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A good day for Polonia

Stan “The Man” Musial received the Medal of Freedom and a Polonian church is saved.

From CBS News: Stan Musial Receives Medal of Freedom

(CBS/AP) St. Louis Cardinal legend Stan “The Man” Musial was one of 15 people to receive the Medal of Freedom from President Obama today. In a ceremony in the White House, the President awarded the Medal, the highest civilian honor in the country, to Musial as well as poet Maya Angelou, world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and basketball great Bill Russell.

President Obama called the recipients, “the best of who we are and who we aspire to be.”

In the world of baseball, few lived up to that praise as much as Stan Musial. As a St. Louis Cardinal, Musial was a three-time World Champion and appeared in 24 All-Star Games. He retired after the 1963 season with a .331 batting average and 475 home runs. Of his 3,630 career hits, exactly half came at home and half on the road. This is in spite of the years he took off during World War II to serve in the Navy.

Musial, 90, wore his familiar Cardinals-red sports coat during the ceremony shown on St. Louis television and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website. He beamed as the president placed the medal around his neck.

Musial, a native of Donora, Pa., was signed by the Cardinals as a pitcher but converted to the outfield after a shoulder injury in the minor leagues. It worked out well.

He earned the nickname “The Man” in 1946, when Post-Dispatch sportswriter Bob Broeg heard fans at Ebbets Field welcome Musial to the plate by saying, “Here comes the man.”

Musial was the general manager of the 1964 Cardinals that won the World Series in seven games over the New York Yankees. That victory came a year after his retirement from playing.

He has remained a beloved figure in St. Louis. In fact, it was a grassroots “Stand for Stan” campaign that helped convince the White House to honor Musial with the Medal of Freedom. The Cardinals promoted the idea through Facebook, Twitter and other social media, and politicians quickly joined in letter-writing campaigns.

The Medal of Freedom is the highest honor awarded to civilians. The award is meant to recognize individuals who have made exceptional contributions to national security, world peace, or the culture as a whole. Only 257 Americans have ever received this honor.

From the Berkshire Eagle: Vatican: St. Stan’s must re-open as place of worship

ADAMS — The Vatican rarely reverses a church closing, but today parishioners from St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish learned their prayers were answered: A decree made public today declares that St. Stanislaus Kostka Church must re-open as a place of worship.

About 200 parishioners have participated in an around-the-clock vigil at the church on Hoosac Street in Adams since Dec. 26, 2008, the day the Catholic church closed.

“After over two years’ worth of effort, we are very happy and deeply grateful to the Vatican for hearing our case and deciding it favorably — we feel very blessed that our prayers have been answered,” said Laurie Haas of Adams, whose name led the appeal by St. Stan’s parishioners.

“This is an historic moment in the Catholic Church. It is our understanding that a decree decision like this has just been issued to only two other diocese in the entire U.S. So this is truly monumental, we are very grateful to almighty God for this wonderful blessing and the return of our beloved St. Stanislaus Kostka Church,” Haas said.

The complexly written, four-page decree from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy supports the appeal by St. Stan parishioners to keep the church open as a divine place of worship. The decree was signed by prefect Mauro Cardinal Piacenza.

The decree upheld the right of the Most Rev. Timothy A McDonnell, bishop of Springfield, to “suppress and merge” all the Roman Catholic parishes of Adams and to locate the newly formed Parish of Pope John Paul the Great at the former Notre Dame Church. However, the decree takes issue with the closing of St. Stan’s church, stating that the reasons given by the diocese for the building’s closure in December 2008 were not justified.

The decree states the church building must be re-opened as a place of worship but does not define how McDonnell should proceed…

Here’s the video:

As I recently pointed to in The Immigrant Mosaic in Massachusetts: Adams, MA has the largest percentage of people self-identifying as Polish-Americans [in Massachusetts] — 29.1% of the local population.

A great victory attesting to the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of the people of the parish, but remember that they could only appeal one bishop’s decision to another. The decision making power in relation to the assets of the parish, which they support and pay for, is totally outside of their hands.

PNCC, , , , , , , ,

Church controversies

From the Bloomington Pantagraph: Streator parish mired in $35,000 dispute

STREATOR — The 86-year-old former head of the now-defunct Altar & Rosary Society of St. Casmir Roman Catholic Church had to make a trip to the police station Tuesday to explain why her organization did not steal $35,622 that a monsignor says belongs to the parish.

Dorothy Swital said she told the police the money was raised by her society and did not belong to the church, so the society was within its rights to transfer the two certificates of deposit to the newly created Altar Society of the Polish National Alliance in Streator. She said the new group’s mission is the same as its predecessor’s: raise money to aid the Catholic Church’s work.

Monsignor John Prendergast, who heads the St. Michael the Archangel Parish, which was created by the consolidation of four parishes last fall, called the transfers “unauthorized withdrawals” from a church account.

No charges were filed as of Tuesday. Police declined to comment on the investigation.

Prendergast said Tuesday that Swital was given “ample opportunity” to resolve the dispute without it going to the police and the public. He said now that the matter is in police hands, he cannot comment, other than to say “the church has survived for 2,000 years and it will survive this.”

