is certain to be an evening of great music in a coffee house setting you won’t want to miss. Berta will be serving fresh bakery goods, fresh brewed French Roast and gourmet teas among sorted other beverages and and sweets to keep your taste buds as well as your ear buds saturated w/sumptuous treats.

The suggested donation is $10 ($8 students/seniors/Society members). Proceeds from the Music in the Meeting House Series will benefit the Shaker Heritage Society in its efforts to preserve the site of America’s first Shaker settlement, founded in 1776.

For further info please call the Shaker Heritage Society at 518-456-7890.

As a “save the date”, Music in the Meetinghouse will continue Friday, June 3rd at 7:30 with Friends Union Band.

Art, Events, Poland - Polish - Polonia, Political, Xpost to PGF, , ,

Franciszek Kulon Exhibition

An exhibit of works by Franciszek Kulon at the Grand Prospect Hall opens Saturday, May 14th at 7pm. The exhibition will continue through May 19th, daily from 10am to 5pm. Grand Prospect Hall is located at 263 Prospect Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY.

Franciszek C. Kulon is a passionate, forceful painter, Kulon is influencing art through his striking ability to capture emotionalism on canvas. His artwork uniquely captures the spirit and soul of the subject painted. While often controversial, his work ranges in style from “modern realism with surreal elements,” to impressionism, to abstract.

Kulon was born in Sanok, Poland, and developed his skills in the traditional manner, studying with masters such as Bronislaw Naczas, Edward Kiferling, Marian Kruczek, and Michal Bylina. Today, Kulon lives in the Catskills, not far from New York City, and paints subject matter that moves his sensitive nature. This can result in sublimely executed portraits and landscapes. However, his art often deals with the poverty, cruelty and pathos of human existence which, according to Kulon, has been degraded through social forces beyond individual human control. His paintings have become part of museum, gallery, and private collections in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Events, Poetry, , , ,

A Weekend with The Sun in Massachusetts

Into the Fire: The Sun Celebrates Personal Writing: Join Sun authors Michelle Cacho-Negrete, Doug Crandell, Gillian Kendall, and Sparrow, along with editor and publisher Sy Safransky, for a lively weekend of writing, reflection, and inspiration, June 3–5, 2011. The gathering will be held at Rowe, a retreat center situated on fifty acres of lush woodland in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts.

A large enrollment is expected, and spaces are limited. You may register by contacting Rowe at (413) 339-4954, or online.

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One Story’s Second Annual Literary Debutante Ball

This year’s Literary Debutante Ball will celebrate five One Story authors who published their first book in the last year, and honor novelist and memoirist Dani Shapiro for her role as a mentor to so many emerging writers. The night will feature the debutante procession, an art auction, and a signature BULLDOG gin cocktail, “The Six Poisons,” named for One Story issue #69 by Dani Shapiro.

The 2011 Literary Debutantes are: Robin Black, Susanna Daniel, Seth Fried, Jerry Gabriel, and Jim Hanas.

Tickets are currently on sale. The Ball takes place on Friday, April 29, 2011 from 7-11pm at The Invisible Dog Art Center, 51 Bergen Street (btw. Court St. & Smith St.), Brooklyn, NY 11201.

One Story is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by readers and by grants from organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, and Amazon.com. This event is generously sponsored by Bulldog Gin, among others.

Art, Events, , ,

Call for submissions: Art For Forests Of My Country

The International Project “Art for Peace” – 14th edition will be judging submissions from children and youth ages 4 through 16 on the subject: Art For Forests Of My Country. Judging takes place in November 2011.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, forests represent 31% of terrestrial coverage, serving as a shelter for 300 million people and also directly ensuring the survival of 1.6 billion humans and 80% of the planet’s biodiversity.

The predatory exploitation and disrespect of the natural life cycle of forests leads to the extinction of many species of wild fauna and flora and trigger serious consequences to human life because they are a source of drinking water and food.

Deforestation and forest degradation are responsible for 20% of greenhouse gases emitted, causing the worsening of climate change. This rate is higher than all global transport emissions.

In order to aware the entire world population about the vital importance of their forests, the United Nations declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests.

Teachers are asked to work with their students on a project supporting the preservation of forests and their importance in ensuring life on the planet. Students should express themselves through art and messages about conservation of their country’s forests. An educational component focused on environmental preservation, social responsibility, and peace should be part of the project.

The work may be sponsored and submitted by children and youth in a school, community organization, on behalf of a company (the children of employees), an academy, library, or individually. All works must be received by October 21, 2011.

Suggested topics that might be addressed include:

  • Forests are a source of life, drinking water and food;
  • The flora and fauna of the forests of your country;
  • The large trees that cover the forests in your country;
  • Destroyed forests causing loss of biodiversity, extinction of flora and fauna and the loss of water resources;
  • The watersheds of forests. rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and caves;
  • Forest people and their traditions. Their work in protecting natural resources for their survival;
  • Essential raw materials found in the forests for the pharmaceutical industry;
  • The worsening of climate change caused by forest degradation;
  • Destruction of forests for cattle pasture. This is a major cause of greenhouse gases.
  • Actions to prevent construction in areas where deforestation can cause erosion in the soil, leading to tragedies; or
  • Every nation, through government and non-governmental organizations, must ensure that forests are managed for their country in a sustainable way for present and future generations.

Please see the attached rules in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.