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Christian Witness, Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , ,

What 500 dedicated people can do

From the Buffalo News: With spotlight on past and future, exhibit celebrates parish’s faith

Dozens of supporters of Corpus Christi Catholic Church turned out Thursday for a special look at an exhibit that celebrates the East Side church’s past and future.

The exhibit, housed in Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum on Porter Avenue, coincides with the successful completion of the parish’s $1 million preservation fund campaign.

—In a time of crisis, over the past four years, we were able to raise $1 million, which is extraordinary for a church on the East Side where you don’t really have too many people,— said the Rev. Anzelm Chalupka, pastor of Corpus Christi.

—Today’s event is thankfulness from us to the people who donated money towards this campaign.—

At its height, the overwhelmingly Polish-American parish had more than 10,000 members and is now down to about 500 very dedicated parishioners —” about 2 percent from the neighborhood and the rest who travel long distances to attend Mass, Chalupka said…

I applaud the work of the Pauline Fathers at Corpus Christi. You don’t need a big suburban parish of 10,000 well healed people to be successful, you need strong hands and strong hearts. What our forefathers did can still be done. May their work be blessed.

PNCC, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , ,

Nowy Dziennik features article on the PNCC

Nowy Dziennik, the largest Polish language daily newspaper in the United States, featured an interview with the Very Rev. Paul Sobiechowski of St. Joseph’s Parish in Davie, Florida. My sources inform me that this is the first time in many years that Nowy Dziennik has written on the PNCC. The article is entitled Nasze drzwi są zawsze otwarte (Our doors are always open)

Ksiądz Paul Sobiechowski przed kościołem św. Józefa w Davie, FL. Jest bardzo życzliwy, łatwo dostępny dla parafian i dla wszystkich innych, niezależnie od przekonań, narodowości i stanu posiadania. Urodził się w Detroit, mówi biegle po polsku, aż 17 razy odwiedził Polskę, prowadząc między innymi wycieczki parafian ze Stanów Zjednoczonych.
Ksiądz Paul Sobiechowski przed kościołem św. Józefa w Davie, FL. Jest bardzo życzliwy, łatwo dostępny dla parafian i dla wszystkich innych, niezależnie od przekonań, narodowości i stanu posiadania. Urodził się w Detroit, mówi biegle po polsku, aż 17 razy odwiedził Polskę, prowadząc między innymi wycieczki parafian ze Stanów Zjednoczonych.

Rozmowa z księdzem Paulem Sobiechowskim, pastorem parafii św. Józefa w Davie na Florydzie, należącej do Polskiego Narodowego Kościoła Katolickiego

18 października parafii św. Józefa w Davie odbędzie się Dzień Narodowego Dziedzictwa Kulturowego. Ile osób w USA wie o istnieniu Polskiego Narodowego Kościoła Katolickiego, zna jego historię i działalność?

—“ Prawdopodobnie niewiele. A przecież Kościół ten powstał ponad 100 lat temu właśnie tutaj w Stanach Zjednoczonych, aby lepiej służyć katolickiej amerykańskiej Polonii.

Polacy zawsze byli narodem głęboko wierzącym, o bogatych tradycjach chrześcijańskich. Kiedy zatem w XIX wieku zaczęli masowo emigrować do Ameryki za chlebem, szukali w miastach, w których się znaleźli, kościołów katolickich, gdzie mogliby nie tylko się modlić, ale również spotykać się z innymi, dzielić się swoimi radościami i troskami, szukać pomocy i pocieszenia. Byli to zazwyczaj ludzie prości, słabo wykształceni, niemówiący ani po łacinie, ani też po angielsku.

Kapłanami w kościołach byli przeważnie duchowni pochodzenia irlandzkiego i niemieckiego, czasami francuskiego. Nie rozumieli oni problemów ani zwyczajów polskich emigrantów. Emigranci nie mogli więc poradzić się księdza, nie mogli też wyspowiadać się. Ta sytuacja spowodowała początkowo opór wśród katolików polskiego pochodzenia, a później bunt i odłączenie się od Kościoła rzymsko-katolickiego.

W latach 1897-1904 powstały trzy główne ośrodki Kościoła polsko-katolickiego w Ameryce: w Buffalo, Chicago oraz w Scranton. W roku 1909 ośrodek w Chicago połączył się z ośrodkiem w Scranton, a w roku 1914 dołączył do nich ośrodek w Buffalo. Przyjęto oficjalną nazwę: Polski Narodowy Kościół Katolicki. Przewodził mu ksiądz Franciszek Hodura, który wkrótce potem został wyświęcony na biskupa i dołączył do kościołów starokatolickich.
Trochę później, bo na początku lat dwudziestych XX wieku powstało też kilka parafii w Polsce. Pierwszą była parafia w Bażanówce na Podkarpaciu (w 1921 roku), a drugą parafia w Krakowie, na Podgórzu (w 1922 roku).

Czy nazwa Polski Narodowy Kościół Katolicki oznacza, że jego członkami są tylko wierni pochodzenia polskiego?

—“ Mimo nazwy, kościół nasz jest kościołem służącym wielu narodowościom. Świadczy o tym chociażby fakt, że msze święte w naszej parafii odbywają się w trzech językach: po polsku, po angielsku i po hiszpańsku.

Dzięki postanowieniom II Soboru Watykańskiego i reformie papieża Pawła VI, który w roku 1969 zezwolił na odprawianie mszy w językach narodowych, nie stanowi to już różnicy pomiędzy Kościołem rzymsko-katolickim a Polskim Narodowym Kościołem Katolickim. Jakie są zatem inne różnice?

—“ Wbrew powszechnemu mniemaniu, więcej nas łączy, niż dzieli. Wyznajemy te same dogmaty religijne, wierzymy w jednego Boga w Trójcy Świętej. Oddajemy cześć aniołom, apostołom, świętym i męczennikom. Nasz Kościół uznaje również siedem sakramentów świętych. W sposób szczególny czcimy Maryję Pannę. Nie uznajemy jedynie niepokalanego jej poczęcia. Podkreślam jednak, że jest to dla nas doktryna a nie dogmat religijny i człowiek nie musi w to wierzyć, żeby dostać się do królestwa niebieskiego.

Nie uznajemy również nieomylności papieża oraz jego wszechwładzy w Kościele. Ważne decyzje w sprawach Kościoła zapadają w sposób bardzo demokratyczny. Na każdy synod kościelny, który odbywa się co 4 lata, są wysyłani —“ oprócz kapłanów —“ przedstawiciele parafii: jeden delegat na 50 członków parafii. Organem zarządzającym jest Rada Kościoła, która kieruje pięcioma diecezjami na terenie Stanów Zjednoczonych i Kanady. Zbiera się raz na rok. Protokoły z jej posiedzeń są dostępne w naszym czasopiśmie “Rola Boża”.