The dispute is part of a continuing feud between some parishioners of the defunct Streator parishes and the Peoria Diocese and Prendergast. The diocese opted to close St. Stephen’s, St. Anthony’s, Immaculate Conception, and St. Casimir’s parishes and merge them into the new parish to cut costs and revitalize the Catholic Church community in the city, Prendergast said previously.

In a letter to Swital made public this week, the monsignor vowed to bring charges against her if she did not return the money by Feb. 4. With that deadline passed and the police complaint filed, Swital said she was asked by the police department to come in and make her statement.

“We raised that money,” Swital said Tuesday. “Any time they (the church) needed it for something, we’d give it to them.”

None of the money came from church collections, she said…

Also see State’s attorney to review Streator church funds

Of note, in the PNCC, Church organizations like the Women’s Adoration Society, YMS of R, and parent groups supporting the parish Schools of Christian Living are all independent and answerable only to their individual constitutions and membership. Of course they actively support their parishes and do thousands of positive and valuable things for the Church and their parishes. As with the ladies mentioned above, these societies are formed, organized, and governed on a principal of love for the Church and its mission. Clerical control is not what is necessary, but a community that abides by the democratic principals which subsists in the PNCC. For instance, per the Constitution of the PNCC:

ARTICLE V, SECTION 8. All of the funds, moneys and property, whether real or personal, belong to those members of the Parish who conform to the Rites, Constitution, Principles, Laws, Rules, Regulations, Customs and Usages of this Church, and subject to the provisions of this Constitution and Laws.

Similar statements are contained in the constitutions of the various Church Societies. For instance, the Constitution of the National United Women’s Societies for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament notes that the “Pastor serves as the Society’s spiritual advisor” (Article IV, Administration, Section 4). Funds are used in keeping with the Society’s mission and goals (Article II, Purpose, and Article III Membership and Responsibilities). Each Society controls its own funds (Article V, Dues and Funds) through its votes and elected officers (Article IV, Administration, Sections 1 and 2).

Also note, per the Church Constitution, the Pastor doesn’t control the existence and development of Church Societies, but supports them, seeing to fertile ground so that they may exist and develop.

ARTICLE XIV, SECTION 4. [The Pastor] organizes and is responsible for the conduct of a School of Christian Living, the Standard Church Societies and, whenever and if possible, a Polish School. He shall particularly take care that the School of Christian Living and the Standard Church Societies established by the Synods shall exist and develop within his Parish.

Chicago Now looks back in history at the conflict that led to the founding of an independent Polish Catholic Church in Chicago (which later became part of the PNCC) in Civil War at St. Hedwig (2-9-1895). Note the key phrase I have highlighted:

Like the flag of Poland, there was white and red. Blood was on the snow outside St. Hedwig church–and a bit of red pepper.

St. Hedwig parish had been founded in 1888 to serve Polish Catholics in Bucktown. The pastor was Rev. Joseph Barzynski. He was a member of a religious order–the Congregation of the Resurrection, or Resurrectionists.

Now, in the early months of 1895, the parish was engulfed in civil war. One faction supported the pastor. The other side had gathered around Rev. Anthony Kozlowski, the young assistant who’d recently arrived from Poland. Kozlowski was not a Resurrectionist.

Depending on which side you listened to, there were many reasons for the conflict. Was Kozlowski attempting a power-play to become pastor? Were the Resurrectionists too autocratic? Was someone stealing money from the St. Hedwig treasury? What role should lay people play in a parish? Who should hold title to parish property?

A majority of the parishioners backed Kozlowski. There were protests at Sunday Mass. The police placed guards at the church. On the evening of February 7, the situation turned violent.

About 3,000 people, mostly women, tried to storm the parish rectory. The pastor and his new assistant barricaded themselves inside. The police guard called for backup…

Christian Witness, Perspective, PNCC, , , ,

The concept of assent in a democratic Church

The Polish National Catholic Church rightly takes pride in the fact that its people, all its people, function as its legislative body. Per the Constitution of the PNCC:

ARTICLE VI — CHURCH AUTHORITY

SECTION 1. The authority of this Church is vested in three branches, namely: legislative, executive and judicial.

…

SECTION 3. In administrative, managerial and social matters, this Church derives its authority from the people who build, constitute, believe in, support and care for it. It is a fundamental principle of this Church that all Parish property, whether the same be real, personal, or mixed, is the property of those united with the Parish who build and support this Church and conform to the Rite, Constitution, Principles, Laws, Rules, Regulations, Customs and Usages of this Church.

SECTION 4. The administration, management and control over all the property of the Parish is vested in the Parish Committee elected by the Parish and confirmed by the Diocesan Bishop, and strictly dependent upon and answerable to the lawful authorities of this Church.

The Church is democratically governed, that is, its people make the decisions and express their will at Holy Synod, both the quadrennial General Synod and at Diocesan Synods.

One of the problems frequently seen in other Churches, with similar democratic forms of governance, is the constancy of faith, morals, Tradition, doctrine, and liturgy (within liturgical Churches) under a democratic decision making processes. Are there limits to democracy, and can democracy trump all things?

