February 2010

Reflection for 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

From the Pastor /

Whistler was a famous artist known to many for his painting of a calm old lady in a rocking chair, entitled: ”Whistler’s Mother”. One day a friend asked Whistler’s help in hanging a beautiful picture. After several minutes of thought the artist declared: “Man, you are beginning at the wrong end. You can’t make that painting fit the room. You will have to make the room fit the Painting.”

That is what we must do about today’s Gospel. Jesus paints a new and beautiful picture of what His true followers must be like. He gives us four of the Beatitudes, the marks or signs of a truly holy and happy person. Jesus tells us what we must do to be worthy of the promise: “Your reward is great in Heaven.” The reward is great in this world too; there is big satisfaction and peace in knowing what we must do to please God.

God’s picture is too great for the heart and mind of ordinary man or woman. We need help to set up this way of living. We cannot do it alone. It is impossible to accept poverty and hunger and grief and hatred and criticism for the sake of Christ without Jesus’ help. We need help and be sure, Christ will provide it.

This picture of true happiness is so different from the picture of happiness painted by the world, by our friends, our television, magazines, even by our education and social customs. Many who have no faith in Jesus admit that our religion and Jesus’ ideas are wonderful, however not realistic, impossible.

Is it possible to live the Beatitudes? Yes, if the Master helps us make the wall of our heart larger, more generous, to measure up the size of the picture Christ paints of what He wants us to be.

Jesus never asks the impossible. The difficult, yes, but never anything beyond our strength. And if Jesus asks some more of us because we are His followers, He will provide extra strength to each of us. But we have to ask for that strength, and we do during our public worship. Watch the words: “Make us grow in love,” grow more in the desire to please God by following the directions His Divine Son gives us today, and every day.

Recall and repeat the words from our first reading: “Blessed, is the man or woman who trust in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord.” With one voice and one heart we will pray the words our Savior taught us: “Thy will be done.” What is the will of the Father? It is that we live the words of His Son, especially what we heard in today’s Gospel.

With Jesus’ help, so generously given in this Holy Sacrifice, we can make our hearts larger, we can live the Beatitudes. May Jesus help us to be poor in spirit, to accept hunger and sorrow, criticism and insults for His sake. Amen.

Reflection for 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C Read More »

Advance Schedule for Lent, Passiontide, and Holy Week

Community Events, Liturgical, Parish Life, PNCC /

Sunday, March 14 — Solemnity of the Institution of the P.N.C.C., Holy Mass at 9am.
Sunday, March 21 — Passion Sunday (the beginning of Passiontide), Holy Mass at 9am.
Sunday, March 21 — St. Joseph and St. Patrick Dinner at 3pm.
Sunday, March 28 — Palm Sunday, Holy Mass and Liturgy and distribution of Palms at 9am.

The Sunday before Easter is known as Palm Sunday. It celebrates Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Passover. Great crowds of people lined the streets waving palm branches to welcome him. The people were very excited. They spread branches on the road – and even laid down cloths. They shouted ‘Hosanna!’ which means ‘Save us now!’

Thursday, April 1 — Maundy Thursday, Holy Mass at 7pm.
Friday, April 2 — Good Friday Liturgy at 7pm.
Saturday, April 3 — Holy Saturday Liturgy including blessing of Easter food, blessing of new fire and holy water at 1pm.

The blessing of the Easter food or the “ÅšwiÄ™conka” is a tradition dear to the heart of every Pole. Being deeply religious, he is grateful to God for all His gifts of both nature and grace, and, as a token of this gratitude, has the food of his table sanctified with the hope that spring, the season of the Resurrection, will also be blessed by God’s goodness and mercy. The usual fare on the Easter table includes ham and kielbasa, cakes of all kinds – particularly babka; eggs- some shelled or some decorated. There is usually a Paschal Lamb or “Baranek” made of butter, some cheese, horseradish, salt, vinegar and oil.

The food is brought to the church and blessed by the parish priest on Holy Saturday. The food can also be blessed in the home. After the blessing the food is usually set aside until Easter morning when the head of the house shares the blessed egg, symbol of life, with family and friends. Having exchanged wishes, all continue to enjoy a hearty meal.

This centuries old custom is indeed richly symbolic and beautiful. It is one in which the whole family can participate and help prepare.

May this tradition endure for many generations to come. All of you can enjoy this beautiful Polish custom by participating at the blessing of the Easter food “Swieconka” at St. Francis Polish National Catholic Church. This is an excellent way to teach the younger members family about this treasured Polish tradition — a tradition you can make your own.

Sunday, April 4 –- Solemnity of the Resurrection (Easter Sunday), Procession of the Resurrection and High Holy Mass at 8.30am.

Advance Schedule for Lent, Passiontide, and Holy Week Read More »

Lent at St. Francis Parish

Liturgical, Parish Life, PNCC /

Ash Wednesday, February 17 – Holy Mass and distribution of ashes at 7pm

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the penitential season of Lent, in which ashes are placed on the head or forehead of the faithful.