Komunię świętą przyjmujemy pod dwoma postaciami: ciała i krwi pańskiej. Osoby laickie nie mogą rozdawać komunii za wyjątkiem, kiedy przy niedostępności księdza sakrament ten chce przyjąć osoba ciężko chora lub umierająca. Spowiedź sprawowana jest w dwóch formach: indywidualnej w konfesjonale i ogólnej, zwanej spowiedzią powszechną.

Siedzibą najwyższych władz kościelnych jest Scranton w stanie Pensylwania. Liczbę wiernych aktualnie ocenia się na około 26 tysięcy.

No dobrze, a co z celibatem? Przecież Ksiądz ma żonę, nieprawdaż?

—“ Tak, mam żonę, którą bardzo kocham. Poznaliśmy się jako bardzo młodzi ludzie i po długim okresie narzeczeństwa (cztery i pół roku) postanowiliśmy doznać sakramentu małżeństwa. Nasz 21-letni syn służy teraz w armii amerykańskiej (US Marine Corps). Zawsze chciałem mieć rodzinę, dzieci i jednocześnie służyć Bogu. Rodzina daje mi poczucie równowagi, dodaje sił i radości. Sprawia, że jestem naprawdę szczęśliwy.

Moja żona jest prawdziwym partnerem w związku, pełni również funkcję organistki w naszej parafii. Pomaga mi w działalności charytatywnej kościoła.

To, że jestem mężem i ojcem, pomaga mi zrozumieć problemy rodzinne moich parafian, doradzać im w ich drodze życiowej, w przekazywaniu dobrych wzorców rodzinnych dzieciom.

Czyli, zdaniem Księdza, celibat w kapłaństwie powinien być wyborem, a nie nakazem?

—“ Zdecydowanie tak. Często zapominamy, że przez ponad 1000 lat, od początku istnienia chrześcijaństwa, apostołowie i księża mieli rodziny i nikogo to nie gorszyło. Wręcz przeciwnie —“ pomagało funkcjonować kapłanom w społeczeństwie. Idea obowiązującego celibatu powstała w Hiszpanii, na początku IV wieku. W roku 580 papież Pelagiusz II ogłosił, że powinno się tolerować małżeństwa wśród księży, jednak nie mogą oni zapisywać dóbr materialnych swoim rodzinom.

A śluby czystości?

—“ Ten, kto je złoży, powinien ich dotrzymać. Tego typu decyzja powinna wynikać z wewnętrznej potrzeby, a nie z nakazu. Należy również pamiętać, że małżeństwo jest jednym z sakramentów i tak też powinno być pojmowane. W obecnych czasach zbyt lekko traktuje się przysięgę małżeńską. Ludzie szybko się żenią, a kiedy miną pierwsze uniesienia —“ często zniechęcają się przy najmniejszych kłopotach z partnerem i rozwodzą się zbyt łatwo, zamiast próbować odbudować harmonię w związku.

Jakie jest miejsce Waszego kościoła wśród polonijnej społeczności na Florydzie?

—“ Nasz kościół —“ mimo pięknych witraży przedstawiających stacje Drogi Krzyżowej —“ jest bardzo skromny. Prawie wszystkie pieniądze pochodzące z ofiar naszych wiernych lub też z akcji zbierania funduszy przeznaczamy na pomoc ludziom w ciężkiej sytuacji, zwłaszcza dzieciom. Uczestniczymy w programie EASE. Jest to skrót od angielskiej nazwy organizacji charytatywnej —“ The Davie Emergency Assistance Service Effort. Celem tej organizacji jest zapobieganie bezdomności i doraźna, szybka pomoc w krytycznych sytuacjach dla rodzin zubożałych nagle, na skutek utraty pracy i ogólnego kryzysu ekonomicznego. W ciągu ostatniego roku —“ dzięki tej organizacji —“ prawie 500 rodzin otrzymało żywność i artykuły codziennego użytku oraz zabawki dla dzieci w okresie Świąt Dziękczynienia i Bożego Narodzenia. Nasza mała parafia dostarczyła taką pomoc aż 54 rodzinom.

Skąd pochodzą pieniądze na tę pomoc?

—“ Wspaniałym pomysłem na gromadzenie funduszy przeznaczonych na pomaganie dzieciom i rodzinom potrzebującym w Polsce jest akceptacja ofiary (przykładowo —“ w wysokości 25 centów) za dekoracyjne znaczki Świętego Mikołaja, które w okresie świątecznym są rozprowadzane przez naszą parafię. Inicjatorem tej akcji 20 lat temu był pan Robert Strybel z Polski. Trwa to do dzisiaj.

Co macie w planach parafii na najbliższą przyszłość?

—“ Dwie bardzo ważne imprezy! 18 października —“ Dzień Narodowego Dziedzictwa Kulturowego, a w grudniu, w trzecią niedzielę adwentu o godz. 5 po południu w naszym kościele w Davie odbędzie się już po raz 18 koncert “Candlelight 2009”, połączony z kolacją. Impreza zawsze cieszy się bardzo dużym powodzeniem. Są to występy artystyczne przedstawicieli różnych grup narodowościowych. W ubiegłym roku na imprezę przyszło około 250 osób. Było ciekawie, wzruszająco, kolorowo oraz smacznie. Zapraszamy!

W parafii św. Józefa będą również odbywać się zebrania Polskiego Legionu Weteranów Amerykańskich oraz zebrania Kongresu Polsko-Amerykańskiego na Florydzie, którego prezesem jest prof. dr. Zdzisław Wesołowski. Pragnę podkreślić, że drzwi naszego kościoła są zawsze otwarte i dla wszystkich.

Dziękuję Księdzu za rozmowę.

ROZMAWIAŁA: ANIA NAVAS

St. Joseph’s Polish National Catholic Church
służy wiernym na Florydzie od 1956 roku
5401 SW 64 Avenue
Davie, Florida 33314
tel. (954) 581-5293

Msze święte odprawiane są:
Sobota: 7 pm —“ w języku hiszpańskim
Niedziela: 9 am —“ po angielsku; 11 am —“ po polsku
W tygodniu: 8:30 am —“ w języku angielskim

Poland - Polish - Polonia, , ,

Top 25 Attractions & Things To Do in Poland

From Unique Scoop (unfortunately no longer available on their site):

Poland may only be fully appreciated when you leave your prejudice and preconceptions behind. Approach it with an open mind, avoid comparing it to others, and be sure the country will unfold its most precious aspects in front of you, teaching you perhaps to enjoy simple things and redefine your notions of beauty. Here Gothic castles, old market squares and historical tenements mingle with glossy business centers, posh restaurants, free-spirited artistic scene as well as the mostly unwanted, derelict remnants of the communist era. At the same time the countryside remains rustic and romantic, giving vent to the world-famous hospitality and appeasing a troubled mind with its unpretentious ambiance and soothing beauty. Poland is a kaleidoscope of vistas and amalgamation of traditions that altogether form a living, changing organism – imperfect, but highly fascinating.