In a democratic Church, are you one vote away from deciding Jesus is not true-God and true-man, from denying the Virgin birth, from turning the resurrection into a fuzzy myth narrative of confused and poor disciples who carried along the beautiful message of Jesus because it was oh so special to them?

There are those, even within the PNCC, who take Bishop Hodur’s teaching on the democratic nature of the community of Church as a license to make everything subject to democratic process. This form of thinking places the individual in charge of the Church’s teaching, and frees them from the constraints of ‘all that old stuff we’ve gotten way past.’ They use enlightenment arguments, Bishop Hodur arguments, other Churches are doing it arguments, it suits me better arguments, and its unfair/unjust/un-democratic arguments. They only argument they fail to see is the Catholic argument, the linkage to the universal constant within which we strive to overcome what is personal to reach what is Divine.

InsideCatholic, a strongly apologist website which easily resorts to the “heretic” and “exommunicated” argument does make a solid point in Episcopal/Catholic Conversion Is a Two-Way Street:

The developing story of the new Apostolic Constitution for Anglicans continues to unfold in the media, boosted by the Anglican Communion’s instability due to the Episcopal Church and their co-revisionists in the Anglican Church of Canada. Less reported has been the equally well-trafficked path away from Rome and toward the Episcopal Church.

In 2009, Episcopal bishop and gay celebrity Gene Robinson crowed that his New Hampshire diocese was brimming with disaffected Catholics, drawn to the promise of a more inclusive church. While Bishop Robinson’s celebration was premature … he was not misrepresenting the source of some new pew occupants.

“Pope Ratzinger,” Bishop Robinson declared, referring to Benedict XVI by his given name in a late-2005 speech, “may be the best thing to happen to the Episcopal Church . . . . We are seeing so many Roman Catholics join the [Episcopal] church.”

Roman Catholics and Episcopalians have swapped places for years, easily facilitated by related liturgical forms and practices. Unlike other Reformation-era churches, the Church of England, then a geographic arm of the Roman Church, maintained the forms and hierarchies of its parent. The Anglo-Catholic wing of Anglicanism is the closest to its source, in many cases conducting services that are more recognizably Catholic than the post-Vatican II Mass. Some American conservatives see Rome’s embrace of theological orthodoxy — reasserted by Benedict and his predecessor, Pope John Paul II — as a compelling alternative to an increasingly listless Episcopal Church.

Similarly, liberal Catholics tied to their forms of worship enjoy the option to embrace the Episcopal Church’s “Catholicism Lite” without the inconvenient frowning upon birth control, abortion, or whatever the latest sexual lifestyle innovation might be.

The point being that if Church is merely choices, one may find the most comfortable outward portrayal of Church for oneself. One may find that place where a loose set of choices is constantly put up for personal and collective vote as the mood strikes today. It is a stunning lack of constancy and perseverance on the narrow road (Matthew 7:13-14).

As with any linear analysis of possible alternatives, one can find the place of balance. In the PNCC the balance point lies at the junction between democracy and assent. Democracy is a governing principal, and self determination over what one gives to build the Church. No one can take the parish, or the Church itself, away from those who “build, constitute, believe in, support and care for it.” In the same manner, no one can use the power of the vote to take the Catholic out of the Church, similarly taking catholicity away from those very same people.

At the XXIII General Synod, a perfect example of balance was on display. The Church Doctrine Commission presented two papers, “To Live in the Spirit of God,” which addressed Church teaching on current moral and bioethical issues, and “Eschatology in the PNCC: A Clarification.” Both were presented, not for a vote, but for the assent of the faithful.

In accord with the Constitution of the PNCC:

ARTICLE VI — CHURCH AUTHORITY

SECTION 2. In matters of Faith, morals and discipline the authority of this Church lies in the hands of the Prime Bishop, Diocesan Bishops and Clergy united with them. This authority is derived directly from God through Jesus Christ, agreeably with the words of our Savior: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).

“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18)

The Church’s Catholic nature of Church precludes votes on doctrine and its Holy Tradition. As PNCC faithful, we are bound to conform our lives to the Church’s teaching, not as a matter of choice but as a matter of becoming.

Of course, we are not all there, conforming our lives and our choices perfectly to the Church’s guidance. It is difficult to lay down ones life (John 15:13). We all struggle in the gulf between our sinfulness and perfection, the gap between what is earthly and Divine within us. As we travel that road in growing closer to God’s desires for us, as we climb the ladder, we are called to become, to strive for that which is promised to the faithful. That promise is best fulfilled under the guiding and protecting hand of sound orthodox doctrine and Tradition — not a fuzzy assumption that we are any more right today in our personal choices than people have been for 2,000 years.

Yes, a Church can have a democratic form of governance and hold its Catholic faith through assent.

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

Accidents of history

From the Ekonom:east Media Group: Roman Catholics in Vienna still protest over giving church to SPC

Members of the Roman Catholic parish of Neulerchenfeld in Vienna, whose church will be given as a present to the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), are continuing to protest the decision of the Archdiocese of Vienna.

After collecting signatures against the decision, parish members – mostly of Polish descent – organized a protest in downtown Vienna late last year, and are now threatening disobedience to the Roman Catholic Church.

The Neulerchenfeld parish does not want to comply with the decision of Archbishop of Vienna Christoph Schonborn, and 800 of its members were very surprised when the gift was made official with a contract earlier this month.

