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Internety, bloggy, softwarey stuff

Several readers have written to me and have noted that they enjoy the new blog design. Thank you. The theme is from Theme Sheep. Of course like the sheep reference – we are the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:1-3 or Psalm 95:6-9).

Fr. Jason opines on the state of the PNCC on the Internet. St. Stanislaus Cathedral has done a wonderful job on their redesign. It is really beautiful, and offers all the great interactivity necessary for parishioners and seekers. I believe it is based on Joomla, which like WordPress is all about providing content.

As I tell the pastors and parishes I work with, people want to know you. They want to know you as pastor, teacher, community, fellow workers, and companions. The only way to do that is to show who you are, how you know Jesus, and how you teach Him. How do you celebrate Him, and each other as part of Him? It doesn’t take a ton of work, only being who you are and telling your story. Think of the video I posted from Sta. Sunniva Parish in Norway… Who are they? Would you want to be part of that community?

Some cool stuff for your iPad, iPod, iPhone from Twitter friends, DivineOffice and Just 1 Word:

Just 1 Word has a new mobile app for various platforms so that you can read the Bible anytime, anywhere on your mobile device. Various versions of the Bible are available and the apps are suitable for the iPad, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.

Divine Office’s app provides an audio version of the Liturgy of the Hours, including scripture readings, psalms and prayers for the Hours of each day. The app automatically downloads the day’s audio Liturgy as well as the Liturgy for the days following to your iPhone or iPod Touch over-the-air.

I believe music and chants are also included. I will update as I find out more. Of course, this is the Roman Catholic usage of the Hours. Note to my fellow PNCC members, when I pray the Hours, I make substitutions for any prayers mentioning the Bishop of Rome.

Christian Witness, PNCC, Saints and Martyrs, , , , , , ,

Get your flowers and herbs ready

Many PNCC Parishes will bless flowers and herbs on the Solemnity of the Dormition and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin on Sunday, August 15th. For instance:

St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church will have a blessing of the harvest in honor of the Dormition-Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sunday, August 15th before the 8:30 and 11 a.m. Masses at the church, 200 Stephenson St., Duryea, PA. The parishioners and public are encouraged to bring an item from their garden (vegetables, flowers, and herbs) as a way of giving thanks to God for the bounty of the Earth. For more information please call the Rev. Carmen Bolock, pastor, at 570-457-2291.

Check with a parish near you for details.

PNCC,

Sad news at St. Francis of Assisi Parish

From The Denver Post: Statue of St. Francis stolen from Denver parish

A brilliant white statue of St. Francis —” the Patron Saint of Animals —” was taken sometime Friday night from the front of the St. Francis National Catholic Church in southeast Denver.

Father John Kalabokes said that St. Francis had stood in front of the small church, which is near Leetsdale Drive, for 18 years.

“My reaction was one of a great deal of disappointment,” said Kalabokes. “I’ve had a lot of mixed emotions. I just got the feeling that they (the thieves) felt they needed him more and may have put him in their yard.”

Kalabokes said St. Francis National Catholic Church is a very small parish of mostly fixed income people.

“It is a big hit,” he said. “We struggle to make ends meet.”

A similar staute will cost about $3,500, he said.

Kalabokes said the thief or thieves tore the statue, located in front of the church at 556 S. Jersey St., off its base. It had been securely bolted to the ground, he said.

They then lifted it over the railing that surrounded the statue, leaving white scrapes on the railing. Kalabokes believes the statue was damaged.

“It had to be a pretty big guy or a bunch of them,” he said.

He said the parish landscaping is such that the thieves could have backed a vehicle up to the railing and loaded the statue into the back of the vehicle, possibly a pickup.

The statue includes a small bird which St. Francis is holding. Kalabokes said that thieves have taken the small bird several times in the past and each time the tiny bird was replaced.

The theft occurred sometime between 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m Saturday, when a woman who arranges flowers at the church arrived and discovered St. Francis missing.

Kalabokes said he has filed a police report. He said that police responded and he believed they lifted fingerprints of the culprits off the railing that surrounded St. Francis.

