Our Holy Polish National Catholic Church pauses to remember and honor our organizer – Prime Bishop Francis Hodur on the 150th anniversary of his birth, April 1, 2016.

This brief history of Bishop Hodur is taken from An Abridged History of the Polish National Catholic Church – published on the Solemnity of Brotherly Love Sept. 9, 2012:

The first Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church was Franciszek Jan (Francis John) Hodur. Born in Zarki, Poland on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1866, to Maria and John Hodur, he was one of seven children. Although his father was a tailor and farmer, the Hodur family was very poor, having little money for food and clothing. At the age of 10 Francis attended a small village school and showed much potential by completing his first four years of elementary school in three years.

At the age of 14 he left his impoverished living conditions and walked to Krakow, a distance of 33 miles from Zarki…Upon completing his secondary education in June, 1889, he enrolled in the theological program at the Roman Catholic Seminary in Krakow that was affiliated with the Jagiellonian University. Due to his political activism he was expelled from the seminary in 1892 and never completed the program.

On the last day of 1892 Hodur boarded the ship, the M.S. Sorrento, bound for America. Three weeks later, on January 23, the ship arrived at Ellis Island in New York Harbor. Because he had no sponsor when he arrived, Hodur had to spend some time in a temporary shelter on Ellis Island. After submitting letters to a Polish newspaper indicating his plight, he was finally sponsored by the Rev. Benvenuto Gramlewicz who brought him to Nanticoke, PA. Father Gramlewicz arranged with Bishop O’Hara of the Scranton Roman Catholic Diocese to enroll Hodur in St. Vincent’s Roman Catholic Seminary in Beatty (now Latrobe), PA. He completed his seminary studies and was ordained to the priesthood in Scranton, PA on August 19, 1893 by Bishop O’Hara. His first assignment was as assistant pastor at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish in Scranton, PA.

On the evening of March 14, 1897 Father Hodur arrived in Scranton and met with the congregation of the newly organized St. Stanislaus parish. They seriously discussed the actions they were taking. Sympathetic to the plight of these Polish immigrants, he chose to accept the invitation of these people to lead their church. Father Hodur formally accepted the pastorate of St. Stanislaus Parish. On Sunday, March 21, 1897 Father Hodur celebrated the first High Mass in the new St. Stanislaus Church, which was still in the process of construction. The first organizational meeting of the parish also took place on that day.

Father Hodur proposed a “Church Constitution” that was unanimously accepted and the first parish committee was elected in accordance to it. Soon after, Father Hodur established and published a weekly newspaper, the Straż or “The Guard.” The first issue was published on Saturday, April 17, 1897. The purpose of the Straż was to be a true “Guard of our divine rights and the herald of a better future to come.” (Włodarski, p. 52) Through the Straż Father Hodur challenged several Roman Catholic teachings, including papal infallibility and universal jurisdiction. The solemn consecration of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr, Church took place on July 4, 1897 and was performed by Father Hodur.

Father Hodur did not intend to break away from the Roman Catholic Church. He was hopeful that the demands of these immigrants would be granted within the framework of the Roman Catholic Church. Therefore, in January 1898 he traveled to Rome to present the National Church (Kościół Narodowy) Program, created by the St. Stanislaus parish committee and co-signed by the neighboring churches of Nanticoke, Wilkes-Barre, Plymouth, Duryea and Priceburg (now Dickson City). The program called for:

• legal ownership of church property by the local parish;
• parish governance by parish committees elected by parishioners;
• appointment of pastorates of priests approved by the Parishioners;
• appointment of Polish bishops by priests and parishioners, subject to confirmation by the Bishop of Rome.

When Father Hodur was elected as a bishop at the First PNCC Synod in 1904, his consecration did not immediately follow. Father Hodur wanted to make sure that the Polish National Catholic Movement would be a valid Church with unquestionable Apostolic Succession.

On September 29, 1907 Father Hodur was consecrated a bishop at St. Gertrude’s Cathedral in Utrecht, Holland by the Archbishop of Utrecht, Gerard Gul; Bishop of Haarlem, William Van Thiel; and the Bishop of Deventer, Michael Spit. The consecration of Bishop Francis Hodur was a moment of great joy and enthusiasm for the entire Polish National Catholic Movement. On October 17, 1907 Bishop Hodur was welcomed back to the United States by 28 priests and 46 lay people in New York City. Upon his return to the City of Scranton as Bishop, a great multitude of PNC faithful met Bishop Hodur at the train station and together they marched up Pittston Avenue to St. Stanislaus Cathedral. Bishop Hodur emphasized that “the consecration he received will never change his spirit of love toward the people which inspired him to work for his fellowman. He assured his congregation that he would continue along the same lines in the work which he chose ten years ago.” (Włodarski, p. 96)

From the time Bishop Hodur accepted the call to be the pastor of St. Stanislaus Cathedral in March 1897, he never wavered in his dedication to the cause for which he devoted his entire life. He firmly believed that God had in His providence led him and his people to organize the Polish National Catholic Church… Truly he was an outstanding man of God. On February 16, 1953, the Polish National Catholic Church mourned the death of its beloved organizer, the Most Rev. Francis Hodur. He left us a legacy of love, dedication, sacrifice and devotion that is an example for us all.

For more information on Bishop Francis Hodur and the Polish National Catholic Church please visit the PNCC website and read: An Abridged History of the Polish National Catholic Church (available from the PNCC Book Store).

As we remember our beloved organizer, Bishop Francis Hodur, let us honor his memory and legacy by dedicating ourselves to Christ and our Holy Polish National Catholic Church as he did so faithfully.

Prayer for Bishop Francis Hodur from the Mass for Departed Bishops:

Let us pray.

O Lord, Jesus Christ, Who did assure Your holy Apostles that the highest reward awaits those who strive zealously for the continuance of the Kingdom of God on earth, receive into Your glory the soul our Your servant, Francis Hodur, Bishop of Your Holy Church.

Have compassion on him as You had compassion on the erring Apostles. Mindful of his desire to bring souls to You, reward him with eternal happiness. For You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.