1 Tatra National Park

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With its headquarters in the bustling town of Zakopane, Tatra National Park is where the most precious, natural Polish riches find tranquil refuge. Embracing the only mountains of alpine type, which rise steeply from a high plateau and extend for approximately 64 km along the Slovakian-Polish border, the park features a diversified relief with height differences up to 1,700 m, mesmerizing streams, marvelous lakes, and myriad species of fauna and flora. Many a time will you see a chamois heading down a steep slope or a herd of deer grazing on a distant meadow. Obviously, the park enjoys huge popularity, but as a rule, the higher, the quieter.

2 Wieliczka Salt Mine

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Feeling like exploring something? If yes, head for Wieliczka, the famed Polish salt mine. Not less magnificent than the Egyptian pyramids they say, the mine opens its subterranean realm of labyrinthine passages, underground lakes and enormous caverns right in front of your eyes. Let yourself marvel at the rich ornamentation in the salt rock as well as salt sculptures and even chandeliers filling the chambers with dim light. The two-hour walk through 20 chambers and winding corridors will not only quench your thirst for exploration but also boost your health with the mine’s unique microclimate. That’s what you call a treat, don’t you?

3 Malbork Castle (Muzeum Zamkowe w Malborku)

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No sooner had the Grand Master Siegfried von Feuchtwangen decided to move the Teutonic Order’s headquarters to Malbork in 1309 than it became obvious the castle did not measure up to its new role. Since then, it was continually rebuilt and enlarged to end up as the most impressive brick castle in the whole Northern Europe. The history of the monumental construction is one of glory and terror, and as you walk past the myriad chambers, where friends were entertained and enemies poisoned, you are transported back to the middle ages, ideally with a guide who can add some extra flavor to this self-evident UNESCO-protected treasure.

4 Old Town of Krakow

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Citizens or foreigners, everybody loves Krakow, and its Old Town in particular. The flower sellers, the myriad buskers, the quaint pubs, and the maze of cobblestoned streets seem to exist in age-old harmony. Even the crowds are not much of a nuisance. As you push your way through Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) looking for a perfect souvenir, marvel at the beautifully restored facades, gaze at the funny mimes making faces in front of the marvelous St. Mary’s Basilica, or try to decipher the countless languages you hear around, you feel you belong to this hypnotizing city and that the Polish heart pumps hot blood into your veins.

5 Lazienki Park

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Once you’ve had a good look around the Royal Castle and before you get drawn into the lively atmosphere of Warsaw’s Old Town, make sure you spare enough time for Łazienki Park. Spread over 74 hectares, it is a favorite Sunday refuge for the capital’s residents and an all-year tourist attraction. Takes its name from the Palace on the Water, originally built in the 17th century as a bathhouse, today the park is sprinkled with palaces, mansions, cafes, restaurants, lakes, and theaters. Try to force the peacocks to spread their tails, feed swans from a rowing boat on a summer day, or listen to free all-Chopin recitals by distinguished Polish pianists. Łazienki Park is definitely a jewel in the country’s crown.

6 Masurian Lake District

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Arguably one of the most enticing tourist areas in Poland, the Mazurian Lake District is a place where one can experience the extremes. Cut off from land, subject to the power of water and wind, you find meaning in silence, solitude and natural hierarchy. But when the night comes and your boat rocks in the harbor of a bustling port town, the uproar of collective singing and all-night revelry remind you that it’s good to be home. Of course, this duality is not reserved for sailors. One-fifth of the whole region is covered by lakes, rivers and canals situated in widely varied countryside, their banks being dotted with inlets, peninsulas, tiny islands, and aromatic forests. Everybody finds their niche here. Nobody leaves disappointed.

7 Pauline Monastery in Częstochowa

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The Pauline Monastery on the Jasna Góra Hill is undoubtedly one of the three major Roman Catholic pilgrimage center across the world. It enshrines the miraculous icon of the Blessed Mother and Child Jesus, which came to symbolize the spiritual core of the nation and whose holy quality is embraced in myriad legends. The most striking example of an event when the Black Madonna came to the aid of her people was recorded in1920, when the Soviet Russian Red Army gathered on the banks of the Vistula River with the intention of conquering Warsaw. People report they had seen the Lady appear in the clouds above the capital, and the final unexpected victory of Polish troops was later dubbed the “Miracle at the Vistula.” A captivating place with a lot of emotional input.

8 Słowiński National Park

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Embracing the most pristine part of the Baltic southern coast, its forests, plant cover, miscellaneous fauna and inspiring landscapes, the Słowiński National Park has been drawn on the World List of Biosphere Reserves, and one can hardly wonder why. The park is perhaps most famous for its picturesque sand dunes, the biggest in Europe, which change shape, grow, and move with the wind. Roll down this golden slide, catch a glimpse of yourself in the 4 sparkling coastal lakes, and watch eagles draw circles above your head. 140 kilometers of walking trails enable visitors to come up close with nature, and the necessary infrastructure along with watchtowers, viewing platforms, shelters and benches makes the experience particularly worthwhile.

9 Polish Jura Chain (Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska)

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Get ready for multiple attractions as the area of Jura abounds in things to do. For those who opt for a little bit of physical workout, the region offers numerous biking trails and rock-climbing spots both for beginners and more experienced climbers. Hiking? No problem! The tracks will take you among limestone rocks, remnants of 14th century fortifications built upon rocky hills as well as rich fauna and flora. The perfect season to explore Jura is probably autumn when the landscape beautifully blends the whiteness of the limestone rocks with the golden browns of the foliage and the blue sky into a breathtaking view.

10 Warsaw Uprising Museum

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Visitors freeze on hearing the sounds of battle and heart beats emanating from the central highlight of the museum – an ordinary wall that in its mediocrity aptly captures the brute force and the human dimension of the Warsaw Uprising. The undertaking is there to portray the triumph of the Polish spirit over the ultimate futility of resistance subdued by the greatly outnumbering Nazi forces. Brimming with interactive displays, authentic exhibits (including a 1:1 replica of a B-24 Liberator) , photographs, love letters, and video footages, it’s a museum that’s certain to leave a mark on all visitors regardless of their historical knowledge and nationality.

11 Wawel Royal Castle (Zamek Krolewski)

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A visit to Krakow is not complete without due attention paid to Wawel Royal Castle. The seat of Polish royalty between the 11th and the early 17th century, the complex is an adequate reflection of the city’s excellence and image before King Zygmunt III decided to move the Polish capital to Warsaw. A guided tour through the exquisitely decorated Renaissance interiors is an experience steeped in history and legend. Once you’ve seen the famous Szczerbiec, a sword once used to crown Polish monarchs, in the Crown Treasury and Armoury, you may proceed to the Dragon’s Den, the legendary home of a fire-spitting creature said to have wrecked havoc among the townsfolk and appeased only if a young girl was left in front of its cave once a month.

12 Southern Pier (Molo Południowe)

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Gdynia is a relatively young, but quickly developing port city with plenty of modern highlights for tourists to enjoy their time around. Yet the place that lures people of all ages is the Kościuszki square with the ORP Błyskawica destroyer and the Dar Pomorza sailing frigate moored in the dockyards. A guided tour of both is a must, and if weather permits, you may also embark on the “Viking II” tourist ship, which takes passengers for sightseeing cruises around the Bay of Gdańsk in the daytime and serves as a boat-restaurant at night. Make sure you spare some time for a visit to the Maritime Museum and Aquarium, which boasts the largest collection of marine life in Poland and never fails to impress.