“I cannot understand the cruelty and thinking of those who did this despicable act,” said Kalabokes. “This symbol is a great loss to this small parish.”

The Parish is asking for help to defray the cost of replacing the statue. You may make a donation online via PayPal. I also ask of your prayers for those who took the statute, that their hearts be moved to return it and make amends.

O Savior of the World, Whose love embraces all mankind; we hear Thy prayer from the Cross: “Father forgive them.” In the name of universal pardon, we beseech the Heavenly Father to have mercy upon our enemies; and deliver us from their snares. May our prayer be for them a ministry of reconciliation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. —” A Prayer for our Enemies from A Book of Devotions and Prayers According to the Use of the Polish National Catholic Church.

Christian Witness, PNCC, Saints and Martyrs, ,

Commemorating St. Christopher

From the Republican Herald: Priest blesses cars for faithful

FRACKVILLE – Ann Marie Wycheck, Frackville, has never been in a major car accident.

Neither has Helen Hopko or Al Gursky, both of Frackville. Or Dorothy or Walter Jaskierski, Saint Clair.

But that didn’t stop them from having their cars blessed Sunday after Mass at St. John the Baptist Polish National Catholic Church.

Parishioners joined in the parking lot with the Rev. Robert P. Plichta to say a short prayer and have the priest perform a blessing ritual.

“I think we can all use a little prayer over our cars to be blessed,” Wycheck said as Plichta made the Sign of the Cross at a nearby vehicle.

“This will help a lot to give me peace of mind when driving,” Hopko said.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Gursky said. “Every little bit helps when you think of how people drive, how dangerous it is.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported more than 37,000 motor vehicle fatalities in 2008, and the U.S. Census Bureau reports that there were an estimated 10.6 million motor vehicle accidents in 2007. Both statistics are from the most recent year data were available.

Plichta said he started this tradition at the church last year, performing the blessing on the Sunday closest to the feast day of St. Christopher, which is July 25. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.

“For people, it’s important to ask God for protection,” Plichta said.

He said he also says a brief prayer each time before driving.

“In Poland, there was twice where I didn’t say a prayer, ‘under thy protection …’ and I had two accidents – somebody hit me, I hit somebody. Minor. But now I say every time,” Plichta said. “It’s important for somebody who believes.”

Plichta, who is originally from Poland and served a congregation of more than 17,000 in Gdansk, said while in Poland he saw many people who had accidents, then came to get their new cars blessed.

“It just helps give peace of mind to some people,” Plichta said.

He said anyone wishing to have his or her car blessed can contact him at the church at 874-1960. Get your car blessed

If anyone would like to get their vehicle blessed, contact the Rev. Robert P. Plichta, pastor of St. John the Baptist Polish National Catholic Church, Frackville, at 874-1960.

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

Out and About in Polonia

Utica Monday Night Polish Heritage Celebration: Holy Spirit PNCC will be at the Utica Monday Night Polish Heritage Celebration on Monday, August 2nd, selling homemade Polish food at Chancellor Park, Bleecker & Kent St., Utica. The Utica Monday Night Polish Heritage Celebration will feature a performance by Jasiu Klocek and the Salt City Brass Polka Band from 6:30 —“ 9:00.

Ychtis Polish Girls’ Group: To perform at Corpus Christi Church, 199 Clark St., Buffalo, NY on Friday, August 6th at 7:00 p.m.

Ychtis, the award-winning girls’ song and dance group from Poland, will visit Buffalo August 6 with a performance at Corpus Christi Church. The name of the ensemble is taken from the Greek word for fish. The group specializes in religious songs. Among their repertoire is music based on the poetry of the late Fr. Jan Twardowski, one of Poland’s beloved poets. They also sing songs about the former Polish city of Lwów, which has a warm place in the hearts of many Poles even though it is now in Ukraine.

The five member group of 10-15 year old girls will sing in Polish and in English as well as tap dance. The group has been in existence for 15 years and is based in the city of Katowice in the industrial region of Silesia.

