May Devotions and Mother’s Day

May is the Month for Devotions to our Blessed Mother Mary. We keep this tradition in our parish in honoring the Virgin Mother for her dedication and sacrifice of life to become the Theotokos, the Godbearer, for us.

These devotions will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 5th, 12th, 19th, and close with a service on Wednesday, May 26th. All services will be at 7pm.

It is hoped that these evenings in the month will be kept open so as to come and give thanks for Mary being our Blessed Mother, the example of purity of life, and to take time to celebrate her inspiration.

“Pray for us, O Holy Mother of
God, that we may be worthy of the
Promises of Christ!”

On Mothers’ Day we will begin our prayer with the “crowning of Mary” and dedicate our prayers to those mothers who are with us and those who have been called to eternal life. A light breakfast is scheduled to honor our moms on this Sunday.

Bible Study for the Fourth Week of Easter
  • 4/25 – Acts 28:11-29 – How able am I to relinquish control? to receive from others? to be surprised? Prayer starter: Ineffable Mystery, I want to live the adventure you have invited me to by giving me life, but sometimes I lack courage, sometime I lack the energy. Be with me, and give me a hand.
  • 4/26 – Acts 28:30-31 – How do I witness to this tradition of which I am an heir? in my family? in other settings? Prayer starter: YHWH, You with the unpronounceable name, thank you for this tradition of faith into which I have been born. Enable me to shoulder my share of the responsibilities for passing it on.
  • 4/27 – Acts 21:1-40 and Acts 22:1-29 – Am I able to accept suffering with the graciousness that alone makes it life-giving? Prayer starter: Risen Lord, raise my awareness of your presence in and through those who suffer for truth, justice, and mercy in our world.
  • 4/28 – Acts 22:30 and Acts 23:1-35 – What are my thoughts here? Am I ”knowledge-equipped” to engage in this discussion today? Prayer starter: Holy One, sometimes I find myself struggling interiorly with the question of spirit. Is it real? Is it an illusion? Strengthen me. Reassure me.
  • 4/29 – Acts 24:1-27 – Where am I at in regard to the Christian way of life? How seriously do I take its ethical demand? Prayer starter: Jesus, you know well the difficulties of trying to “walk the talk” in human life. I want to be good; I want to live with integrity. Help me.
  • 4/30 – Acts 25:1-27 and Acts 26:1-32 – How real is the hope of life after death for me? Prayer starter: Holy Ineffable One, help me to do the work I need to do to build my self and my life on this sober truth.
  • 5/1 – Acts 27:1-44 and Acts 28:1-10 – Do I value the language of gestures, particularly at times when words fail? Prayer starter: Lord, make me rich in gestural language. There are so many who cannot really speak any other way.

Bible Study for the Third Week of Easter
  • 4/18 – Acts 19:8-41 – What do I do with my hands? with the things I make with my hands? What is at the center of my life? Prayer starter: Arisen Jesus, help me to use my hands as you used yours, to comfort, to heal, to support, to feed others who are in need.
  • 4/19 – Acts 20:1-38 – When I must take leave of a loved one, do I permit myself to feel my emotions? Do I express them? Prayer starter: Spirit of consolation, enable me to be present to others in time of suffering and loss as a sympathetic and comforting presence.
  • 4/20 – Acts 21:1-40 and Acts 22:1-29 – Am I able to accept suffering with the graciousness that alone makes it life-giving? Prayer starter: Risen Lord, raise my awareness of your presence in and through those who suffer for truth, justice, and mercy in our world.
  • 4/21 – Acts 22:30 and Acts 23:1-35 – What are my thoughts here? Am l ”knowledge-equipped” to engage in this discussion today? Prayer starter: Holy One, sometimes I find myself struggling interiorly with the question of spirit. Is it real? Is it an illusion? Strengthen me. Reassure me.
  • 4/22 – Acts 24:1-27 – Where am I at in regard to the Christian way of life? How seriously do I take its ethical demand? Prayer starter: Jesus, you know well the difficulties of trying to “walk the talk” in human life. I want to be good; I want to live with integrity. Help me.
  • 4/23 – Acts 25:1-27 and Acts 26:1-32 – How real is the hope of life after death for me? Prayer starter: Holy, ineffable One, help me to do the work I need to do to build my self and my life on this sober truth.
  • 4/24 – Acts 27:1-44 and Acts 28:1-10 – Do I value the language of gestures, particularly at times when words fail? Prayer starter: Lord, make me rich in gestural language. There are so many who cannot really speak any other way.