13 Town Square – Old Town

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—žStopped the sun, moved the earth, Polish nation gave him birth”. So goes a Polish nursery rhyme dedicated to Nicolas Copernicus. To be precise, the famous astronomer was born in Toruń, a nearly eight-hundred-year-old city designated by UNESCO as the cultural heritage of mankind for its outstanding medieval layout and soul. The architectural riches of the Old Town are striking evidence of the city’s significance starting from the 14th century. And if you happen to have a penchant for gingerbread, you won’t find better than here! Toruńskie pierniczki will capture your palate’s cravings as much the city’s ambiance will captivate your heart.

14 Jaskinia Niedzwiedzia (Bear Cave) in Kletno

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In your search for underground adventures make for the biggest and most spectacular cave in the Sudety Mountains. Discovered by chance during marble exploitation, the cave is commonly regarded as a prime tourist attraction thanks to its water formations that never cease to grow. High chambers, underground rivers and waterfalls as well as colorful stalactites and stalagmites are a feast to not only a speleologist’s astounded eyes. The museum inside houses remains of Pleistocene cave animals such as lions, hyena, deer and the cave’s host, the bear.

15 Książ Castle

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Perched on the hill top, the Książ Castle impresses with its majesty and amazing structure. Erected in the 13th century and then repeatedly destroyed, rebuilt and reconstructed it is now highly treasured as the Pearl of Lower Silesia. A visit to the interiors is a definite must for the stylishness of the chambers includes splendid mirrors, antique chimney pieces and gilded chandeliers. Having enjoyed the castle’s baroque splendor, just let yourself laze on the picturesque terrace or in brilliant gardens located on the hills round the castle. You will find diverse plant compositions and fountains to relax you even more.

16 Bieszczady National Park

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If it’s camping or endless hiking that you’re looking for, this is the place to be. This largest mountain national park in Poland is part of Europe´s largest primeval beech forest, and a well-groomed network of trails provides splendid opportunities for all sorts of outdoor endeavors. Protecting what is sometimes called Poland’s last great wilderness, Bieszczady National Park gloriously enshrines pristine nature and the spirit of the past. Welcoming peaks, extensive meadows and breathtaking panoramas mingle with adorable wooden churches, traditional shepherd households and remnants of old villages to produce a bucolic setting for mental relaxation, physical workout and spiritual recovery. Add to it the hospitality of the locals, and you’ve got a gorgeous holiday destination with a human dimension.

17 Dunajec River Rafting

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Undoubtedly, this region is both a feast for your eyes and a place that allows no boredom. Set among limestone cliffs plunging into the water, the river will make you drift leisurely past abundant vegetation, scenic highland views and the Niedzica Castle towering over an enormous water reservoir and a dam. The Dunajec, which flows smoothly in a ravine among rocks, turns suddenly a few times adding a thrill to the rafting. Make sure you take some waterproof clothes just in case of a splash! And obviously a pair of hiking boots since Pieniny Mountains make a perfect mountain walk, not too steep and beautifully surrounded with splendid natural scenery.

18 Church of Peace in Jawor

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The origins of the church in Jawor date back to 1648, when on the basis of the Peace of Westphalia the Lutherans in the Roman Catholic parts of Silesia were allowed to build their Evangelical places of worship. Of course, the construction fell subject to tough restrictions, and the church not only had to be erected outside the city walls and built from nondurable materials, but also stay clear from resembling a traditional sacral building. Therefore, wood, loam and straw were used to come up with an outstanding temple that houses up to 6 thousand people. No stone or iron. Nor a single nail. In 2001, the church was inscribed on the World Heritage List UNESCO, and if you look at its incredibly ornate baroque decoration, there’s no doubt the distinction is well deserved.

19 Białowieża National Park

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One of the last bastions of tranquility in Poland, Białowieża National Park protects a tiny bit of a much bigger forest which straddles the border between Poland and Belarus and is the last remaining part of the extensive primeval forest which once spread across the European Plain. This magnificent cluster of gigantic, age-old trees and a major bison breeding center is a paradise for hikers, Nordic walkers, and whoever enjoys a quiet time out, with soothing vistas, sharp smells and myriad noises bombarding the senses. Guided tours into the heart of the park can be arranged by horse-drawn carriage, which is a lot of rustic kind of fun.

20 Panorama of Raclawice Battle (Panorama Raclawicka)

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Called the city of one hundred bridges, Wrocław itself should be somewhere on top of both history buffs’ and urban revelers’ must-do lists. Yet much as it is beautiful and entertaining, it is something else that deserves special attention here. Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the mediocre gray rotunda to marvel at the colossal panoramic painting depicting the Battle of Racławice, during the Kościuszko Uprising. It doesn’t take knowledge of Polish history to be perplexed. Measuring 120m x 15m, the painting presents different scenes enriched with dramatic lighting and artificial terrain, taking the viewer into the center of the events and creating a feeling of an authentic experience. Unmissable.

21 Dluga Street (ul. Dluga)

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Lined with outstanding Renaissance buildings, outdoor cafes, and shops, the elegant Dluga Street, together with the Long Market, once formed the Royal Route and was inhabited by the city’s most prominent figures. Today it is the favorite meeting point of tourists and local residents alike. Revealing its well-groomed facades during the day and crowded with groups of visitors eagerly taking pictures at the beautiful Neptune’s Fountain, at night those two bustling arteries of Gdańsk turn into a historical stage for a modern spectacle of light and music. Gdańsk is one of the most livable places in Poland, and the ambiance of the city’s focal point seems to be the most adequate proof.

22 Palace of Culture and Science (Palac Kultury i Nauki)

22

This gargantuan tower rising from the center of Warsaw may not be the most attractive monument to see in Poland, but the story behind it makes it an inseparable part of the country’s history. The mostly abhorred gift from the USSR to the People’s Republic of Poland, the Joseph Stalin Palace of Culture and Science was the tallest skyscraper in central Europe when completed, and is still one of the tallest in the continent. Its rich ornamentation combined with the Social Realist monumentality quickly inspired the citizens to baptize the Palace as ‘an elephant in lacy underwear’. Close to being knocked down when the Berlin Wall fell in ’89, it was only devoid of its patron’s “glorious” name and now serves various purposes, from housing an exhibition center to being a bustling venue for international conferences. Besides, the observation deck allows a splendid view of the whole capital.

