Celebrating 100 Years of Faith in Jesus Christ with Worship, Fellowship and Democracy
October 2006 Mass/Banquet--Early Centennial Celebration
It was 100 years ago on February 18, 2007, when St. Joseph’s Parish, now in Stratford, Connecticut, was visited by then Bishop-elect Francis Hodur. He helped organize St. Joseph's as a Polish National Catholic Church in Bridgeport, Conn.The early celebration of the Centennial Anniversary took place on October 28, 2006, in expectation for better weather in autumn than in the winter when the actual anniversary occurs. (Who would have anticipated that the weather was actually better on February 18, 2007, than it was on October 28, 2006--when monsoon-like rain fell?)
The Most Rev. Robert M. Nemkovich, Prime Bishop of the PNCC of America and Canada, offered for the parish a Solemn Holy Mass of Thanksgiving on Saturday, October 28, which was followed by a formal banquet.He was accompanied by his wife, Florence.The Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Gnat, Diocesan Bishop of the Eastern Diocese of the PNCC and Pastor of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Manchester, N.H., also participated with his wife, Katherine. On March 12, 2006, Bishop Gnat led a special liturgy for the inauguration of the 100th year, which was followed by a banquet in Prime Bishop Francis Hodur Hall at the parish.On February 18, 2007, the parish pastor, Bishop-elect Anthony D. Kopka, offered a Solemn High Mass on the actual date of the centenary, which will also be followed by a banquet in the parish hall.
Other clergy attending the Mass and banquet on October 28 were:Father Ramzi Musallam, the native son of the parish, who is Pastor of St. Barbara’s PNCC in Houtzdale, Pa., and Administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel PNCC in Lilly, Pa.; Father Senior Joseph Krusienski, the Administrative Senior of the Southwest Seniorate of the Eastern Diocese and Pastor of Holy Trinity PNCC in Plantsville, Conn., and Administrator of both Holy Saviour PNCC in Union City and St. Casimir’s PNCC in Wallingford, Conn., who was accompanied by his fiance, Lorraine Drazba; Father Senior Joseph Soltysiak, Administrative Senior of the Central Seniorate of the Eastern Diocese and Pastor of St. Joseph’s PNCC in Westfield, Mass. and Administrator of St. Valentine’s PNCC in Northampton, Mass., who was accompanied by his wife, Janice; and Father Robert M. Nemkovich Jr., PNCC Supreme Council member representing the Eastern Diocese clergy and Pastor of Blessed Trinity PNCC in Fall River, Mass., who was accompanied by his older son, Eric.
Other distinguished guests at the Mass and banquet were:Edmund Kotula and John Andrzejewski, President and Secretary-General respectively of the Polish National Union of America headquartered in Scranton, Pa., who attended with their wives Peggy Kotula and Julie Andrzejewski; Wanda Mercier of the Church of the Transfiguration PNCC in New Britain, Conn., and member of the PNCC Supreme Tribunal and the Diocesan Council of the Eastern Diocese.
The parish is well represented with its own members serving in national and diocesan church offices, who were all in attendance at the Centennial Mass and the banquet, which took place at Grassy Hill Country Club in Orange, Conn.Jean Macionus is a member of the PNCC Supreme Council, who was re-elected at the PNCC General Synod earlier in October and thus a member of the Diocesan Council of the Eastern Diocese.She is also the President of the United Women’s Societies for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eastern Diocese and one of the Vice Presidents of the United Women’s Societies on the national level.Serving with her on the National Board of the United Women’s Societies are Dolores Smith, Carol Murdzia and Janice Chernesky, who are respectively the recording secretary, assistant secretary and auditor.Edward Slonina and Robert Shandrowski are Directors on the Central Committee of the United Young Men’s Societies of Resurrection of the PNCC, which held its convention at St. Joseph’s Parish in September.John Lewandowski is the Vice Chairperson of the Southwest Seniorate District in the Eastern Diocese.Alex Christianson represents the Eastern Diocese on the National United Youth Association of the PNCC and he will be serving on the Eastern Diocese Youth Commission.Then in the sister organization of the PNCC, the Polish National Union, Kristen Kopka is President of the Future Leaders of the PNU.