Ychtis’ mission is to give young people with difficult family situations the opportunity to develop their inner and outer talents through song and dance. Ychtis has appeared on Television and toured Europe where they have won first place in a number of contests. This is their second visit to Buffalo and other cities in North America, where, in addition to Buffalo they will perform in Chicago, Cleveland, Yonkers, Newark as well as a number of cities in Canada.

The group’s performance in the beautiful sanctuary of Corpus Christi Church promises to provide an uplifting experience for all. Admission is free, but a free will donation will be requested at the end of the show to help offset the group’s expenses.

For further information, please call 716-896-1050.

Canal Days Celebration in Little Falls, NY: Enjoy a fun day at Little Falls’ 23rd annual Canal Days, August 13th to 15th. Holy Spirit PNCC will be serving Polish food prepared by its members. Polish dishes will be available as follows:

  • Fri. 8/13, at 5pm and during the parade in front of —Rick’s Style-Inn— 580 East Main Street, Little Falls.
  • Sat. 8/14, from 11am to 4pm at the church, 618 E. Gansevoort St., Little Falls.
  • Sun. 8/15 12 noon until sold out, at the church, 618 E. Gansevoort St., Little Falls.

Mystery Dinner Theater at the Albany PCC: The Albany PCC will host “Home on the Mystery Range” on Saturday, August 14th at 6:30pm. A cocktail hour will be followed by a Polish-American buffer dinner at 7:30pm. Tickets are $35 per person. For tickets please call 518-456-3995

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, , , ,

Love your brothers and sisters – invite them to church on September 12th

National “Back To Church Sunday,” slated for September 12th, which is also the Solemnity of Brotherly Love in the Polish National Catholic Church. What a great way to put our brotherly love into action, by inviting those we know, people who once attended church – but who don’t anymore, and the “unchurched” and “dechurched” on this Sunday.

Last year, hundreds of churches took part in the first national “Back To Church Sunday,” which saw members invite more than 700,000 friends and family. This year, an estimated 1 million “unchurched” and “dechurched” people will be invited to the special day.

A survey by Outreach, Inc., a California-based church marketing company supporting the initiative, found that last year’s participating churches increased their weekend attendance on average by 19 percent.

“A recent survey of 15,000 Americans indicated that 67 percent would be open to an invitation to church coming from a member of their family,” said Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, an organization dedicated to church health and effectiveness. “‘Back To Church Sunday’ is a great opportunity for reminding and refocusing church members to reach out to their unchurched family members.”

In a separate study, the 2008 American Religious Identification Survey showed that 83 percent of American adults identify themselves as Christians. In contrast, another survey that same year by the Barna Group, a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture, indicated only about 20 percent of Americans attend a church on any given Sunday.

When Mount Sterling First United Methodist Church in Mt. Sterling, Ky., participated in “Back To Church Sunday” in 2009, response was well beyond expectations.

“Our sanctuary was full,” said Debi Lambert, the church’s evangelism and outreach leader. “We saw our attendance that day increased 40 percent over our normal attendance for that time of year.”

Unchurched families that visited that Sunday have become members, Lambert said. Others attend periodically. That’s why the Mount Sterling church anticipates an even greater response to the 2010 event. “Everybody at church has gotten on board and is excited and involved,” Lambert said.

Inviting newcomers is only part of the campaign. Churches are also encouraged to make their facilities visitor-friendly, paying attention to details important to those who haven’t tried church in a while.

In support of “Back to Church Sunday,” Outreach also supports the “Back To Church Sunday” Facebook page and a roster of participating churches on the Back to Church Sunday website. When churches go to the website and register their participation, their names and locations are added to the roster.

Christian Witness, PNCC, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , ,

With deepest sadness…

I was informed of the passing into eternal life of friend, mentor, guide, an personal hero, Ś+P Mr. Walter Lasinski, yesterday evening.

Ś.P. Mr. Lasinski was a prominent PNCC historian, contributor to PNCC Studies, author, researcher, member of the Polish American Historical Association and recipient of its 1991 Distinguished Service Award, as well as a member of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America. He was also an avid lover of music and contributed to the work of the Polish Music Reference Center at the University of Southern California.