23 Jewish District (Kazimierz)

23

Kazimierz, the UNESCO World Heritage Jewish Quarter of Krakow, definitely lures with its unique atmosphere of Bohemia artistic life and mouth-watering local dishes. Once an autonomous Jewish town and major European center of the Diaspora, it still echoes the intricacies of Christianity and Judaism in its numerous monuments. Take a stroll along its picturesque narrow streets to admire the stately buildings of the Old Synagogue and St. Catherine Church as well as the Town Hall or the St. Stanislav’s Sanctuary. Don’t miss one of the oldest European Jewish cemeteries, Remuh, either. For those seeking a bit of light-hearted entertainment, street festivals and performances can be enjoyed along with the bustling nightlife!

24 Chopin’s Manor House in Żelazowa Wola

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Żelazowa Wola, March 1st, 1810. Little did Mr and Mrs Chopin realize that one day their newborn son would change the shape of music and his name would be known to virtually everyone in the world. The village may not be easy to track, but those who want to find out what lies at the heart of Polishness will certainly not regret a Sunday visit to the manor. Brimming with priceless memorabilia, surrounded by hectares of beautifully landscaped parkland, and permeated with Chopin music performed by the most distinguished pianists from the world over, Żelazowa Wola manor is the highly aesthetic and romantic element on your Polish agenda.

25 Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

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One can hardly call it a tourist attraction. Nor should you go there just because it befits to do it. The 3 million victims of the largest of Nazi Germany’s concentration camps don’t need high attendance records. What they need is a moment of reflection on what happened and what should be done so that this tragedy never occurs again. A visit to Auschwitz is a test in humanity that not everybody is prepared to take, an experience that should ideally stay with you for the rest of your life, making you a more complete individual and a messenger for peace.

Current Events, , , ,

New York Folklore Society 2009 Fieldtrip

Sunday, October 11, 2009, 10am to 5pm

Register Online or call the New York Folklore Society at (518) 346-7008.
$ 25.00 for luncheon in the Old Chapel, Union College.
$ 30.00 for non-members

North by Northeast: Basketry and Beadwork from the Akwesasne Mohawk and Tuscarora

Schedule:

  • 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, Registration/Check-in at the New York Folklore Society Office, 133 Jay Street, Schenectady.
  • 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, Visit the Schenectady Green Market where Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) basketmakers and beadworkers will be featured in the “Meet the Experts” area. City Hall, Schenectady.
  • 11:00 am – 12:00 noon, New York Folklore Society Board Meeting, Location TBA.
  • 12:00 noon, Walk or Carpool to Union College.
  • 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Catered Lunch at the Old Chapel at Union College, Cost: $20.00 Members of the New York Folklore Society/$25.00 Non-Members.
  • 2:00 p.m., ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING and ELECTION, Everyone Welcome: Refreshments will be served, Old Chapel Dining Room.
  • 2:30 p.m., Lecture by Sue Ellen Herne, Akwesasne Museum Curator, “Culture and Commerce.”
  • 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Guided Tour of Exhibit with folklorist, Lynne Williamson, “North by Northeast: Basketry and Beadwork from the Akwesasne Mohawk and Tuscarora”, Nott Memorial Gallery, on the Campus of Union College.
Poland - Polish - Polonia, , ,

Janusz Sporek – My Anniversary Concert Series

My Anniversary: Twenty Years of artistic work in the USA and Ten Years of promoting Polish music and Polish artists at New York’s most prestigious concert halls and featuring the American premiere of Stabat Mater by Stanislaw Moryto, President of Frederic Chopin University of Music, Warsaw, Poland – Honorable Guest of the Evening. Also featuring the Fantasy on Polish Airs, Op. 13 by Frederick Chopin and the Polonaise from the film Pan Tadeusz by Wojciech Kilar.

Saturday, October 10, 2009- Aberdeen, Maryland and Sunday, October 18, 2009, at 2:00 pm Carnegie Hall – Isaac Stern Auditorium

Hosted by: David Dubal, Author, Radio Presenter and Olek Krupa, actor with the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, the Choir of the Cathedral of St. Patrick, the Paderewski Festival Choir, and Monika Wolińska, Conductor, Sheldon Bair, Conductor, Janusz Sporek, Conductor.

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Born in Rajcza near Zywiec, South of Poland, Janusz Sporek graduated from the College of Pedagogy, Department of Music in Kielce, where he studied conducting under Prof. Henryk Gostomski, and piano with professor Wlodzimierz Kutrzeba. He earned his Master’s Degree under the guidance of Prof. Jozef Swider at the Silesian University in Katowice, Department of Music Education, majoring in Piano under Prof. Marian Preiss and in Conducting under Prof. Helena Danel. Mr. Sporek worked at Music School in Rybnik, and with several artistic groups. He made numerous artistic tours with his ensembles throughout Western Europe (Germany, Belgium, France and Italy), giving concerts and participating at international festivals.

Mr. Sporek has conducted choruses and orchestras at all prestigious concert halls of New York including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and Alice Tully Hall of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, John Adams Playhouse of Hofstra University, Long Island and Mary Washington College of Fredericksburg VA. He performed in Detroit, MI, Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, and New Britain, CT. In October 2000, he made a very successful artistic trip to Poland conducting the choir and orchestra at the Cracov Philharmonic Orchestra House. In May 2001, in Johnstown, PA, Mr. Sporek lead the “Festival of J. Świder’s Choral Music” at the International Convention of the Polish Singers Alliance of America and Canada. In August 2001 he established the Paderewski Festival Singers, a mixed choir that has already made two appearances at Isaack Stern Auditorium of Carnegie Hall. He holds the posts of music director and conductor of this group.

Between November 1999 and January 2004, Mr. Sporek has organized ten concerts at Carnegie Hall, promoting Polish musical culture, and becoming the only Polish producer to present over three hundred performers including choruses and individual artists on this prestigious stage in such a short period of time.

Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , , , , , ,

Polish and Fall Festivals Galore

image0038th Annual PolishFest ’09 at the Blessed Virgin Mary of Częstochowa Polish National Catholic Church through Sunday, September 27th.

Portland, Oregon’s Polish Festival 2009 on Failing Street between the Polish Library built in 1911 and St. Stanislaus Church built in 1907, both located on N. Interstate Avenue in Portland Oregon through Sunday, September 27th.

Polish National Catholic Church of The Good Shepherd’s Fall festival at 269 E. Main St., Plymouth,. Pennsylvania. The second Fall Festival will be held from noon-9 p.m. on Saturday, October 3rd. There will be ethnic food, homemade pies and cookies, games, crafts, a basket auction, and music by classic DJ’s. For more information, call 570-824-1560.

Christian Witness, ,

Patriarch Kirill cuts through modernist gibberish

From ROCOR United: Church should be modern, but not adapt to times – Patriarch Kirill.

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, September 11 (RIA Novosti) – The Church should be modern but must not be reformed to fall in line with the “transient tastes of the time,” the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said Friday.

“The Church retains the apostolic faith that the apostles accepted from the Lord himself,” Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia told an audience of several thousand young people in the Volga town of Sarov who gathered in an indoors sports venue.

He said the Church should “go forward” but avoid being reformed “to please modern tendencies,” while simultaneously remaining attentive and considerate toward people’s “demands and problems, toward their joys and sorrows.”

