June is Sacred Vocations Month

PNCC /

Each year during the month of June, the PNCC observes Sacred Vocations month. During this month, the Church reminds all of her faithful of the urgent need to pray for the gift of vocations to the Holy Orders. The Church asks all of us to offer special prayers to bless our Church with new vocations.

The purpose of this month of Sacred Vocations is to petition God, the Author of every vocation, to bless our Church with new priests and deacons who are blessed with strong faith, broad vision and solid academic background. PLEASE, PRAY FOR AN INCREASE VOCATIONS TO THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD of the Polish National Catholic Church.

Those interested should contact Fr. Andrew.

June is also the month when we are asked to remember those who labor in God’s field via our support for the Clergy Pension Fund. The letter below is from Bishop Anthony Kopka who is the Chairman of the Clergy Pension Fund of the PNCC.

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Reflection for 11th Sunday on Ordinary Time – C

From the Pastor /

My sisters and brothers in Christ,

As we celebrate today’s Eucharist, we are invited to reflect on our own faith.

Today’s Holy Scriptures tell us that, our task is to believe and repent. When we believe, God transforms us. God is the one who forgives sins and change our lives. We can be saved, when we open ourselves to the justice and mercy of God.

The first reading, from the Second Book of Samuel, tells us the story of King David, who is one of the great people of faith in the Hebrew Scriptures. He is also an incredible sinner. Yet he always trusts in God’s mercy and forgiveness and truly repents of his sins.

King David is a full human being, with lots of desires and incredible energy to serve the Lord. His love for God does not stop him from sinning but when he recognizes that he has sinned, he repents with all his heart. So, King David is a wonderful example for all of us. He shows us how to repent and change his life and seek God as his highest good.

The Gospel has the same lesson. The Gospel remind us of something very important. God is the one who forgives sins. Jesus said in today’s Gospel to the woman,” Your sins are forgiven”. She was sinner but she wasn’t ashamed to repent in front of everyone. She is another incredible example to all of us of how to live the mystery of our faith.

We can take the words of the Letter to the Galatians as a model:

I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me. The more I recognize that I am loved, the more I can live from that love with complete trust and confidence in the Lord.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters, in our daily life we make mistakes and we sin, but we have to trust completely in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our task is to believe. When we believe, God transforms us. God saves us. God loves us. God invites us to eternal life. Let us live and walk in the way of the Lord.

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Reflection for Fifth Sunday of Easter – C

From the Pastor /

Today we celebrate the fifth Sunday of Easter. In the second reading John tells us about his vision of a new heaven and a new earth. He describes the New Jerusalem and presents us with a wonderful picture of what heaven will be like. In the New Jerusalem God lives with his people and he is fully present to them. The end of his reading he said: The one sitting on the throne spoke: Now I am making all things new.

My dear brothers and sisters,

This newness is in a real sense, which is already upon us. The simple fact of Jesus’ resurrection makes the whole world new. After Jesus’ resurrection everything has a much deeper sense for all those who follow Christ.

After our Baptism we live a new life in Christ. Through our Baptism we have become part of his work of the salvation in the world. There is not just a new heaven and a new earth; there are also new people—the Church. We are the leaven for the world, the salt of the earth, the new chosen people.

In our Gospel reading Jesus instructs the eleven, and also us, how to be his disciples. He says: Love one another just as I have loved you. By the love you have for one another everyone will know that you are my disciples. So Jesus clearly wants us to be known as his disciples by the world. It is in this way that his salvation will become known and that everyone will eventually come to him.

When I go to different places and I wear a clerical collar people know who I am, that I’m the priest. They know, therefore, what I stand for. In a very real sense I represent Christ. But it shouldn’t be just the priest, should it? It should be all of us; for we are all ambassadors for Christ.

If we are to be faithful to Christ we can’t be secret followers, we have to walk in the light, we have to openly give witness to Jesus. We must allow people to know what we are and who we stand for. And we must live lives that will not discredit our faith, in Christ. If we are to be effective witnesses to Christ in the world then we have to have Christ at the very forefront of our minds. We need to show Christ in everything we do. We must be aware of and act on his loving presence at all times of the day.