The parishioners claim they were not informed about the signing of the contract between the Archdiocese of Vienna and the Serb Orthodox church of St. Sava.

In a statement to the media, they said they will continue to fight for their church, and might stop paying church taxes.

The Archdiocese of Vienna and the Serb Orthodox church in Vienna signed a deal at the start of the year that the Roman Catholic church in Neulerchenfeld will be given as a gift to SPC.

The church is set to replace the Temple of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, located in Vienna’s 17th district, which was too small to hold all of the faithful. The church in Neulerchenfeld, also dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, was built between 1733 and 1753.

The church given as a present is much bigger that the current Serbian Orthodox church and can hold over 1,000 people.

And from CWNews via ByzCath: Vienna: laity protest cardinal’s gift of parish to Serbian Orthodox

The laity of a largely Polish parish in Vienna are protesting Cardinal Christoph Schönborn’s decision to give their parish to the Serbian Orthodox Church. Pfarre Neulerchenfeld was constructed between 1733 and 1753. Austria’s largest newspaper reports that the parish has far higher Sunday Mass attendance than many other area parishes.

A parish with a large Sunday attendance of 800 plus, mostly Poles, is given away while other parishes with sparse attendance remain empty. What is interesting is that this is being done by an Austrian Bishop. Putting together some historical antecedents, something special to Poles is being taken from them by an Austrian, and given to what is in effect Russians. It would only be more ironic if the Austrians sent in German police to remove the Poles.

I am stressing the irony here to make a point. First, that these sorts of things remain in historical memory. Second, that the Roman corporate sole model of church property administration yields actions like these.

It is also unfortunate that a strong group of faithful in a living parish (not declining, priest-less, and empty) is being forced out by a bishop with absolute control, and without consultation. This general mode of operation in the Roman Church is becoming more and more familiar as church closings become more widespread. It remains that the only model capable of overcoming control structures like these is the democratic Church model as practiced within the PNCC.

Allegory of the 1st partition of Poland -- Catherine II of Russia, Joseph II of Austria, and Frederick the Great of Prussia divide Poland
Christian Witness, Perspective, PNCC, , , , ,

Build your Parish in 2011

From Christian Newswire: Top Eight Things Your Church Can Do to Increase Membership in 2011

Most churches in the United States are facing declining membership, but the message is still as relevant as in the past. So what’s changed? The message is getting lost in all the clutter.

Here are my top 8 tips for increasing your church membership in 2011:

  1. List your church on Google Places. Last month 17 million people googled “church, find a church, church home, Methodist Church, Baptist church, etc.”
  2. Make up or buy some cards that invite people to your church and hand them out to every member. Ask them to go out and perform random acts of kindness and give out the cards. Memory Cross has developed some very unique ones or you can create your own. If each of your members can touch three people a year, think what an impact that would make to your community and your church.
  3. Get a list of people in the neighborhoods around your church and reach out to them at least 3-4 times a year. Postcards are a great tool because they are inexpensive and people have to see them, at least for a second.
  4. Create door hangers or flyers and give them to members to hand out in their neighborhood.
  5. Hold a free community event. It can be anything from a car wash to a concert to handing out bottles of water on a hot summer day. Do not accept any donations. Instead hand out a card with your church information on it.
  6. Start using email marketing and ask for the names and email address of all visitors. This will provide you a second way to connect with them.
  7. Set up a system where you connect visitors with someone in your church as soon as possible. Too many people come one time; and if they don’t feel connected to the church, they may not return. Even a phone call to thank them for visiting is a great way to open up conversation.
  8. Form a group that is committed to praying for people in your community. Meet on a regular basis and encourage them to write down any outreach ideas they come up with.

If you take action on these eight steps, you will find new visitors coming to your church and people’s lives being changed.

PNCC, , , ,

Considering in Streator, IL

I had previous written on the parish closings occurring in Streator, IL (Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria) in Another Sad Tale and More on Church Closings.

Two recent articles have appeared in MyWebTimes on the Polish National Catholic Church as a potential alternative for Streator Catholics wishing to find a Church that is both fully Catholic and democratically governed. I wish the Catholics of Streator well in their discernment process.

Having personally faced the pain of Parish closings I understand their hurt and anguish. Much can be gained from the experience of many former Roman Catholics in the Buffalo area who have formed at least two new PNCC Parishes. God works, through His grace, to bring good out of the pain and anguish we feel. Having found a wonderful spiritual home, a Church that is both fully Catholic and democratic in governance, and great personal comfort in the PNCC, I know this to be true. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

The article Independent, but traditional — Polish National Catholics practice Catholicism their way keys on the many of the issues Catholics find appealing about the PNCC:

Mike Sheridan is not alone.

The Streator Catholic is curious about the Polish National Catholic Church but does not know much about it.

Since the city’s four parishes merged to form St. Michael the Archangel Church, the Polish National has been brought up as an alternative, but no one has approached it about starting one.

Found on page 2 of the missalette in Streator church pews, the Roman Catholic church does not object to Polish National members receiving communion, but then how is it they are not affiliated with the pope or the Vatican?