Memorial Service – this Friday, April 16th

A Memorial Service for the deceased Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife and Polish delegation that perished in the plane crash in Smolensk, Russia will be held at Albany’s Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Ave Ext., Albany, NY 12205 on Friday, April 16, 2010. Doors will open at 7pm and the Service will begin at 7:30pm. This event is open to the entire Capital District community. Please join us.

Åš.P.

+Lech Kaczyński Prezydent RP
+Maria Kaczyńska
+Ryszard Kaczorowski, ostatni Prezydent RP na Uchodźstwie
+Krzysztof Putra, wicemarszałek Sejmu RP
+Krystyna Bochenek, wicemarszałek Senatu RP
+Jerzy Szmajdziński, wicemarszałek Sejmu RP
+Władysław Stasiak, szef Kancelarii Prezydenta RP
+Aleksander Szczygło, szef Biura Bezpieczeństwa Narodowego
+Paweł Wypych, sekretarz stanu w Kancelarii Prezydenta RP
+Stanisław Jerzy Komorowski, podsekretarz stanu w MON
+Tomasz Merta, podsekretarz stanu w Ministerstwie Kultury
+Maciej Płażyński, szef Stowarzyszenia Wspólna Polska
+Mariusz Kazana, dyrektor protokołu dyplomatycznego MSZ
+Gen. Franciszek GÄ…gor, szef sztabu generalnego WP
+Mariusz Handzlik, podsekretarz stanu w Kancelarii Prezydenta
+Andrzej Kremer (trzeci od lewej)- podsekretarz stanu w MSZ
+Andrzej Przewoźnik, sekretarz generalny Rady Ochrony Pamięci Walk i Męczeństwa
+Piotr Nurowski, prezes Polskiego Komitetu Olimpijskiego
+Janusz Kochanowski, rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich
+Prezes NBP SÅ‚awomir Skrzypek
+Janusz Kurtyka, prezes IPN
+Janusz Krupski, kierownik Urzędu ds. Kombatantów i Osób Represjonowanych
+Grzegorz Dolniak
+Leszek Deptuła
+Grażyna Gęsicka
+Przemysław Gosiewski
+Zbigniew Wassermann
+Sebastian Karpiniuk
+Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka
+Aleksandra Natali-Åšwiat
+Arkadiusz Rybicki
+Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz
+Wiesław Woda
+Edward Wojtas
+Janina Fetlińska
+Stanisław Zając
+Ks. bp gen. dywizji Tadeusz Płoski – ordynariusz polowy WP
+Miron Chodakowski – prawosławny ordynariusz WP
+Ks. płk. Adam Pilch – ewangelickie duszpasterstwo polowe
+Ks. ppłk. Jan Osiński, ordynariat polowy WP
+Ks. Prałat Bronisław Gostomski
+Ks. Józef Joniec
+Ks. Zdzisław Król
+Ks. Andrzej Kwaśnik
+Kapelan prezydenta ks. Roman Indrzejczyk
+Gen. broni Bronisław Kwiatkowski – dowódca Sił Operacyjnych
+Gen. Andrzej Błasik – dowódca Polskich Sił Powietrznych
+Gen. Tadeusz Buk – dowódca Polskich Sił Lądowych
+Gen. Włodzimierz Potasiński – dowódca Sił Specjalnych
+Wiceadmirał Andrzej Karweta – dowódca Marynarki Wojennej
+Gen. Kazimierz Gilarski – dowódca Garnizonu Warszawa
+Tadeusz Lutoborski
+Stefan Melak
+Stanisław Mikke
+Bronisława Orawiec -Loffler
+Katarzyna Piskorska
+Andrzej Sarjusz -SkÄ…pski
+Wojciech Seweryn
+Leszek Solski
+Teresa Walewska-Przyjałkowska
+Gabriela Zych
+Ewa BÄ…kowska
+Anna Maria Borowska
+Bartosz Borowski
+Edward Duchnowski
+Zenona Mamontowicz -Łojek
+Joanna Agacka Indecka
+Czesław Cywiński
+Ppłk. Zbigniew Dębski
+Katarzyna Doraczyńska
+Dariusz Jankowski
+Gen. bryg. Stanisław Komornicki
+Janusz Krupski
+Wojciech Lubiński
+Barbara Mamińska
+Janina Natusiewicz – Miller
+Ks. Ryszard Rumianek
+Izabela Tomaszewska
+Anna Walentynowicz
+Janusz Zakrzeński
+Jarosław Florczak
+Artur Francuz
+Paweł Janeczek
+Paweł Krajewski
+Piotr Nosek
+Jacek Surówka
+Marek Uleryk
+Dariusz Michałowski
+kpt. Arkadiusz Protasiuk,
+mjr Robert Grzywna
+Artur Ziętek
+Andrzej Michalak
+Barbara Maciejczyk
+Natalia Januszko
+Justyna Moniuszko.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon them.
May their soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