With this, people will come to know Jesus Christ.

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Easter Sunday – 2010

From the Pastor /

Christ has risen! Alleluia!

The word, “alleluia”, signifies “give praise to God”. Blessed are those who follow him and praise him.

No other event has been recorded in the history of the world comparable to the one that took place on that Sunday morning when the women discovered the empty tomb of Our Lord. Yet, the glorious Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, can only be recognized as such through faith.

With the Resurrection of Our Lord, a new age dawned in the salvation history of humanity, a new chapter was written in the story of the love that God has for us.

My dear brothers and sisters

We Christians should understand that the Resurrection of Christ is not only a historical happening. Almost two thousand years have passed since this most important of all events in the life of Christians occurred. As followers of Christ, we should see in the Resurrection the mystery of the redemption of humanity and our own personal redemption. Jesus Christ lives today, and every day, with us. His Resurrection changed the history of humanity, the meaning of faith and religion for the People of God.

The Resurrection of Christ was not only the confirmation of all that he said and taught during his earthly life, it was also the confirmation of his divinity, of his divine authority, of his absolute power over life and death. He had promised that he would rise from the dead. And he kept his promise.

On a personal level, today, we Christians have a great deal to celebrate.

The triumphant Resurrection of Our Lord shows us two aspects of the Paschal Mystery that are fundamental for our personal life. In the Easter Proclamation we heard that through his Resurrection, the Lord has saved us from the darkness of sin and has given us an opportunity to share completely in the love of God, in the grace of the Holy Spirit. We joyfully celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord.

Through this great event, Our Lord calls on us to transform our lives, to keep trying to do better, to persevere in our attempts to be faithful to be as faithful to God as God is to us.

Christ has risen! Alleluia!!

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Reflection for Holy Thursday

From the Pastor /

“Take this all of you, and eat it: this is my Body … Take this all of you, and drink: this is the cup of my Blood.”

Tonight, the Word of God comes to us and asks us to think about the mystery that took place for the first time in the upper room before the eyes of the disciples. That mystery is renewed on the altar today in the same way – for Jesus comes by the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the act of consecration by the person of His priest.

Jesus, “having loved His own who were in the world, … loved them to the end,” says St. John; “on the night when He was betrayed,” adds St. Paul.

Consider the contrast: Jesus “loved them to the end“; humanity responds with betrayal, denial, abandonment.

The Eucharist is the Lord’s answer to the way we all turn away. He will not let us forget what He has done for us, how much He loves us. He makes His presence real and living in the Holy Mass until the end of time. It is in this context that the priestly ministry within the Church must be seen. And for this reason today is regarded as the anniversary of the institution of the priesthood.

In the strongest sense of the term, there is only one Priest – Jesus Christ. He is the One who came to reconcile us with the Father, – who is the acceptable sacrifice, – who saves us from our sins. He is forever present in the people He gathers and makes holy, particularly through the sacraments. And in the Eucharist He is the priestly celebrant by the means of the Spirit. Jesus is the answer to the human frailty of His priests. For He is the true and high priest. If this was not true our ritual would be empty of meaning and therefore powerless. It would be dependant on man, something that is impossible. Whoever the human priest, whether a Peter or a Judas, it is Christ who baptizes, grants forgiveness of sins, and ordains some to be priests among His “priestly people”.

Indeed all the baptized share – in their different ways – the priesthood of Christ by being part of His Body – the Church. And in that sense share a common ordination to be with Him Sanctifier of the World – bringers of new life and light into the spiritless and dark places of creation.

The ordained priest accepts the role of Christ as Sanctifier of the Church, and makes Jesus truly present in the bread and wine so that Jesus will be known as always living within and among His people. Through the priest Jesus comes to us, feeds us, heals us, strengthens us, unites us, and shepherds us. For priests to be what they ought is a matter of vital importance for the Church. Priests and the bishops need the prayers of the faithful.

Let us pray on this night for our common priesthood and for those who have been granted the particular ministry of the presbyterate.
Let us have some of Peter’s spontaneous generosity.
Let us have John’s love and closeness.
Let us ask the Lord for courage to participate and share in His Passion.
Let us pray that we do not abandon hope like Judas.
Let us pray that Jesus’ living presence among us give us the strength to do what is right, never forgetting His love.