Although completely independent of Rome, the church is representative of the first 1,000 years of the Roman Catholic Church, according to the Rev. Anthony Kopka, bishop of the PNCC’s Western Diocese in Chicago.

“That’s the best way to describe it,”Kopka said. “We are a Catholic church, there is apostolic succession, but we have honored no dogmas since 1054.”

Disgruntled with the structure of power in the Roman Catholic church, the PNCC broke away in 1897 to give Polish immigrants their own Catholic church to worship. At the time, there was concern Irish and German immigrants controlled too much power in the church.

Originally Polish, all ethnicites are welcome today. The church boasts more than 25,000 members nationally with 30 parishes in its Western Diocese alone. There are eight parishes in Illinois, with six in the Chicago area and one in suburban St. Louis. The closest is Holy Trinity Church in Kewanee.

Since its independence, theological and governmental differences were drawn.

The PNCC rejected the idea of papal infallibility, which meant the pope is preserved from the possibility of error when he solemnly declares a dogmatic teaching on faith.

“We believe no one is infallable in their teaching,” Prime Bishop Anthony Mikovski told The Times.

The church created its own structure of power with an emphasis on the parishioner.

Unlike the Roman Catholic church, members control the fate of their own parish. A committee of at least nine members is voted on by parishioners once a year. This committee controls the finances of the church and determines whether their parish needs to be closed.

The parish also elects a senator to represent it at the general synod. This is conducted every four years to discuss church matters and law.

A priest is appointed to a parish from the bishop of its diocese. The committee can then vote to accept or reject the appointment. Committee members also can hire or fire priests.

The priest serves as the parish’s spiritual leader and financial adviser. He makes no final decisions on the finances of the church.

“It’s up to us if we stay open,” said Resurrection Polish National Catholic Church parishioner Chris Cremean. “A church closes only if it runs out of money.”

…

In 1993, the Vatican’s Council for Promoting Christian Unity stated that PNCC members in the United States and Canada can receive Roman Catholic Communion and other sacraments, and the PNCC issued parallel guidelines in 1998.

…

Only time will tell if it is a viable option for alienated Streator Catholics.

Cremean said he likes the idea of having married priests that can relate to family life and enjoys the traditionalism practiced within the church.

“I feel like Ihave a parish I can call home for my family.”

The experience of parishioners from Toledo was highlighted in Polish National — Is it the answer for Streator Catholics?

Chris Cremean was once a “Roamin’ Catholic.”

His home parish in Toledo, Ohio closed in 2005 and he felt abandoned like many in Streator.

“I started to search for where my family would end up,” said the former St. Jude parishioner, noting there were at least 40 others like him. “We were looking for something traditionally Catholic and something that was ours — that our parish could say we owned.”

He had never heard of the Polish National Catholic Church in his hours of study on the issue, but it would provide him with his answer. An answer he suggests to the others he refers to as “Roamin’ Catholics.”

“It’s not for everyone, there are a few differences (from the Roman Catholic church),” Cremean said. “It’s an option that caters most to those who want a say in their own parish. Parishioners control their own parish.”

Groups like Save the Catholic Parishes in Streator wished they had more say in the merging of their four parishes into St. Michael the Archangel.

A handful of St. Jude parishioners found a Polish National church on a trip to Hamtramck, Mich. Impressed by its hospitality, the group discovered a small church with apostolic succession and no attachment to the diocese that closed them. In 1897, Pope Leo XIII recognized the Polish National as a Catholic church.

Within three years, St. Jude parishioners had their own parish in a Toledo suburb called Resurrection Polish National Catholic Church.

“We found our home,” Cremean said. “You don’t have to be Polish to start a parish.”

…

Like in Streator, when the Catholic Diocese of Toledo closed 17 parishes, it was met with disagreement. Cremean’s home parish St. Jude filed two rounds of appeals to Rome to save their parish.

The Polish National Catholic Church has its own dioceses, but the dioceses cannot close a parish; that must be done by a board of parishioners.

The Rev. Anthony Kopka, bishop of the Western Diocese in Chicago, said no one in Streator has expressed an interest in starting a Polish National Catholic Church.

“I think a lot of people would be interested in finding out more about (the PNCC),” said St. Anthony parishioner Mike Sheridan. “I feel so many are still alienated. Some are still sad and some are very angry. People have thrown it out as an option, but I just don’t know.”

Kopka said anyone interested in starting a parish in Streator would have to contact him and then he would send out the Rev. Jaroslaw Rafalko from Holy Trinity Parish in Kewanee — about 75 miles west of Streator.

About 20 parishioners are all that is needed for a charter, said Cremean. Resurrection had 40 members to start and the priest from Hamtramck conducted Mass. Services were conducted at rented halls and churches until a combination of fundraisers and a loan from the PNCC provided a new building in 2008…

PNCC,

On the installation of Prime Bishop Mikovsky

A wonderful, prayerful, and celebratory time in the holy city of Scranton yesterday.

God was greatly praised by the prayers and singing of over 600 members of the PNCC along with ecumenical guests. I was honored to be the crucifer for the Prime Bishop’s procession as well as assistant to the Masters of Ceremony. I also had an opportunity to spend some time in conversation with two of the ecumenical guests, a minister from the UCC and a representative of Bishop Tikhon, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania (OCA). Here is Protodn. Sergei Kapral presenting an icon to Prime Bishop Mikovsky on behalf of Bishop Tikhon.