There were 150 people attending the Centennial Mass and Banquet on October 28.In spite of the torrential downpour and high winds during much of the day, the sun did peak through for a short time in the afternoon and the rain finally let up completely by Mass time.Some flooding in town and traffic stoppages on the highways delayed a few people, but everyone arrived safely and the Mass started just a few minutes after 4 p.m.
A procession formed in the church lobby with the thurifer, Deacon Michael Masulli; crucifer, Peter Lasecki; altar servers, Michael Andorka, Alex Christianson, Curtis Cocco and James Smith; members of the Women’s Society with lighted candles; representatives of the Men’s Society in their red blazers; the Diocesan Bishop with clergy; and the Prime Bishop with Father Rob Nemkovich serving as the Deacon of the Mass and Father Ramzi Musallam as the Subdeacon.
The parish organist, Karen Lasecki, played for the Mass and she was assisted by Lisa Vasas in leading the congregation in singing.During the procession, Parish Committee Chairperson Richard Lasecki welcomed Bishop Gnat and Prime Bishop Nemkovich on behalf of St. Joseph’s Parish with the traditional bread and salt.
The Contemporary Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of Mass of the PNCC is used for worship at St. Joseph’s Parish exclusively in English.The Canon of St. Hippolytus was used as the Eucharistic Prayer for the Centennial Mass, which was a Solemn Mass as incense was used, but the readings were not chanted.The celebrant and his assistants were vested in white.The Altar of Sacrifice and the altars before the statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph—the patron saint of the parish—were adorned with handmade frontals laced with gold lame and with large floral arrangements in the parish colors of red, white and gold.The gold symbolizes the joy of the parish being established by Polish Catholic immigrants—symbolized by the red and white—as a church in the PNCC that is a part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and democratic in governance. The frontals were made by women of the parish in the 1930s or 40s and are used only at Christmas, Easter and milestone anniversaries.
Following the procession into church, Prime Bishop Nemkovich led the congregation in the singing of all four verses of the Hymn of Faith.It was very moving to hear at least 150 voices singing with great enthusiasm and joy both “Blessed Is He Who Trusts in God Almighty” for the procession and the hymn that traditionally begins the Mass.After the Sacrament of Penance, Prime Bishop incensed the crucifix and the altar while the congregation sang “We Gather Together (to Ask the Lord’s Blessing).”
The Entrance Verse read from the altar was taken from Genesis 28:17 and Psalm 23:6.“How awesome is this place...this is the gate of heaven” and “...I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”
After the clergy and congregation offered glory to God in the highest in the Gloria, Prime Bishop chanted the Opening Prayer.Recognizing that God called this church into being in order to awaken people for the spreading of His truths, he asked:“As we observe the 100th anniversary of Your call to the people of St. Joseph’s Parish, grant that their faith may be made firm and...their work in the principles of this Church be confirmed as others are drawn under Your sacred banner.”
Deacon Michael Masulli, who is a member of St. Joseph’s Parish, read the First Reading from Wisdom 5:1-5.This is a passage originally selected by Bishop Francis Hodur to be read on the Anniversary of the Institution of the PNCC.It commemorates the work and struggle of the priests and people who organized the parishes that formed the PNCC, which now finds acceptance in Christendom.“Then the righteous will stand with great confidence in the presence of those who have oppressed them and those who make light of their labors.”“They will speak to one another in repentance...and say, ‘These are persons whom we once held in derision...fools that we were!’”
Deacon Masulli then led the congregation in the Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 106:1-5.“O give thanks to the Lord...for His steadfast love endures forever.”“That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones...that I may glory in Your heritage.”