The patriarch slammed tendencies in some branches of Christianity, which allow ordaining women as priests or blessing homosexual marriages.

“People should realize that falling away from faith under whatever pretexts is sinful and dangerous for man himself,” Kirill said.

Exactly, eliminating the noise to get to the truth… maintaining the Apostolic faith is a gift and it does speak to our times. That speaking is the gift of love (i.e., charity) which transcends all time and you don’t need to change Scripture or Tradition to get there.

Thanks to the Young Fogey for the link to this.

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

Around the R.C. Church

From Jacksonville.com: Catholic Church sees influx of foreign-born priests: Priests from other nations are needed to meet shortages

Fully agree with the movement toward tradition. The problem of course is inculturation. There are sets of preconceived expectations on the part of the priests and the people and it takes time to adjust. Sometimes it can be a train wreck rather than a God-send.

The Rev. Andy Blaszkowski’s English is clear, but his Polish accent unmistakable as he reads from the Gospel and preaches during Masses at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine.

During a recent service for some 300 parish school children, he told them the Eucharist is a “geeft” from God and that they should rely on their faith for direction in how to “leaf” their “lifes.”

But that was OK with 24-year-old parishioner Jason Craig, who traded Presbyterianism for Catholicism three years ago.

“I’m a convert, so it’s new and unique for me” to hear accents from the pulpit, Craig said. “In other denominations, there are no foreign priests, so it really shows the universality of the Catholic Church.”

It also shows the future for the American church and the Jacksonville-based Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine. Studies and church officials are reporting that seminaries and parish priest openings are increasingly being filled by men from other nations. And given the shortage of priests in the United States, few Catholics complain about the trend.

Study: more foreign-born priests

According to The Associated Press, a new report reveals that the latest and next generations of priests, brothers, sisters and nuns who belong to Roman Catholic religious orders in the U.S. are more ethnically diverse and tradition-bound than their predecessors.

The report confirmed what many have speculated: The few orders that are attracting and retaining younger members are more traditional. That generally means fidelity to the church and other members of the order, living in a community, taking part in daily devotions and wearing a habit.

The familiar white and black habits of nuns teaching elementary school or the robes worn by some fathers and brothers were shed by many orders as remnants of clericalism in the last 40 or 50 years, but a younger generation sees them as tangible displays of their faith and symbols of fidelity to church and community.

“This younger generation is seeking an identity, a religious identity as well as a Catholic identity,” Brother Paul Bednarczyk, executive director of the Chicago-based National Religious Vocation Conference, a professional organization of Catholic religious vocation directors, told The Associated Press. “Symbolism, images and ritual is all very important to this generation, and they want to give witness to their faith.”…

From Pew: Poll: Six in 10 U.S. Catholics ambivalent about Latin Mass

Of course the problem is that it is about Latin over right faith and right belief. A continuum is important and vital to renewal in the R.C. Church, but shouldn’t be sacrificed on the pyre of Latin-or-bust.

Two years after Pope Benedict XVI eased restrictions on celebrating the Latin Mass, more than six in 10 American Catholics have no opinion on the return of the traditional liturgy, according to a new survey.

In 2007, Benedict told priests to work with local parishioners when there is a “stable group” interested in the Latin Mass, which is celebrated in Latin by a priest facing away from the congregation. The Mass dates to the 16th century but fell out of use after the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.

Benedict said the move was intended to promote “reconciliation” with Catholics disaffected by the contemporary version of the liturgy and to encourage greater “reverence” during worship.

According to Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, one in four U.S. Catholics favors having the Latin Mass as a liturgical option, 12 percent oppose it, and 63 percent have “no opinion.”

Only three in 10 U.S. Catholics who do not oppose bringing back the Latin Mass — equivalent to about 5.7 Catholics — say they would attend the service if it was convenient, according to CARA. Apathy was most prevalent among Catholics born after 1982 — 78 percent said they have no opinion Benedict bringing back the Latin Mass…

From the Baltimore Sun: Episcopal nuns’ exit widens rift: As sect ordains women and gays, Catonsville sisters become Catholic

They are right. The Catholic faith is untenable in the face of such innovations.

In a move that religious scholars say is unprecedented, 10 of the 12 nuns at an Episcopal convent in Catonsville left their church Thursday to become Roman Catholics, the latest defectors from a denomination divided over the ordination of gay men and women.

The members of the All Saints Sisters of the Poor were welcomed into the Catholic Church by Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, who confirmed the women during a Mass in their chapel. Each vowed to continue the tradition of consecrated life, now as a religious institute within the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

“We know our beliefs and where we are,” said Mother Christina Christie, superior of the order that came to Baltimore in 1872. “We were drifting farther apart from the more liberal road the Episcopal Church is traveling. We are now more at home in the Roman Catholic Church.”

Also joining the church was the Rev. Warren Tanghe, the sisters’ chaplain. In a statement, Episcopal Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton wished them God’s blessings.

“Despite the sadness we feel in having to say farewell, our mutual joy is that we remain as one spiritual family of faith, one body in Christ,” he said…

From Voice from the Dessert on the former Bishop of Scranton: Why did the bishop of Scranton, Pa., resign? Though Bishop Martino is gone, the diocese’s future may be set

A lot to this article — a few excerpts below and of course mention of the PNCC.

Like Cardinal Egan in New York, Bishop Martino’s personality and work habits were exactly what was ordered for the hatchet job he was to perform. Really, I’m astonished at all the wonderment this resignation has raised. The Roman Church sends the man that they feel is needed for the job. It has nothing to do with being liked, that’s reserved for the man they send to be pastoral. Of course the big problem is that’s the way corporations are run, not the way the Church should be run. The need for change and being pastoral can be reconciled, they are not mutually exclusive. This was simply a choice for expediency sake. I pray for Bishop Martino… to do one’s duty and to be distanced from love is a terrible cross.

When Bishop Joseph F. Martino resigned Aug. 31 after six tumultuous years as bishop of Scranton, Pa., he left behind a diocese badly divided and demoralized, but, ironically, better prepared for the future than it was in 2003.

Sources contacted by NCR said the problem was Martino’s remote, uncommunicative and often authoritarian leadership style, not his decisions to close nearly half the Catholic schools and 40 percent of the parishes in the northeastern Pennsylvania diocese.

One longtime pastor said the parish and school closings and mergers —were absolutely needed.— He predicted that the basic program of restructuring the parishes, scheduled to be completed by 2012, will continue —pretty much as planned, with perhaps some fine tuning,— regardless of who the next bishop is. The basic program of school closings is already completed.

For months preceding his resignation —” at the age of 63, 12 years before the usual retirement age for bishops —” rumors flew around the diocese that the increasingly unpopular bishop had been called to Rome in June and had been asked, urged or maybe even ordered to submit his resignation.

No one contacted could offer positive evidence to confirm or rebut the speculation.
—It is very unusual for a bishop to resign at 63 years of age— and the Vatican would accept such a resignation only for exceptional reasons, said Jesuit Fr. Thomas J. Reese, a senior fellow at Woodstock Theological Center in Washington.