Wieczne odpoczynek racz im dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj im świeci.
Niech odpoczywajÄ… w pokoju, Amen.

Bible Study for the Second Week of Easter
  • 4/11 – Acts 11:19-30 and Acts12:1-25 – Seasons of life: When I am involved with something of value that is on the wane, how do I react? Prayer starter: Eternal One, I want to respect and live with the rhythm of life and death. When I hit rough spots, be with me.
  • 4/12 – Acts 13:1-52 – When I am really immersed in something, do I “step away” to see the whole picture? Prayer starter: Lord, let me take my stand in you, so that can get a true perspective on everything in this world.
  • 4/13 – Acts 14:1-28 – Is there such vain activity in my life? Do I invest time, etc., in modern idols like celebrities? Prayer starter: Risen Lord, help me to fill my days and myself with what is real and life-giving. Help me to resist junk in all its guises.
  • 4/14 – Acts 15:1-35 – Am I ready to accommodate the serious needs of others, needs which I do not share? Prayer starter: Holy One, give me the grace to know when to accommodate and when to resist. Sometimes there is only a fine line between the two.
  • 4/15 – Acts 15:15-36 and Acts 16:1-40 – What painful ruptures have I experienced? Have I learned from them? How have I grown through them? Prayer starter: Lord, be with me in the hour of conflict with a friend. Enable me to listen well and hear what is said before leaping into action.
  • 4/16 – Acts 17:1-34 – How hard do I try to “walk in the shoes of” others before I make judgements about their conduct? Prayer starter: Holy Mystery, how wonderful your understanding is. Give me the courage to love as you do.
  • 4/17 – Acts 18:1-28 and Acts 19:1-7 – Soul nourishment: Am I interested in knowing how people who lived long ago saw life? the world? Prayer starter: Spirit of solidarity, thank you for this fleeting contact across time, with two leaders in the human family so long ago. Thank you for this reminder that everything in the universe can give rise to prayer.

Directed Lenten Denial

For each week of Lent this year, you were asked to bring in specific items for the needy, as a part of your denial in this peniteniial season. May the Lord bless your denial!!!

We had more bags than last year (46!!! 426 lbs), and were still able to provide for many. Also, if you remember the donation made from the ecumenical service and some individual donations, we also donated $238, of which the Pantry can buy food at 6 cents to the pound; your monetary donations will be purchasing a lot of food for many more families! May you be blessed for your sacrifice!!

God’s people, some of whom we may never meet, have been nourished and sustained through your donations. May the Lord bless you!!! As the Lord has been gracious to us during our Lenten journey, may He continue to bless us as we continue to sacrifice and give unto Him. To those of you who have allowed this parish to heed the Lord’s command to feed the hungry, God love you all.

