Installation of Bishop Mack

From WBRE: New Polish National Catholic Bishop Installed in Scranton

Scranton, Lackawanna County – There is a new leader of the Polish National Church in Scranton. Bishop John Edward Mack was installed Sunday at the Cathedral of the Central Diocese in the Electric City.

Bishop Mack was installed at a mass at St. Stanislaus Cathedral. He has been serving as a pastor for more than 25 years in Pittsburgh, but he is very familiar with Scranton.

“I went to seminary here in Scranton. It’s been about 25 years since I was back here,” said Bishop Mack.

Scranton is also where the Polish National Catholic Church began in 1897. The bishop says don’t let the name fool you, the church has evolved. “We’re and ethnic bearing church we began as strictly church. Now we’re multi-ethnic we reach out to all people.”

Bishop Mack says he looks forward to leading the Central Diocese of the church and its 42 parishes, which reaches as far west as Denver and as far south as Baltimore. “Each individual church has unique talents and gifts they always need to share with the community,” he said. Though it might be hard to get to each church. “We don’t have a diocesan jet so I guess we’ll put a few miles on the car.”

June – Holy Vocations month

Pray for Vocations to the Priesthood of Christ in our Church especially in this Vocations Month, June, 2011:

O God, you sent your Son, Jesus, to bring eternal life to
those who believe. I join Him in praying for laborers for
your harvest. May your Holy Spirit inspire men and
women to continue his mission through your priesthood,
diaconate and lay ministry. And may this same Spirit
make known your will for my life. In your Son’s holy
Name I make this prayer. Amen!

Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, revive in your
Church that spirit which you so abundantly bestowed on
the Apostles. Call, we pray you, very many men to your
priesthood in the Polish National Catholic Church. And
may zeal for your glory and for the salvation of souls
inflame those whom You have chosen; may they be
saints in your likeness, and may your Spirit strengthen
them. O Jesus, give us priests after you own Heart. In
your Name I pray. Amen!

New Jersey Seniorate Corpus Christi Observance

The annual Corus Christi Seniorate observance will be held on Sunday, June 26th at 4pm hosted by Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Passaic, NJ

The observance begins with Holy Mass and procession for all Seniorate parishioners. All our parishioners are encouraged to attend this afternoon’s Corpus Christi ceremonies. Light refreshments will follow afterwards in the social hall for all in attendance.

Vocal recital, June 25th

A vocal recital of Polish composers and other great composers will be offered by Dayle Vander Sande, the recently selected Marshal of the Bayonne Contingency of the New York City Pulaski Day Parade, 2011 on Saturday, June 25th at 2pm.

Mr. Vander Sande is also the organist at Mt. Carmel Church, Bayonne, who is offering his services as a vocal performer in this recital to benefit the work of the Pulaski Day Parade Contingency of Bayonne. We at Heart of Jesus Church are very happy to offer the setting for this fund raising event and excellent concert by which we, together with our friends and neighbors, will be enriched that afternoon.

Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance: price – $15; a reduced student rate is also available.

Our Memorial Day Observance

On Sunday, May 29th, parishioners who were present for Mass that morning car pooled themselves for the purpose of visiting our parish cemetery to place flags at the gravesites of veterans and to offer prayers and perhaps a hymn or two for their intentions and in honor of the national holiday being observed this weekend. As always, we enjoyed our participation in this moment of remembering of our valiant and heroic war dead.

Sincere thanks to Stanley Kaminski for providing for us the flags we placed on the gravesites on our cemetery through our local Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 151, and for his donations of new flags this year to be flown on our flagpole, our American flag and the MIA banner.

Easter Pictures

A few pictures from the celebration of the Resurrection at our Parish.

Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord — Easter Sunday, April 24th

9:30 AM Liturgy of the Resurrection followed by Holy Mass

The special floral adornments at the high altar is offered by Thomas Grodkiewicz to the glory of God the Father who raised from the dead His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The floral piece in the narthex if offered to the glory of God and in loving memory of John Liberasky and Celia Nowicki by Father Bernie and Barbara Nowicki.

After Mass, an Easter Egg hunt will take place for the children who are present this morning. Please call Barbara Busch at 732-303-0357 to let her know your children, grandchildren or the children of the friends who might accompany you to worship today will be present to join in the hunt. Beverly Wunderlich will join Barb in preparing the details for the annual Hunt.

Also following today’s Mass, a light Swięconka buffet will be offered in the social hall. All parishioners and friends present for worship on this glorious day are invited to remain a while to gather there before returning home.

Holy Saturday, April 23rd

12:00 PM Easter Vigil Service followed by the traditional Slavonic blessing of Easter foodstuffs.

Good Friday, April 22nd

12:00 PM Holy Hour
1:00 PM The Way of the Cross
2:00 PM Mass of the Pre-Sanctified with adoration of the Cross and procession

The Host offered at this Mass was consecrated the night before at Mass on Holy Thursday; hence the name – Mass of the Pre- Sanctified or pre-consecrated

2:45 PM Opening of the symbolic grave of Christ
7:30 PM The Rite of Tenebre

The service of worship known as Tenebre means shadows or darkness, and has its origin in the second century after the resurrection and ascension of Christ. However, its recognizable form as presented this evening comes from the Middles Ages. The service is drawn from the Offices of Matins and Lauds, which are apart of eady Christian worship. The prayers and psalms which comprise the service were arranged to fit the last three days of Holy Week.

In the Middle Ages, Tenebre was celebrated in darkness. Gradually the service evolved into candles being lit and extinguished one by one until only one remained. Symbolically, the last candle is Christ, ffidthe others being extinguished represent his followers dropping away as his death draws near; darkness prevails and the symbolism of Christ’s torture ensues.

Our Church’s approach to Tenebre is owed to its orgarizer, Bishop Franciszek Hodur, who inserted the Lamentations of the Polish National Catholic Church. The emphasis of the service, therefore, centers on the return of wayward and straying people to Christ.

Feast of the Institution of the Holy Eucharist — Holy Thursday, April 21st

April 21st at 7:30 PM Holy Mass marking the first Mass instituted at our Lord’s Last Supper.

On this day, Christ instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper which is the first Mass. He prepared the Meal that would, through the ages, unite his members with himself. The laity together with the priest should partake of the one Meal as a sign that we are all apartof the one family in Christ Jesus.

On this night, we are, as it were, gathered with the disciples to receive from Jesus the great gift of his own Flesh and Blood for the first time.
“The love of Christ has gathered us together; let us love the loving God, and love each other with loving hearts.”