The Second Reading was read by Father Ramzi Musallam, who served as the Subdeacon for the Mass.He is a native son of the parish, who is now a priest in the PNCC.He read from the First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-15 in which St. Paul uses the construction of a building as an analogy for the building of the Church upon the eternal foundation, Jesus Christ.“For we are God’s servants, working together; you are...God’s building.”“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid...Jesus Christ.”“If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward.”
Father Musallam then read the Alleluia Verse from 1 John 2:5, “...whoever says, ‘I abide in Him,’ ought to walk just as He walked”—which relates to the Gospel Reading.
The Book of Gospels, which had been carried in procession and set on the reredos with the Prime Bishop’s miter, candles and flowers, was then taken by the Deacon of the Mass, Father Robert M. Nemkovich Jr.The Book of Gospels represents the Incarnate Word or the Word Become Flesh, Jesus Christ.Therefore, it is prominently displayed and for a Solemn High Mass it is incensed.Father Nemkovich kneeled before the Prime Bishop for a blessing before proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.Then at the pulpit he incensed and read the Gospel according to St. John 15:1-8.
Like the First Reading, the Gospel passage was originally selected by Bishop Francis Hodur for the anniversary of the PNCC.It describes how the Church Jesus founded through the Apostles is like a grapevine that grows from the Lord through the ages.Just as a vine needs pruning when it does not bear fruit, so that a new growth may branch forth from the vine, we believe that the PNCC resulted from God’s pruning of the Church back to its first one thousand years of growth.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinegrower.”“Every branch that bears fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit.”“Abide in Me as I abide in you.”“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples.”
In preparation for the Sacrament of the Word of God, the congregation sang to the Holy Spirit in order to be inspired by and taught the wisdom of God in the sermon to be preached by the Prime Bishop.He began by quoting Revelation 21:2-5.“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven...Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God...I make all things new.”He also quoted from the Gospel of the Mass.
Prime Bishop Nemkovich said that when the parish was organized in 1907 “it was not an accident.”As God promises in Revelation, “from the very organizational meeting of this parish until the present time God has manifested Himself in the work of St. Joseph’s Parish and the entire Polish National Catholic Church.”
He said that Christ established the Church so that “His believers might carry on the work begun by Him, the work of human salvation.”He noted that this same work is being done through St. Joseph’s Parish.“We look back and reflect upon the past, (taking) all that is good and praiseworthy and (making) the commitment to continue to build God’s kingdom...on the deeds of our forebears....”
He reminded the parish members that “Christ’s mission has not been totally fulfilled...there is much yet that needs to be done.”He said, “Let us take this opportunity to rededicate ourselves to love Jesus more and more, to serve Him better and better, to build His Church to make it stronger and stronger.”
“May Christ Jesus use each and every one of us as instruments of His love and peace as we work in building His kingdom through the Polish National Catholic Church in general, and specifically through St. Joseph’s of Stratford.Jesus told His disciples and He tells each of us:‘I am the vine, you are the branches.Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from Me you can do nothing.’”
“My brothers and sisters in Christ!Let us tell everyone, let us remind the world that the Polish National Catholic Church arose in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and exists here in Stratford, Connecticut....”
And then it happened.
To be continued
How the Centenary Began
On Sunday, March 12, 2006, at St. Joseph's of Stratford, Conn., parish members began their 100th year of existence as a Polish National Catholic Church.It was in March 1907 that St. Joseph’s Parish was first recognized by the State of Connecticut as a religious congregation, thus March 2006 marks our 99th anniversary and the start of our 100th year. It was on February 18, 1907, when Polish Catholic immigrants in Bridgeport, Conn., decided to organize a parish within a new Catholic denomination in America, the Polish National Catholic Church.
In the spring of 1907 the parish purchased a building lot in Bridgeport for its first church structure and that summer bought a six-acre lot in the Lordship section of Stratford, where the present church complex was built in 1989.St. Joseph’s is located at 1300 Stratford Road beside Sikorsky Memorial Airport and across from Short Beach Park in Stratford.The Rev. Anthony D. Kopka is Pastor and Richard E. Lasecki is the Parish Committee Chairperson.