At the same time, —it is extremely rare for the Vatican to pressure a bishop to resign,— said Reese, author of three in-depth studies on how U.S. bishops and the Vatican exercise authority, pastoral leadership and administrative duties.

At the press conference announcing his resignation, Martino said he did so for health reasons, including —bouts of insomnia and, at times, crippling physical fatigue.— But he also acknowledged that his recent physical ailments stemmed from the stress and sorrow he felt over the lack of a —clear consensus among the clergy and the people of the diocese of Scranton regarding my pastoral initiatives or my method of governance.—

He said the diocese needs a —physically vigorous— bishop to lead it into the future and —I am not that bishop.—

—I think the bishop seems to have recognized that there really was a need for new leadership,— said Reese.

—I congratulate him for his courage and willingness— to face that and resign, he added. —I only wish a few other bishops would do the same.—

…

Mary Ann Paulukonis, who recently retired as Scranton diocesan family life director, said that when Martino first arrived in October 2003, —he came with a vision that excited most of us. … Initially he was friendly and open and easy to dialogue with.—

But that started to change as the problems of the diocese emerged, she said. —I don’t think he expected— the serious financial problems that were facing the diocese and its schools and parishes.

—There were parishes in debt— with no way to pay it off —and some of the schools were bleeding,— she said.

Reorganization

Just one month after his arrival, Martino announced to the staff that one of his first priorities was going to be restructuring to tackle the debt problem, Paulukonis said, and that winter he announced his intention to reorganize the schools.

In the meantime he also began reorganizing diocesan offices to cut administrative costs and installed four regional episcopal vicars to serve as his chief deputies on all church matters in those parts of the diocese.

…

—When troubles started occurring, he wasn’t available. A leader who is invisible is the enemy. People started misinterpreting [things Martino said or did]. … He was a villain— in people’s perception of him, she said.

She, Milz and the pastor who asked not to be named all said the bishop’s unilateral decertification of the Catholic teachers’ union in January 2008, right after the schools had all been consolidated and regrouped administratively under four regional diocesan structures, marked a new turning point in the bishop’s souring relations with the faithful —” most of them descendants of Irish, Polish, Italian and other immigrants who owed their entry into the American middle class to church-supported unions.

Union factor

Scranton’s union history is a major factor here. In the mid-19th century, the city grew rapidly because of iron ore veins in hills a little to the south, substantial anthracite coal deposits to the south and north, and the steel industry in town that melded the two natural resources.

Northeast Pennsylvania was the birthplace of the United Mine Workers, and founder John Mitchell converted to Catholicism largely because of local church support for coal mine workers’ efforts to unionize and obtain better living standards. Mitchell is buried in the Scranton cathedral’s cemetery and there is a monument to him next to the Lackawanna County Court House in Scranton, scene of a key decision ending the historic 1902 strike of anthracite coal miners in the area.

…

A longtime theology professor at one of the local Catholic universities who is involved in many Catholic activities and organizations locally and nationally —” who also asked to remain unidentified, not for personal concerns but for fear of diocesan repercussions for the university where he teaches —” said the longtime union culture in the diocese was one of the key factors in the division between Martino and his priests and people in the past couple of years.

The theologian said the religious conservatism and the history of ethnic tensions of Catholics in the Scranton diocese —” including the century-old Polish National Catholic church [sic] schism from Roman Catholicism, which started with an Irish-American bishop’s insensitivity to a Polish national parish in Scranton —” are also major factors that have to be taken into account in any assessment of the complex negative response of local priests and laity to Martino’s style of governance.

In many cities in the diocese, national parishes for Poles, Italians, Irish or other Catholic immigrant groups that were established in the late 19th or early 20th century, sometimes within two or three blocks of one another, still existed when Martino arrived, even though membership numbers had dropped dramatically over recent decades because of deaths, suburban emigration and other factors, the theologian said…

From PolskieRadio: Sunday trading ban —“ legislation for lazybones?

Think Blue laws. Really they are right. If a society truly values family over commerce it would have just such a law. Government is not the arbiter of right and wrong but is can cooperate in creating an environment that supports what is right.

A Solidarity trade union initiative to ban shops opening after noon on Sunday has divided politicians, even those from the same party.

A draft of the bill forbidding trade on Sunday afternoons is to be ready this year and is supported by numerous politicians from the opposition Law and Justice party and even some in the ruling Polish Peasant’s Party/Civic Platform coalition.

One MP who is very much against is Janusz Palikot from Civic Platform. —MPs who want to forbid trading [on a Sunday] are just lazybones. They don’t feel like working and they want to prevent others from working to excuse themselves.’ says the politician, quoted by Gazeta Wyborcza.

Senator Jan Rulewski, also from Civic Platform, is of the opposite view.

—Those who want to keep shops open on Sundays think in the same way the communist did. They wanted us to work weekends, arguing that the development of the socialist motherland was more important than the family,— he says. —We strongly oppose this point of view and want to restrict trade on Sundays and ban it completely in future.—

…

The bill has the support of church authorities and trade unionists, however, claiming that working on Sunday is harmful to family life.

Christian Witness, Perspective, PNCC, , , , , ,

Two kinds of people who know better than the Holy Church

From BreakingNews: Supreme Court ruling loosens Catholic diocese hold on priest sex abuse papers

The first kind are those that make themselves greater than the Church, substituting private judgment and corporate fear for faithful duty consistent with Scripture and Tradition.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday against a Roman Catholic diocese in Connecticut, saying that thousands of documents generated by lawsuits against six priests for alleged sexual abuse cannot remain sealed.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Tuesday denied the Bridgeport diocese’s request to continue a stay on the release of the papers until the full court decides whether to review the case.

Ralph Johnson III, a lawyer for the diocese, said church officials were considering whether to ask all nine justices to rule on the request.

The diocese said on its Web site Tuesday afternoon that it was disappointed with Ginsburg’s decision and that it —intends to proceed with its announced determination to ask the full U.S. Supreme Court to review the important constitutional issues that this case presents.—

Jonathan Albano, attorney for three newspapers who requested the documents, said the ruling compels the diocese to release the documents, but he acknowledged the church could ask the full court to reconsider Ginsburg’s decision.

—At the end of the day, the diocese will be able to say they were heard before every court that was available to them,— Albano said.

…

The Connecticut high court also rejected the claim by church officials that the documents were subject to constitutional privileges, including religious privileges under the First Amendment…

From The Deacons Bench: Dissident (Fr.) Roy Bourgeois: ‘I will not be silenced.’

The second kind — those who see their private judgment and assessment as some sort of revelation when it is no more than mimicry of the the world’s message.

The controversial priest who participated in a woman’s ordination ceremony last year is back in the news again — and continuing to stir the pot:

“A prominent priest whose support for women’s ordination has him in trouble with the Catholic Church ratcheted up his confrontation with the hierarchy yesterday, calling the church’s refusal to ordain women a —scandal” and —spiritual violence.”