Some of the Press coverage:

From WBRE: Polish National Catholic Church Prime Bishop Installed

“It’s both a very jubilant day as well as a very humbling day,” said the man at the center of Sunday’s historic day for the Polish National Catholic Church in Scranton. 44-year-old Anthony Mikovsky was installed as prime bishop at Saint Stanislaus Cathedral. More than 600 people from the Polish National Catholic Church — both near and far — gathered to witness the installation.

“I’m very happy to be leading the church and want to work together with all of them,” said Prime Bishop Mikovsky. “They’re all wonderful people and I know that together we can do really good things for the church.” Mikovsky will lead some 25,000 Polish National Catholics primarily in the Eastern United States.

At 44-years-old, PNCC members have the youngest prime bishop in the history of the church second only to its 19th century founder. “He’s a very young man in terms of prime bishops and he’s got a very good heart,” said St. Stanislaus Parishioner Roger Seliga of Scranton. He believes the church hierarchy picked the right person for the job. “I think he’ll be a person who progresses with the traditions of the Polish National Catholic Church.”

Mikovsky replaces 67-year-old Robert Nemkovich who was too old by church law to run for a second eight-year term as prime bishop. Also taking part in the installation as a sign of christian unity, Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton Bishop Joseph Bambera and Bishop Emeritus James Timlin. Mikovsky considers himself a man on a mission to grow the Polish National Catholic Church. “To bring it to the people who are in need, to bring the church to the people who are hurting, who want to experience God in ever new and exciting ways.” Prime Bishop Mikovsky will also serve the church as bishop ordinary of the central diocese until February when Bishop John Mack will take over that position.

From the Scranton Times Tribune: Gifts, advice, prayer and celebration mark Mikovsky’s ascendancy as PNCC Prime Bishop

The Rev. Anthony A. Mikovsky was installed as prime bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church on Sunday before an overflow crowd at St. Stanislaus Cathedral in South Scranton, the mother church of the faith.

Turning over the crozier was Prime Bishop Emeritus Robert Nemkovich, who asked for God’s blessing on the church’s new leader.

“Direct and defend him by your grace that he may guide your people into the ways of truth, love, of holiness and peace,” said the outgoing bishop.

Prime Bishop Mikovsky, 44, is no stranger to the area, having spent his 13-year priesthood in Scranton, first as an assistant pastor, then as bishop of the Central Diocese. Members of his congregation, who watched him grow to become the leader of their faith, were happy for the man and their church.

“He is spiritual, intelligent and approachable,” said Paul Cimino, a member of St. Stanislaus parish. “He has always been there for the church and the people. He is perfect for the job.”

The installation, held during Mass, was attended by numerous bishops. Buses carried faithful from as far away as New York. The overflow crowd watched the Mass on closed-circuit television in the church hall.

The service began with business. Attorney Ernest J. Gazda, Jr., certified the results of the October election where delegates, on the 42nd ballot, selected Prime Bishop Mikovsky.

Then Prime Bishop Emeritus Nemkovich surveyed the congregation, then priests, then the bishops individually, asking if they will support Prime Bishop Mikovsky. They said they would.

Members of the church offered their new spiritual leader gifts symbolic of his role: holy water for restoration, salt for grace and wisdom, oil for healing, a Bible for the word of God, bread and wine for sacrifice. Prime Bishop Emeritus Nemkovich passed the crozier, completing the transition.

During the homily, he reminded the new bishop of the “awesome” responsibility – the care, administration and destiny of the church and its 25,000 adherents.

“Pray daily, ask God to help you and live an exemplary life,” he said.

Among the ecumenical dignitaries were the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton, and Bishop Emeritus James C. Timlin.

“We have been in dialogue with this church for years, and they remain our brothers and sisters in faith,” Bishop Bambera said of the PNCC before the procession, just as the hymn “The Church is One Foundation” began. “It is important that we celebrate this special day together,” he added…

Christian Witness, Media, Perspective, PNCC, , ,

Parishioner discusses a church closing with her bishop

From FOX News 8 in Cleveland: ON TAPE: Bishop Lennon Recorded Talking About Church Closings

The entire conversation is available for listening. It runs a little over 28 minutes.

CLEVELAND — Behind closed doors, Bishop Richard Lennon, head of the [Roman Catholic] Diocese of Cleveland, is straightforward about the need to close churches.

“Let me be very blunt: why haven’t the people of Cleveland done this over the past years,” asked Bishop Lennon.

The bishop took part in a conversation back in May with Pat Schulte Singleton. She was a member of St. Patrick’s — a church on Cleveland’s west side that has since been closed.

Schulte Singleton was hoping to get the bishop to reverse that decision. She went to the meeting alone, and she recorded the conversation without his knowledge. Why?