The March 12th worship and banquet inaugurates the parish's yearlong celebration of its centenary, which will culminate on October 28th with a Mass of Thanksgiving that will be offered by the Prime Bishop of the PNCC, the Most Rev. Robert M. Nemkovich, and a banquet at Grassy Hill Country Club. Other special events and worship are planned throughout the year and until the 100th year concludes in March 2007.
The Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Gnat, Diocesan Bishop of the Eastern Diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church, led the inauguration of the parish’s 100th year at a special worship service at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. There were 170 people in attendance, including the Very Rev. Joseph Krusienski of Southington, Conn., who is the Administrative Senior for the PNCC parishes in Connecticut, and other PNCC priests of the Eastern Diocese: Father Joseph Piatek of Central Falls, R.I.; Father Richard Hincken of Pawtucket, R.I.; Father Stanley Kaszubski of Manchester, Conn.
Following the service was a time for fellowship in the parish classrooms, where appetizers and refreshments were served. At 5 p.m. a banquet was held in the Prime Bishop Francis Hodur Hall.Mark Trenske and Fred Clemente were the co-chairpersons of the Inaugural Banquet. Father Senior Krusienski offered the keynote address, while the Rev. Jean Marcelin (who is the Pastor of the French Speaking Baptist Church, which meets weekly for worship in the classroom annex of St. Joseph's) and Cleric Michael Masulli (who is the Pastoral Assistant at St. Joseph's) offered the opening and closing prayers, and Bishop Gnat imparted God's blessing.
Although St. Joseph’s is part of the Polish National Catholic Church and was organized by a group of Polish Catholic immigrants, it is no longer a “Polish” church.It is permitted by the denomination to drop “Polish” from its name and its membership includes people of most ethnic groups prevalent in Fairfield and New Haven counties.There are currently over 300 souls from 20 different towns who make up St. Joseph’s of Stratford.
As Father Anthony Kopka explains, “St. Joseph’s is an American church open to all people who want to worship and serve God through Jesus Christ in cooperation with the Holy Spirit in the participation of the seven sacraments and in obedience to God’s Word.”The Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and the Word of God are the focal point of life in the National Catholic Church with the Holy Mass being the central point of worship.
St. Joseph’s Parish was organized in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1907 by a group of Polish Catholic immigrants. They had become exasperated by the manner in which they were treated by the hierarchy of their church over the sudden removal of two priests who had been assigned at different times to the congregation.Their utter frustration became disillusionment and led to the invitation of the then Bishop-elect Francis Hodur for a meeting about the Polish National Catholic Church he had organized.The new Catholic denomination started in Scranton, Pa., in 1897 and evolved as a national movement uniting disaffected and disaffiliated Catholics with their independently built churches wherever there was a settlement of Poles.The PNCC then, as it does now, sought to blend traditional Catholic teachings with American democracy.The result is a democratic Catholicism that provides, for example, ownership of parish property by the congregation as well as voice and vote for all parishioners in most matters of the church.
Since September 1907 when Bishop Hodur was consecrated in the Old Catholic Church of the Union of Utrecht, Holland, PNCC bishops have maintained an undisputed and historic line of succession that began with St. Peter and the apostles.Consequently the PNCC has a genuine Catholic heritage.As Father Kopka explains, “Like the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, the National Catholic Church forms a branch on the tree of the true Church, which is rooted in Christ, sustained by Apostolic Tradition, watered by the Spirit and lighted by the Word of God.”
The PNCC has more than 150 parishes spread over four dioceses in 20 states.In Connecticut there are parishes in Naugatuck, Wallingford, Southington, New Britain, Norwich, New London, Manchester and Enfield. There are also PNCC parishes in Canada and Poland.