Ash Wednesday is unknown in the Eastern Church, and developed only in the West. Orthodox Churches begin Lent on a Monday, known as “Clean Monday.” Ash Wednesday as an official fast day dates to at least the 8th century, since it appears in the Gregorian Sacramentary from that period. Originally, Lent began on a Sunday. However, in order to bring the number of days of Lent to 40 (the days Jesus fasted in the wilderness), the beginning of Lent was eventually transferred to a Wednesday.

Originally, Ash Wednesday was the day when public penitents in Rome began their penance. Recall that in the early Church, penance was often public and protracted. It was only later that private confession and penance began, for pastoral reasons. When public penance gradually fell into disuse by the 8th century, Ash Wednesday became a day of penitence and fasting for all members of the Church. Today, Ash Wednesday is a universal Fast day in the Catholic Church. Many Western Protestant churches also observe Ash Wednesday, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and United Methodists.

Stations of the Cross – every Sunday during Lent after Holy Mass

Stations of the Cross (Way of the Cross, Via Crucis, Via Dolorosa, Way of Sorrows) refers to the illustration of the final hours (or Passion) of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion.

The tradition as a chapel devotion began with St. Francis of Assisi and extended throughout the Catholic Church in the medieval period. It is less often observed in the Anglican and Lutheran churches. It may be done at any time, but is most commonly done during the Season of Lent, especially on Good Friday and on Friday evenings during Lent.

Lent at St. Francis Parish Read More »

200th Birthday of Fryderyk Chopin at the Polish-American Museum in Port Washington, NY

Community Events /

A series of Piano Lecture Recitals celebrating the 200th birthday of Polish composer and virtuoso pianist Fryderyk Chopin will be held during the month of March 2010 at the Polish American Museum.

The Piano Lecture Recitals will focus on Chopin’s Life as a poet, composer and pianist. Although he composed only for the piano, he exercised a great influence on all types of music. Despite, the often strong pronounced Polish national characteristics of the music; it is also expressive of his own emotions, sufferings and thereby achieves the characteristics of a true masterpiece.

In addition to the Lecture Recitals there will be a Chopin photo exhibit, as well as other memorabilia including a wood carved bust, music compositions, commemorative medals and replica of his hand and death mask.

Guest artists for this series of Lecture Recitals will include classical pianists, Matthew Harrison. Vlada Yaneva and Jonathan Levin from Manhattan School of Music.

The first in this series will be held on Saturday, March 6th at 2PM. The remaining lecture recitals during the month will be scheduled for Friday March 12, 19, and 26 evenings at 7 in the main salon of the museum.

The Polish American Museum is located at 16 Belleview Avenue, Port Washington, Tickets are priced at $15 for adults and $ 10 for students.

Additional information available by calling 516-883-6542

200th Birthday of Fryderyk Chopin at the Polish-American Museum in Port Washington, NY Read More »

Reflection for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

From the Pastor /

My dear brothers and sisters, today’s readings are telling us that we are all part of the plan that God has for the world. All of us have a task in this world. You and I are chosen by God to live in this world, fight against evil, change our own lives, help another and make world around us better.

The readings speak about this. In today’s first reading Isaiah responds to the question of the Lord, “Whom shall I send?” with “Here I am, Lord, send me.”

In the second reading Paul tells the Corinthians that God chose him to preach the Gospel even though he had previously persecuted the Church.

In the Gospel Jesus calls Simon Peter and James and John to be part of the plan and fish for men.

My dear brothers and sisters, Jesus calls you and me every day to fish for people who live around us. Some of them might be members of the family. He calls us to let people know that there is hope, and that Hope’s name is Jesus Christ. He calls you and me to proclaim the Good News, the Gospel: Life is Beautiful! Life is Eternal! Life is Jesus Christ!

Many times we ask ourselves: Why me, I’m not that good! I have not enough strength. Send somebody else!

Similar thoughts came to Isaiah in the first reading, “I am a man of unclean lips.”

Paul in today’s second reading said: “I persecuted Jesus Christ.” Peter in the Gospel said to Jesus, “Leave me Lord, I am a sinful man.”

Remember what happened. An angel cleaned Isaiah’s lips. Paul was on his way to Damascus when Jesus appeared to Him and called him to change his life. And Peter heard the Lord tell him, “Do not be afraid of me, from now on you will be a catcher of men.”

Do not be afraid Jesus said to Peter and is telling to us now. He knows us, our ability. We are good enough to promote the Kingdom of God in our world, in our families. God is giving us his grace and power. We need to trust God. We have been called to change the world. We have been called to bring Hope to the world, and proclaim the Gospel.

We only have one life we can live. We have been called by Jesus Christ to make this one life the best life possible, His Life. We have been called, all of us, to be fishers for Christ.

Reflection for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C Read More »

Scroll to Top