“To have an accounting of what happened,” she says now. “When you go to talk to the bishop, especially Bishop Lennon, you’re a bit intimidated…”

A few things:

  • In most places people have a right to record conversations to which they are a party. I have no problem with Ms. Schulte Singleton’s doing so. It is her right.
  • The bishop hits all the right points on technical issues. Being catholic means more than just “place.” It also means a life of sacrifice. No one in the rest of the hierarchy will fault him on those points. You won’t likely get a co-adjutator or an apostolic administrator unless the Bishop goes completely off (becomes a heretic or a scandal to the Church) although the early change in Scranton looked to be a result of too heavy a hand by the R.C. Bishop there.
  • The Bishop is a good businessman who is cutting losses and moving to where his customers prefer to be (the suburbs). He knows the financials and the statistics.
  • He is equally wrong about place, because place is important, not just because of individual’s attachment to it, but because the presence of church and Christian witness changes the character of place. Yes church is more than place, but it is present in place and time to bring grace, life, and community.
  • He is absolutely wrong in his assessment of neighborhood change. If I were the folks living in, or moving into that neighborhood I would be deeply hurt by his attitude. I sense a subtle bigotry there. He could have just said, ‘I don’t want to minister to THOSE people in THAT neighborhood. I’ve written them off.’
  • The PNCC model works (as our Prime Bishop Emeritus often said – we have a gem of a Church because we are Catholic with a democratic form of governance) because parishioner ownership results in commitment to working for the home that no one can take from them. It allows parishioners to innovatively approach evangelization as well as solutions to issues. You would never hear – ‘we didn’t know about the financials,’ from the member of a PNCC Parish Committee (as opposed to Ms. Schulte Singleton noting that they didn’t know anything about assessments in arrears). Thanks be to God that the clergy in the PNCC can concentrate on the spiritual. You will never hear money preached from the pulpit. The people handle it and contribute toward what they own.
  • Whomever is hitting her people up for money to run appeals up the Vatican flag pole has quite the racket. Milk the dolts back in the states while we sip wine in Roma. O Solo Mio! The answer three years hence — Negato!
Christian Witness, Current Events, Events, PNCC, ,

Coverage of the Installation of the 7th Prime Bishop of the PNCC

From WNEP-Scranton: Scranton Bishop to Lead Polish National Catholic Church in U.S.

 

Parishioners at Saint Stanislaus Polish National Catholic Church are making sure everything is spotless. A new national leader will be installed Sunday and he’s one of their own.

“The enormity of being entrusted, people that trust you to say well we want you to lead our church, that’s a very humbling thing too, that people put that kind of trust in you,” said Prime Bishop-elect Anthony Mikovsky.

He will be in charge of 25,000 members of the Polish National Catholic Church across the United States. He was elected by other church leaders and members last month at a gathering in Canada.

Folks at Saint Stanislaus couldn’t be happier about the decision.

“He brings the spiritual aspects of the gospel to us all the time and we just enjoy listening to him,” said Arlene Swantek of Scranton.

Since the Polish National Catholic Church was founded in Scranton and the new prime bishop is from Scranton, he will be staying in town.

Mikovsky’s goals is to get more people involved.

“A lot of people even of my own age, in their 30s and 40s kind of disengage from the church, to realize that community is necessary in their lives and faith is necessary in their lives,” said Prime Bishop-elect Mikovsky.

Parishioners think he will have no problem getting the job done.

“Because he is so unflappable. I think he will remain calm and make rational decisions,” said Josephine Kwiatkowski of Taylor.

The installation ceremony starts at 3 p.m. Sunday at Saint Stanislaus in south Scranton and is open to the public.

From The Times Tribune: PNCC Prime Bishop Mikovsky prepares for installation Sunday in Scranton

On Sunday, Prime Bishop Anthony Mikovsky will take part in a ceremonial transition of leadership in the Polish National Catholic Church that he has witnessed before, but this time his hand will be on the crozier.

The 44-year-old prelate, who was elected to the Scranton-based church’s highest post in October, will be installed as the seventh prime bishop in a 3 p.m. ceremony and Mass in front of an anticipated crowd of 600 people at St. Stanislaus Cathedral.

The prime bishop, a mathematician, has spent his 13-year priesthood in Scranton, first as an assistant pastor, then as bishop of the Central Diocese, which stretches from Albany, N.Y., to Washington, D.C., but has its seat in the city.

Dual roles

Until February, when Bishop John Mack will arrive to lead the Central Diocese and the pastorate of St. Stanislaus, Prime Bishop Mikovsky will serve his old and new roles simultaneously.

Although he has been an active Polish National Catholic all his life, he joked during an interview in the St. Stanislaus rectory on Thursday that “I pray with a lot more fervor and urgency now.”

“There’s certainly a lot to worry about being in charge of a denomination and being in charge of souls as well.”

The 113-year-old denomination includes about 25,000 members. It is a family that Prime Bishop Mikovsky hopes to grow and invigorate during his tenure.

“The best way to accomplish that goal is to get people to be more actively involved in church,” he said. “That doesn’t just mean showing up on Sunday. That’s part of it. But to get people to think in a religious way, a moral way.”

In recent years, as the population has dwindled in older ethnic communities, the denomination has developed new parishes in places like Texas, especially by welcoming new immigrants whose experiences are not unlike those of the Polish immigrants who founded the church.