—I will not be silenced on this issue,” said the priest, the Rev. Roy Bourgeois, to about 100 people in Weston at an event hosted by the congregation of Jean Marchant, a former staffer for the Archdiocese of Boston who claims she was ordained as a priest in an unsanctioned ceremony four years ago.

“The Catholic Church views Marchant and Bourgeois as having been automatically excommunicated for participating in unsanctioned ordination ceremonies.

“Yesterday Bourgeois said he remained unclear about his status because he has had no formal communication from his order, the Maryknoll Fathers, or from the Vatican, which last fall told him he would face excommunication if he did not recant.

—If they choose to kick me out of the church because I believe that men and women are equal, so be it,” Bourgeois said. —I will never be at peace being in any organization that would exclude others…

What’s funny in this case is the Rev. Bourgeois’ name – bourgeois which describes his attitude more than anything. As the Young Fogey might say, the class that touts SWPL (stuff white people love) – knowing better than the Church based on private judgment and believing that everyone must absolutely believe what you believe or they are evil, of course all in the name of “human” justice.

The Rev. Bourgeois is completely wrong of course, and women’s ordination is non-Catholic and a non-issue. It has nothing to do with equality or exclusion, but rather people of his class and background touting their personal assessment of what equality and exclusion mean — and then forcing others to eat that assessment.

Funny how all the Churches that eat and enjoy Rev. Bourgeois’ assessment are about as non-inclusive as they come. If you don’t buy what they sell you are out — you are just the ignorant proletariat. Further their congregations and parishes are dying at a fast rate (see here or read Exodus: Why Americans Are Fleeing Liberal Churches for Conservative Christianity) while truly Catholic Churches (Roman Catholic, Orthodox) are bringing the remnant in.

People who know know that Catholic Churches are all about inclusivity – all are welcome to come and pray. All are ministered to. All have a role consistent with Scripture and Tradition within those Churches.

The voice of the Holy Spirit is not asking that we grasp at straws for an answer, but that we show our faithfulness to what has been handed on to us. Not enough men in the seminary? We need to challenge them, be dynamic examples as men motivated by deep faith, love, and service. It’s hard work to put aside the tiredness, the monotony that can creep in to our all too human lives, but we can do it — truth, work, and struggle and we will be victorious. The solution isn’t in Rev. Bourgeois’ head or in our heads. It isn’t in society. It is in faithfulness.

Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , ,

A tour of Polish Greenpoint and pre-war Warsaw

Two articles from Sunday’s New York Times:

An hour by hour tour of Greenpoint in A Taste of Poland in Arty Brooklyn

For all the inroads made by hipsters in Greenpoint, Brooklyn’s northernmost neighborhood, it has retained much of its Old World Polish character and working-class grit (probably because its subway is the much-loathed G train). It’s a great place to fill up on tasty, shockingly cheap Polish food —” kielbasa, pirogi and bigos, the cabbage and meat stew widely considered Poland’s national dish —” and to poke about the arty boutiques and bars that have sprouted on the side streets off Manhattan Avenue, the main commercial vein. To eat and explore, take the G train to Nassau Avenue or Greenpoint Avenue, and if you are really keen, print out a Polish primer from the local blog, greenpunkt.com…

A review of and historical retrospective from Alan Furst’s book —The Spies of Warsaw: A Novel— in Love. Death. Intrigue. Warsaw. I am currently reading the book – it is excellent.

When, on a chill autumn afternoon in 1937, the German armaments engineer, cheating husband and spy Edvard Uhl arrives in Warsaw to engage in a Champagne- and espionage-fueled tryst with a ravishing Polish countess, the glittering but doomed capital is enjoying its own final fling with peace.

—Above the city, the sky was at war,— the novelist Alan Furst writes in the opening passage of —The Spies of Warsaw— (Random House), the latest of his 10 taut and richly atmospheric World War II-era espionage thrillers.

For the moment, it is just a gathering storm: two ominous weather systems, one sweeping in from Germany, the other extending all the way east to Russia, are about to clash over Poland’s capital. But the charged atmosphere, which will soon bring Armageddon to Warsaw, only serves to heighten the thrill for the wayward Uhl and the countess, herself a spy and, like Uhl, a pivotal and colorfully portrayed minor character who helps kick off the action.

The two first become acquainted in a small German restaurant, and after adroit maneuvers by the countess find themselves in Warsaw in the elegant Hotel Europejski dining room two weeks later, where they drink Champagne and down langoustines. And then, —after the cream cake,— Mr. Furst writes, —up they went.—

The author leaves what follows to the reader’s deftly teased imagination. But the setting for his spies’ intrigues —” the leafy boulevards, grand ballrooms, romantic cafes, lively salons and sinister back streets of a city on the cusp of catastrophe —” is vividly rendered. He also provides a dandy visual aid at the front of the book: a map of Warsaw before the deluge. Where fiction intertwines with history, the map superimposes one upon the other so that present-day visitors can track the movements of Mr. Furst’s star-crossed and SS-stalked characters through the streets of prewar Warsaw.

—There is something about the city and Poland itself that I find magnetic,— Mr. Furst said from his home in Sag Harbor, N.Y., on the eve of the paperback release of —The Spies of Warsaw— earlier this summer. —Even though Warsaw was completely destroyed in the Second World War, its past is still alive. It’s there —” you can feel it when you stand in the Old Town and look down at the Vistula and see the river winding through the city. It’s like looking at history.—

Many European cities suffered the conflagrations and miseries unleashed by Adolf Hitler 70 summers ago, but none more so than Warsaw —” the first city he bombed and the last that he destroyed. A beautiful city at the heart of a fruited plain, it had no mountain ranges or oceans to deter attacks. With only muddy roads as a —seasonal barrier against German expansion,— Mr. Furst writes, Warsaw made an easy first target for the unprovoked Nazi blitzkrieg that ignited World War II on Sept. 1, 1939.

Five years later, in a last epic act of hatred, a defeated Hitler ordered the systematic destruction of Warsaw. The city was burned, bombed and dynamited to rubble. It was Hitler’s final brutalization of a city already damned as a staging area for genocide. Six million Poles were murdered —” the Jewish and the non-Jewish died in roughly equal number —” and their ghosts are everywhere. —Thanks to Hitler,— said Juliusz Lichwa, a University of Warsaw student whose grandfather survived Dachau, —all our streets are graves.—

Determined to reclaim their capital from death’s dominion, Poles reconstructed the city brick by brick —” no easy task since much of Warsaw had been pulverized. Using everything from oil paintings to postcards, news photos and old family albums, architects and engineers painstakingly rebuilt the medieval Old Town Market Square and the adjacent 15th-century New Town, from scratch. Virtually everything a visitor sees there today is a re-creation, as are most of the city’s palaces, cathedrals and landmarks.

Even so, the Warsaw of old is gone forever. And it is that lost city, the grand, glittering and vibrant prewar capital, that Mr. Furst conjures in —The Spies of Warsaw.— In his city, the Warsaw of memory is in the present, and the future ticks ominously on every page…

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