Bible Study for Bright Week
  • 4/4 – Acts 4:36-37 and Acts 5:1-11 – How authentic am I in my life with my family, friends, business and financial dealings? Prayer starter: Unifying spirit; strengthen my resolve to be honest in my interactions with others, and to do my part to create a climate in which they will feel invited and free to be genuine in response.
  • 4/5 – Acts 6:1-15 – What about food? Do I feed my body Well? Do I feed my soul with regular study and reading? Prayer starter: Holy Eternal One, sometimes it is so wearying to be human, to hold body and soul together, to maintain balance. Give me energy for the challenge: it brings such great rewards.
  • 4/6 – Acts 7:1-60 and Acts 8:1 – How do I react when my sacred verities are questioned? How do I treat those who pose the questions? Prayer starter: Lord, teach me to remember how immense you are, how all our various verities are more limited than unimaginable you, and how much you love us all.
  • 4/7 – Acts 8:1-40 – How “porous” is the distinction between commercial and spiritual in my heart and thinking? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, I know that spiritual things like meaning, happiness, fulfillment cannot be bought with money. Help me to discern the way to these things in the midst of a very seductive material culture.
  • 4/8 – Acts 9:1-31 – What are the fear and trust issues in my life right now? Prayer starter: Lord, enable me to cope with my fears. I do not want to have my life controlled by fear and mistrust.
  • 4/9 – Acts 9:32-43 and Acts 10:1-23 – How do I react when I feel pressed toward something counter to “reason” or knowledge? Prayer starter: Spirit of counsel, help me to discern well. Help me to distinguish between intuition rooted in reality and fear, or need-driven ideas.
  • 4/10 – Acts 10:24-48 and Acts 11:1-18 – How well do I rejoice in the good fortune of others, especially those of whom I am not very fond? Prayer starter: Loving Father-Mother, give me an expansive heart to share others’ joy and delight, even if I’m not feeling very delighted.

The Administrator’s Easter Message:

If you find yourself sitting in Church this Easter Sunday a little bit smug; if you have walked into our parish building with your shoulders a bit more square; if you strode to your pew with a strong sense of confidence; if you are sitting here reading this text with an air of “holier than thou” — then you’ve got this Easter thing down fairly well.

It’s not that you are here with a disposition of haughtiness nor a feeling of superiority, but if you do have a self-sense that is really communicating a package of “I’m really something very important this morning” — then you’ve got this Easter thing down fairly well.

You see, it’s the feeling that this morning everything around you is here for you is really pretty much what God would want you to feel this morning — it has all been done for you! But here’s the catch — as you look around at those who are in the pew beside you, behind you, in front of you, and all around — they’re feeling the same thing, or at least they should be.

The grave could not hold Jesus. A 47-gazillion pound boulder blocking the entrance of his tomb was but a piece of fluff that could be rolled away for Jesus to get on with the work of the day. Work?, you ask. Of course! He had to make sure that the two disciples got into a racing match to see who could beat the other to the cemetery; He had to find Mary Magdalene crying in the garden to let her know that she was all right; He had to meet the two disciples on the road to let them know that their despair was misplaced; He had work to do to let these folk know that He did it all for them. And, as you have probably figured out, He is doing the same thing for you this morning — He wants you to know that He did it all for you, and those who are in the pew beside you, behind you, in front of you, and all around.

May your smugness, square shoulders, and wide striding steps lead you to the truth that — Jesus lives! — for you!

Fr. Stan

Wesołego Alleluja ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Drodzy Siostry i Bracia,

Wielkanoc, nasz Paschalnym Uroczystość, jest nas większym świętem Chrześcijańskiego świata. Jest to dzień, która przywraca na mysł cud Zmartwychwstania Pana Jezusa Chrystusa.

Historyczny fakt Zmartwychwstania jest kamieniem węgielnym naszej Chrześcijańskiej wiary, niezbitym dowodem Bóstwa misji na świecie.

“Ten jest dzień, który Pan uczynił, weselmy i radujmy się w nim.” Wielkanoc jest tryumfalnym świętem Chrześcijańskiego roku, w którym radośnie ochodzimy wejście Chrystusa do swej chwały. Jego zwycięstwo nad śmiercią i Zmartwychwstania do nowego życia.

Niech ta Wielkanoc będzie dla Was świata i błogosławioną; niech Zbawiciel Zmartwychwstały obdarzy Was szczęściem i duchowym zadowoleniem.

W tej radości, pamiętamy o naszym świętym Kościele i okazamy wdzięczności Panu Bogu za Jego łaski nam dane przez złożenie hojnej ofiary, która będzie wyrazem naszej troski, miłości o poświęcenie się dla swego Kościoła.

Oddany w Bogu,

ks. Stanisław