The first time I met Ś.P. Mr. Lasinski, and his wife Florence, was at PolishFest when I was assigned to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Częstochowa Parish in Latham, New York. He walked in, resolute, and told me that he had made the trip to meet me. Needless to say, I didn’t get it.

He went on to explain that he was a big advocate of this blog and of what I was doing to advance knowledge of the PNCC. The next thing he told me was that he was proud to reply, when asked, Kto jesteś? “Narodowiec!” Who are you? “[A] National!” With a few words he captivated me, helping me to understand what I was a part of. It was not just church, but Church in its fullest sense, a community of believers joined in every aspect of their lives, and joined with history.

Beyond his work in the PNCC, Ś.P. Mr. Lasinski contributed greatly to Polonia. He understood our ethnic community as only a historian could. He saw the deep connection the PNCC holds with the Orthodox, being a subscriber to the events and activities at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in Crestwood, New York, frequently encouraging me to “go there.” His research led him down many interesting paths, particularly to the out of the ordinary threads in Polonian history – the Polish Methodists of Greenpoint, Polish Baptists in Buffalo, the lesser known closed parishes of the PNCC, the kind of things lost to history but for fine researchers like himself.

I am deeply saddened by this loss, but with faith know that Ś.P. Walter is now standing with Ś.P. Bishop Hodur, looking down over the children of the PNCC, as we continue to work and struggle always in truth. The victory is now his.

A wake will be held at Fryczynski & Sons Funeral Home, 32-34 22nd Street, Bayonne, NJ 07002 on Tuesday, June 1st from 2-4 pm & 7-9 pm

A Funeral Holy Mass will be held at Sacred Heart of Jesus PNCC, 290 Avenue E, Bayonne, NJ 07002 on Wednesday, June 2nd at 10am. Internment at Heart of Jesus Cemetery immediately following Holy Mass.

I beg of you, my readers, your prayers for Ś.P. Walter’s eternal rest, and for comfort for his wife, sons, larger family, friends, and colleagues.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon him.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon him.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

Wieczne odpoczynek racz mu dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj mu świeci.
Wieczne odpoczynek racz mu dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj mu świeci.
Wieczne odpoczynek racz mu dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj mu świeci.
Niech odpoczywa w pokoju, Amen.

[audio:https://www.konicki.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/07-tyle-lat.mp3]
Christian Witness, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , , , ,

Good shepherds among Poland’s Mountaineers

The blessing of herds and shepherds in Ludźmierz, Poland. The blessing innaugurates the spring shepherding season and the lambing of the ewes. The blessing occurs on or near Good Shepherd Sunday. For more on the shepherding life see the Guardian article: Bleating heart.

Photos from Interia. Note that the chausibles worn by the priests are in the mountaineer style.

Christian Witness, Perspective, PNCC, Political, ,

Honor Immigrant Workers in Your Congregation this weekend

Every day, millions of immigrant workers in the U.S. are not only picking our vegetables and cleaning our office buildings, but are an integral part of the fabric of our congregations and communities. On May 1st, people of faith will join marches, prayer vigils and other events across the country to call on our Congressional leaders to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill that will bring millions of immigrant workers and their families out of the shadows, secure our borders and provide labor protections that will benefit all low-wage workers.

Interfaith Worker Justice is calling on people of faith to stand in support of all low-wage workers, regardless of immigration status. They have invited us to join with them and other national organizations, denominations and faith communities to participate in a National Weekend of Prayer and Action for Immigrant Rights on May 1st and 2nd.

Among the ways our congregations can lift up the voices of immigrant workers during this weekend:

  • Invite an immigrant worker to share his or her story during a worship service
  • Incorporate prayers and liturgies lifting up our immigrant brothers and sisters into your services
  • Provide bulletin inserts, informational materials and other action items for your congregation
  • Initiate a study group using IWJ’s resource For You Were Once A Stranger

IWJ has many resources available for congregations to educate, advocate, and mobilize for our immigrant brothers and sisters. You can find IWJ’s board of directors’ statement on immigration reform here and other materials on their website.

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