The National Catholic Church is democratic in its governance with a constitution patterned after the Constitution of the United States.The church has established executive, legislative and judicial branches of government at national, diocesan and parish levels.This year in October parishes are sending lay delegates with their priests to its national convention, the General Synod.The synod is held every four years and this year bishops will be elected by the lay delegates and clergy.St. Joseph’s is sending six of its parishioners as delegates to the synod, which will be hosted by the Eastern Diocese in Manchester, N.H.
It was on February 18, 1907, in a filled rented hall on the East Side of Bridgeport that the then Bishop-elect Hodur had met with a group of disaffected parishioners mostly from St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church. He is reported in the Bridgeport Evening Post as saying that in the PNCC they “could handle their own money, select the priest they wanted and keep him as long as they desired and all the church property would be in their own name.They would not be under the rule of the Vatican, but in all other respects the religion would be the same.”
Since that time with its own resources, St. Joseph’s Parish has built three church buildings.The first was built in 1909 on California Street along Bridgeport Harbor, which was demolished for the pending Steel Point project.A much larger church was built in 1936 on Barnum Avenue in the Washington Park neighborhood of Bridgeport.That building was sold to a Hispanic congregation of the American Baptist Church in 1988.The present church complex was built in 1989 to complete a debt-free $1.1 million relocation from Bridgeport to Stratford.
August 15, 2007
To celebrate and mark the 100th anniversary of the land purchase for our cemetery, which also became the site of our present church, a special Holy Mass was celebrated at 11 a.m. on August 15, 2007. A continental breakfast reception followed in the classroom annex.
On the holy day of the Assumption/Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1907, the organizers of St. Joseph's Parish purchased six acres of farmland in the Lordship section of Stratford for use as a parish cemetery.
It is now obvious that they were following the direction of the Holy Spirit as they preserved the front and best acre for the construction of a church. There was no airport and not very many homes in Lordship at that time. What kind of vision did those parish organizers behold?
It was 80 years later that the parish decided to build a church in Lordship and in 1989 parishioners began worshipping in its newly constructed church.
In conjunction with its centennial anniversary as a Polish National Catholic parish, in 2007 St. Joseph's also celebrated its 100 years of maintaining a presence in the town of Stratford.
OPEN HOUSE
Pentecost, Sunday, June 4, 2006:
To celebrate PENTECOST, the day that the Holy Spirit came from heaven to the Apostles to establish the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church founded in Jesus Christ, St. Joseph's Parish held an Open House. Parish members were encouraged to invite and thereby introduce our parish and our worship to relatives and friends who have never visited our church or have never taken part in our Holy Mass.
After being filled with the Holy Spirit, the Apostles had gone into the streets of Jerusalem to tell about the mighty deeds of God and to bring people to Jesus Christ.
All Christians are called to do likewise, so the Open House makes it easier for parish members to talk about their faith and worship and then invite others to share or experience the same in Christ.
The Open House also helps make guests feel more comfortable about visiting the church, because they know they will not be the only people who will be coming for the first time. Often people do not want to feel self-conscious about being the only "new" people.
Most of the guests came to the 9:30 a.m. High Mass. They were welcomed to the parish hall for a Grand Continental Breakfast Buffet, which consisted of all sorts of baked goods, fruit and even gourmet specialties out of the oven. Parish members brought in the many different items.
As part of the celebration, everyone was asked to wear red-colored clothing on Pentecost. Seeing the people in the pews wearing red added to the very festive and joyous atmosphere on the second holiest day of the year. Red votive candles and red flowers were placed throughout the sanctuary. The color red symbolizes the Holy Spirit Who came upon the Apostles as "tongues of fire."
The Open House became part of our year-long festivities planned to commemorate our 100th year. Pentecost is a celebration of our own integral connection to the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, which is taught, governed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is the celebration of our continuance in Christ and our communion with Him and with all Christians as the Church--the Body of Christ.
St. Joseph's of Stratford National Catholic Church
1300 Stratford Road · Stratford, CT 06615-7639
Phone (203) 377-9901 · Fax (203) 375-6439
Toll Free 1-877-377-9901 Contact the Pastor ·
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