Annual 2024 Clergy Retreat
Fr. Andrew attended the annual Central Diocese Clergy Retreat held at the St. Francis Retreat Center in Easton, Pennsylvania from August 26th through 28th.
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From the Pastor
Quinceañera – God Bless Catherine
On May 28th we celebrated Quinceañera for Catherine and her Parents. Congratulations and every blessing. If someone wants to have Quinceañera at St. Francis parish please contact Fr. Andrew.
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Central Diocese Clergy Retreat
Fr. Andrew attended the Central Diocese Clergy Retreat held from August 22nd through 24th at St. Francis Retreat House. The Retreat Master was Bishop Richard Lipka of the Missionary Diocese of All Saints.
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2018 Annual Blessing of Pets at St. Francis – Saturday, October 6th
On Saturday, October 6th St. Francis parish will hold its annual Blessing For All Animals at 1 p.m. Bring your dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, birds, fish, ferrets, turtles, lizards, for a special St. Francis blessing…
Blessed are you, Lord God, Maker of all living creatures, On the fifth and sixth days of creation you called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all animals his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this animal. By the power of your love enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.
Directions to St. Francis parish: Take Southern State Parkway to exit 25N (RT-106 N) toward East Meadow for about a half mile. Turn left onto East Meadow Avenue for approximately 1 mile. Turn left onto Harton Avenue. Harton Avenue is off East Meadow Avenue between Pietro’s Pizzeria and the Chinese Take-Out.
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Healing Holy Mass
Jesus went to every town and village. He taught in their meeting places and preached the good news about God’s kingdom. Jesus also healed every kind of disease and sickness. — Matthew 9:35
St. Francis Catholic Church PNCC will celebrate a Healing Mass and service on Sunday, May 31st at 10 A.M. All are welcome. For more information please call Fr. Andrew Koterba at 516-794-5189
Community help needed to save our steeple
Dear Friend of St. Francis PNCC,
St. Francis Polish National Catholic Church opened its doors in 1932 and has welcomed everyone with open arms for these past 81 years. Our members are of all nationalities…not just Polish. Sunday Mass is at 9:00 a.m., should you wish to celebrate the Eucharist with us.
At the moment though, St Francis Parish is in dire straits. Our steeple needs major repair. So far our estimates are in the vicinity of $11,000. The steeple must be supported from the inside and the flashing around the steeple on the roof, must be replaced. This is a monumental under-taking that only a licensed commercial roofer or contractor can handle. As many of you know a few years ago, we renovated the interior of the church. Already the ceiling of the choir loft is sagging and peeling from the elements coming in through the cracks.
All of our members are very hard working and dedicated Christians. The Church and all it stands for are extremely important to us. While each of us dedicates as much time and effort as possible, due to family and personal matters, we are not able to do everything. Every member does their best to help upkeep the Church, and each parishioner is as generous as they can be with monetary donations.
We hold fund-raiser dinners at least twice a year (St. Patrick’s/St. Joseph’s and Christmas). Recently, as a fund-raiser, a theatrical comedy troupe performed in the Church Hall basement (which is unfortunately not handicap accessible; but that’s a fund-raiser for a different decade!). The Hall space, which has been totally and beautifully renovated, is available to rent for all occasions. The monies generated from hall rentals and fund-raisers help to pay the utilities and keep the Church doors open.
We have always, through the years, done our best to maintain “our†Church without asking for outside help, but at this time, we humbly ask “Friends of St. Francis PNCC†to please donate what you can towards our “Steeple Repair Fund.†Tax-deductible checks can be made payable to St. Francis PNCC. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for any offerings you are able to make.
God bless you and yours, Sincerely,
Father Andrew Koterba Pastor

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Reflection for Ash Wednesday – Lent 2013
My brothers and sisters in Christ, today we enter a new liturgical Season. Together, we have gathered here on this evening to celebrate “Ash Wednesday,” the first of forty days of the Lenten Season that precedes Easter.
At the beginning of Lent, on Ash Wednesday, ashes are blessed during Holy Mass, after the homily. The blessed ashes are then “imposed” on the faithful as a sign of conversion, penance, fasting and human mortality. The liturgical Rite of Ash Wednesday gives two formulae for the imposition of Ashes:
One is: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall returnâ€.
It is a reminder of the fragility of human life. It reminds us that we entered life without things and that we will leave life without things. So, we are challenged to reflect on what our life means, and what it means to be truly human.
The other formula is “Repent and believe the Gospelâ€.
It is about a change in life, a turning round. Repentance is also about returning to what is essential in human life. The first reading calls us to: “Come back to [God] with all your heart.†The Prophet Joel urges us to return to the Father “with your whole heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning… For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.†To practice sincere repentance, the Lord God tells us to change our hearts. We are called to examine our most inner self, our hearts, souls, our whole life and turn away from our sins and to walk in God`s righteous ways.