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Holy Week at St. Francis, East Meadow, NY

Community Events, Liturgical, Parish Life, PNCC /

PALM SUNDAY – Procession and Holy Mass at 9am

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of “Holy Week.” On this day we commemorate the last triumph of Our Lord Jesus Christ on earth. On this day we celebrate the triumphant entry of our Lord into Jerusalem; when the multitudes, going before and following after Him, cut off branches from the trees and strewed them in His way, shouting, “Hosanna, to the Son of David. Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.” This Palm Sunday triumph of our Lord only led to His death. But we know that this death was not a failure. It was through His passion and death that He conquered the world and entered into His Kingdom. So the faithful join in this triumphant celebration in an act of homage and gratitude to Christ our King!

HOLY TUESDAY – Holy Mass of Chrism, St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Cathedral in Scranton, PA

HOLY WEDNESDAY – fast and abstinence

PASCHAL TRIDUUM – all days of fast and abstinence

For Christians the Paschal Triduum (“Three Days”) is the focal point of the entire year. During these days, covering the period from the evening of Holy Thursday through the evening of Easter Sunday, we celebrate our faith in the paschal mystery of Christ with the greatest fervor and intensity. In the liturgy we commemorate the passion, death and resurrect ion of Christ as the means of our salvation. Through our baptism, we share in the death of Christ and so hope to share in his resurrection. The liturgy of the Paschal Triduum then invites us to reflect on where we are in our own Paschal journey in Christ.

MAUNDY THURSDAY OR HOLY THURSDAY – Holy Mass at 7pm

The name Maundy comes from the Latin word which means ‘command.’ It refers to the new command Jesus gave his disciples on the Thursday before he was crucified. On that night, long ago, he served the “Last Supper” of bread and wine, washed his disciples’ feet and said, “A new command I give you; Love one another.” — John 13:34.

Church bells fall silent on this day and are not heard again until Easter morning. Instead of tinkling altar bells, wooden clappers are used during divine services. The altar will be stripped at the end of the service to symbolize Christ being stripped of his power. The holy sacrifice is interrupted and will not be offered again until the Solemnity of the Resurrection, Easter Sunday.

GOOD FRIDAY – Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified at 7pm

Good Friday used to called God’s Friday because it was the day Jesus was crucified. This is the most solemn day of the year, as we recall the sufferings and death of Jesus. We take this time to journey the ‘Stations of the Cross,’ Christ’s road to Calvary. The Bible says that when Jesus hung on the cross, the sky became dark from noon until 3:00 p.m.. During those hours, traditionally, the faithful may meditate on the sufferings of Our Lord on the cross and remember the words He spoke on the Cross…Take time to remember, read the Passion, read a psalm, meditate, say a prayer. We share now in sorrow, grief and pain.

HOLY SATURDAY – Blessing of Easter Foods and Baskets at 1pm

All are welcome—as always! Bring your eggs, cooked foods, uncooked foods, baskets or not, covered with a white linen cloth (or not)… Father Andrew will bless your Easter foods in a short, cheerful service.

Holy Saturday is liturgically a day of deepest mourning, a day which the Church spends at our Lord’s sepulchre, meditating on his sacred Passion and death. There is no mass and the altar is bare. As we end the Lenten penitential period in pious preparation for a festive Paschal season. We have the Blessing of our Easter Foods on Saturday, April 3rd at 1:00 p.m., a token of gratitude to God for all his gifts of both nature and grace. A reminder that the Lord is part of our daily life and is always among us! Please bring a family member or a friend; help make this old but significant tradition new again!

SOLEMNITY OF THE RESURRECTION, EASTER SUNDAY – Resurrection Procession and Holy Mass at 8:30am

EASTER BREAKFAST – following Holy Mass

Come, you are invited, family and friends of St. Francis Parish, to attend our traditional “Easter Celebration Breakfast” held in the Parish Hall, after Easter Sunday Mass. Come, let us REJOICE together!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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