The church, which has a democratic constitution and a deep lay involvement in its governance, is also inviting to people who “cherish Catholic belief and Catholic practice but want to participate in that in a way in which they can be more involved,” he said.

Link to the past

Prime Bishop Emeritus Robert Nemkovich, who will preside over the installation on Sunday before he begins his retirement in Florida in December, said the democratic ideals that helped form the denomination in the 1890s are the same ideals that keep it vital, and make it appealing, today.

“In today’s society, it’s right on,” he said.

Prime Bishop Nemkovich, 67, who was too old by church law to run for a second eight-year term as prime bishop, said Prime Bishop Mikovsky is both “young and energetic” and “very capable and qualified” for the position.

“It’s an awesome responsibility, I told him, to serve God and his people as prime bishop,” he said, recounting his advice to his friend and colleague over the last few weeks. “He has to remember that he is the first among equals. He is not infallible. And that he needs to seek the guidance of the Lord every day.”

From WBRE & WYOU: New Prime Bishop in Polish National Catholic Church

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY – It is going to be a big weekend in Lackawanna County. The Polish National Catholic Church, which was founded in Scranton, is getting ready to install its new Prime Bishop.

Anthony Mikovsky will be installed on Sunday afternoon. He’s been a bishop in his church’s Scranton diocese for the last four years. He’s also served as a priest locally for the last 14 years.

“I’m very humbled by this all the way around,” Mikovsky said sitting inside Saint Stanislaus Church Thursday morning.

He will lead more than 25,000 parishoners.

“You have awesome responsibility and it is very humbling that all these people put their trust in you,” Mikovsky said.

Mikovsky was elected as Prime Bishop last month. He says his goals will be to get more young people involved in the church and connect with all parishoners outside of church.

“I think sometimes, especially church leaders, can be a little stand-offish from their congregations and that is unfortunate,” Mikovsky said.

People who know the Prime Bishop-Elect say Mikovsky is the right man for the job. They say he’s smart and has a great preaching ability.

“He has a big booming voice. This is a big cathedral and where I would need a microphone to be heard half-way down, he comes up in the middle of church and he preaches with fire and you can’t fall asleep during his sermons,” Father Jason Soltysiak said.

While Mikovsky’s new role will have him travelling more, he’ll still primarily live in Scranton. He says he’s going to try to get people in the Polish National Catholic Church to work together.

“We have to work together in the church, at this level we need to do it and we need to do it at all levels,” Mikovsky said.

Mikovsky will be formally installed on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM. More than 600 people from across the country are expected to attend.

Christian Witness, PNCC,

Mohawk Valley Seniorate Meeting

On October 30th, I joined with other Polish National Catholic clergy and laity at Good Shepherd Parish in Amsterdam, NY for an annual meeting of the Mohawk Valley Seniorate Council. For those who do not know, a Seniorate consists of a number of parishes grouped by geographic region. The Mohawk Valley Seniorate is one of five in the Central Diocese which is headquartered in Scranton, PA. The Seniorate is comprised of PNCC Parishes in Latham, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Little Falls, New York Mills, Rome, and Syracuse, New York. The clergy of the Seniorate are under the supervision of the Very Rev. Walter Madej.

Approximately 20 people attended the October 30th meeting which was held in the Good Shepherd parish hall following morning prayer. Various concerns about declining participation and increasing costs were discussed as were the many successes we share. Many of the problems faced by the PNCC are similar to those in other Christian faith communities. The democratic distinctiveness of the PNCC allows small parishes to work together in maintaining their presence, and in evangelizing their area. It was a pleasure to be joined by the members of the Catholic Community of St. Johnsville, New York. They formed a cohesive community and sought the assistance of the PNCC so as to maintain a Catholic presence in their town. Also, we were informed of the growth in vocations to the diaconate across the Mohawk Valley. An added treat, the excellent lunch provided by the people of Good Shepherd. Whenever Good Shepherd Parish has a food sale or dinner I am sure to go, and go early because it is always sold out.

Delegates attending the Mohawk Valley Seniorate meeting

Many of those in attendance will be joining other members of the PNCC, as well as friends, guests, and political and ecumenical dignitaries at the upcoming installation of the 7th Prime Bishop of the PNCC, the Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Mikovsky, who was elected at the 23rd Synod of the PNCC in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada in early October.

Other future events include:

  • The National Mission and Evangelism Workshop, May 13-14, 2011 to be held at Holy Family Parish in McKeesport, PA.
  • The National Bowling Tornament, May 20-21, 2011 to be held in Parma, OH, hosted by St. Mary’s Parish.
  • The Central Diocesan Acolyte Retreat, June 28 – July 1, 2011 at the Bishop Hodur Retreat and recreation Center in Waymart, PA.
  • The KURS Youth Encampment, July 2-9, 2011 at the Bishop Hodur Retreat and recreation Center in Waymart, PA.
  • The annual Fourth of July Holy Mass and Picnic, July 4, 2011 at the Bishop Hodur Retreat and recreation Center in Waymart, PA.
  • The National United Choirs Convention, July 27-30, 2011 hosted by St. Stanislaus Cathedral, Scranton, PA.
  • The National YMSofR Track and Field Meet/Zlot, September 3, 2011 at YMSofR Park, Minooka, PA.

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