During today’s Second Reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians, we heard St. Paul appealing to us on behalf of Jesus to be reconciled to God. God the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us on the cross. He who was without sin took our place and was treated as a sinner, so we might become righteous in the eyes of God. Now is the time for us to show our appreciation to the Lord God by walking in His righteousness so we may inherit the salvation that we have asked of Him and which He is granting to us through His infinite love and mercy.
How do we walk in righteousness?
Jesus answered that question during today’s Reading from the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus warns us against hypocrisy, those who are pious so they may be seen by others. They have received their rewards through those who admired and praised them for it. For them, there is no reward from God the Father in Heaven.
During the Lenten Season, our piety must manifest private time between the Lord God and ourselves. Lenten season is a time to reflect on our lives and on the faith into which we were baptized. We must walk with Christ in our lives every minute of the day, from the time we rise in the morning until the time we go to bed at night.
Be reconciled to God!
These are the guidelines that the Church has received from God so the faithful may experience true repentance in order to receive Divine mercy and forgiveness. As we enter the Lenten Season, let us remember these words every day! Practice them! And I assure you that God shall reward us!
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Christmas Wishes
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2013 to all parishioners and friends of St. Francis Parish.
Fr. Andrzej, Monika, Adam, Robert, and the Parish Committee
Reflection for the Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds
My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, today we celebrate the first Sunday after Christmas –The Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds.
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’
When the shepherds heard the Word of the Lord through the angels, how did they respond? Did they go and pray about what they had heard to see what they should do next? Did they go and talk to the priests and Pharisees to make sure they had it right? What was their reaction?
Their reaction was spontaneous, they didn’t think, they didn’t pray, they just reacted with excitement. We have to remember these shepherds likely did not receive a kind word from anyone. But they received — Good News — not just from anyone on earth, but from God Himself who made the greatest event ever known first to them.
They couldn’t wait.
They went in haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger; once they saw, they understood what had been told them concerning this Child. All who heard of it were astonished at the report given them by the shepherds. Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart.
While Mary was treasuring all that God was accomplishing before her, what did the shepherds do?
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, in accord with what had been told them. The shepherds returned home.
This was the beginning of the good news of Jesus` coming into the world. The shepherds went to the manger and presented their respect worshipping the newborn savior of the world. They left praising God for the great fortune of humanity and they participated in the great event by telling everyone they could. They were the first witnesses of the great News that Jesus is Savior of the world and salvation is here.
Jesus came to save what was lost, to enlighten the world with his teaching and to save and sanctify with His Grace. Jesus came to change hearts of stone to convert them into hearts of flesh, full of love and compassion. He came to assume full responsibility for our sins with His death on the cross to participate his salvation if we repent and amend ours ways.
Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth. He invites us to walk with him into everlasting glory. We have to humble ourselves like the shepherds did, come and pay homage to our savior every day of our life, rejoice in our salvation and share the good news to all people on earth.
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Reflection for 1st Holy Communion Sunday
Dear Natalie, you have been looking forward to this day for a long time and now you are so excited. You are very special and important today and that is why we are all here for you. I have never seen you looking as pretty as you do this morning. You look like a little princess!
You have put on your new beautiful dress to meet Jesus in Holy Communion. But more important than the clothes you wear – is that you have also prepared your heart to meet Jesus. That is why you made your First Confession yesterday. You have been praying to Jesus for so long because you want to make sure your heart is ready for Jesus.
When Jesus comes to you, tell him you love him, and thank him for coming to you. After Holy Mass everyone will greet you. They are going to wish you all the best. Some people will even give you presents. But, you must remember the most important present today is Jesus coming to you in Holy Communion. Jesus coming to you is the best gift you will receive today and forever. Jesus is more important than all the money or presents, delicious food or cake.
Parents, for you this is a special day, and a happy day as well. Today you see your child taking a new step in faith as you present her to share with us all in the fullness of the Lord’s Supper for the first time. You were her first teachers in the ways of faith. You have to remember that it is through parents more than anyone else children come to know about God.
Even if you are a teacher, an excellent one, priest or parish, unless the children sense their parents’ faith they will not absorb faith. Teachers and priests cannot plant faith in the heart of children if parents do not.
Family, friends, people of the parish, this is a time of great rejoice for you too. You all in various ways have helped to lead Natalie to this special day. And I am sure you will help with her future growth in this faith. Please do so and please remember her in your prayers.
Finally Natalie the last word is for you.
I still remember my First Holy Communion and remember the place in the Church where I sat with my family. I hope you don’t forget today’s day too, your First Holy Communion Day. May Jesus make this day a very special one for you and your family. May he bring you great joy and fill your heart with his love.
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