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Building on 100 Years of Faith in Jesus Christ with Worship, Fellowship and Democracy

      The Centennial Book is still in the process of being completed and will be published sometime soon.  Everyone who placed ads, messages, memorials or tributes will recieve a copy as soon as it is published.  Also those who attended any of the three principal events for the celebration of our Centenary will receive a copy.  Every member of the parish will also receive the Centennial Book.  We apologize for the delay.

Second Century of Faith

            St. Joseph’s of Stratford National Catholic Church recently concluded its two-year celebration of the centennial anniversary.  Last year on February 18th the parish marked its 100th on the actual date that the parish was first organized in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  On Sunday, February 17, 2008, parishioners came together at the beginning of their second century of faith with the celebration of the 101st anniversary.

            A specially arranged High Mass was celebrated at 11 a.m. by the pastor, Bishop Anthony D. Kopka, to initiate a new century of faith in Christ.  He was assisted by Deacon Michael Masulli and altar servers Michael Andorka, Curtis Cocco, Emily Discepola, Abby Nelson and James Smith.  Lisa Vasas sang special solos, including a hymn to St. Joseph, and accompanied and led the congregational hymns and responses on the organ.  Members of the Men’s and Women’s societies participated during the Mass and in the opening procession with the altar servers.

The Anniversary Mass was concluded with a short ceremony for extinguishing the Centennial Candle, which had been purchased by the parish and blessed at the inauguration of the centennial anniversary in March 2006.  Since then, the candle has been lit at the beginning of every Mass and service held in the church in memory of the parish organizers and all those who have preceded the current membership.  Just before the flame was extinguished, the pastor prayed that “the light of Christ and legacy of faith that has been passed on by the parish organizers to each generation of the past 100 years in the parish now be carried by the present members and passed on to the next generations for a second century of faith.”

Immediately following the Mass was a banquet in the parish hall named after Prime Bishop Francis Hodur, who had come to Bridgeport on February 18, 1907.  He helped organize St. Joseph’s, which became the first Polish National Catholic Church in Connecticut.

The banquet was opened by the chairperson of the Parish Committee, Ken Krasko.  Deacon Masulli then offered the invocation and grace.  A short program included a solo by Lisa Vasas and an address and benediction by Bishop Kopka. 

The pastor urged the parishioners to compare themselves to the parish organizers with the same faith and trust in God.  Just as the organizers started what has become a century of faith through truth, work and struggle; we are now at the start of what we hope will become a second century of faith in Christ with worship, fellowship and democracy.  He stressed that, although much has changed in 100 years, the faith heritage, core principles and Christian values of the Polish National Catholic Church are still relevant today.

Bishop Hodur’s words at the organizational meeting that were highlighted the next day in the newspaper still ring true today:  “(The members of the church) 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 aspects the religion would be the same.”  However, Bishop Kopka challenged the members not to be reactionary in our outreach by just contrasting our differences with other church denominations.  “Rather,” he said, “let us promote who we are and what we believe with a conviction certified by a hundred years of experience.”  He reminded everyone that “we are part of something much greater than ourselves or the Polish National Catholic Church; we help make up the Body of Christ on earth.”  As a member church of the Body of Christ, we are called to preserve and proclaim, teach and defend, embody and live the truths of the faith developed and defined in the first 1,000 years of the, then undivided, One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

There were 120 tickets sold for the banquet.  Mark Trenske, Fred Clemente and Christopher Lickteig headed the kitchen committee, which served roast beef, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, fruit cup, roll, brownies with ice cream and coffee, tea and soda.  Assisting in food preparation was:  Darlene Kopka, Jeanne Laskey, Jean Macionus, Debbie Steele, Carol Murdzia, Ronald Beach, Art and Lee Niedzielski, Marianne Charabowski, Dolores Smith and Sean Owens.  Clean up was done by:  Ken Krasko, John Lewandowski, Ed Slonina, Jan Chernesky, Paul Lonzenski, Sean Owens, Jean Macionus, Kristen and Darlene Kopka.