Please come and join us for Soup on Sunday, this Sunday from 11:30am till 1:30pm. As always, Soup on Sunday is always free and open to all. Enjoy soup, sandwiches, special food for kids, dessert, coffee, and more. Soup on Sunday is held at Holy Name of Jesus in our parish hall located at 1040 Pearl St., Schenectady (CDTA Route 353 – Pearl Street stop).

• 5/19 – John 3:6-8 – Holy Spirit, thank You for the gift of regeneration. Grant that I may be attentive to the sound of Your voice and trusting of its promptings.
• 5/20 – Micah 3:8 – Holy Spirit, fill me with the power of justice and the courage to speak bravely against evil.
• 5/21 – 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Holy Spirit, You have made me new through the gift of regeneration. Grant me the grace to resist the allure of my old ways.
• 5/22 – John 3:5 – Holy Spirit, through Your life in the Holy Church I have been brought to the waters of regeneration and have received You into my life. Grant that I may treasure the gifts I received in the Sacrament of Baptism/Confirmation and live up to all I pledged in receiving them.
• 5/23 – 1 John 4:2 – Holy Spirit, by Your gifts I confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, that He was born, taught us, suffered, died, was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. Help me to proclaim this truth before people everywhere.
• 5/24 – 1 John 5:7-8 – Holy Spirit, Your coming testifies to the truth of our redemption in Christ. Grant me the power to recognize that all truth lies in a life lived in Your truth.
• 5/25 – 1 Corinthians 2:12 – Holy Spirit, show me all the joys and gifts the Father offers us. Grant me understanding.

Pray the week: Holy Spirit, fill me with Your love, enlighten my heart and my mind so that I may love as Jesus taught.

The Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) is now accepting applications for the position of Editor of God’s Field. Click here to view/download a copy of the job description and necessary qualifications. The position will be compensated at $1,000 per issue with the expectation of 12 issues annually.

Interested applicants email qualifications to the Office of the Prime Bishop by E-mail. The deadline for applications is June 30, 2013.

I have no energy.
I feel the power.

There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit… The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.

Pentecost, unless it falls very late, generally occurs within allergy season. If you have seasonal allergies you know that they cause the typical sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes. An overlooked side effect is feeling exhausted.

Allergies aren’t the only reason for exhaustion. American society is one of the most productive on earth. We work-work-work and we don’t see many people imitating the seven dwarves as they sing their way to work. Beyond work itself workers face a dilemma – whether to rest, take time off, or take a vacation. The current work environment looks at time-off as a sign of not being needed. If you’re not missed while you are away you may come back to a pink slip. Without time-off, without the balanced life we need, we live exhausted.

It is ironic that when Pentecost rolls around, and we reflect on the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, many of us are just plain exhausted. We think – wow, it would be great to have the power of the Holy Spirit, that energy that drove the apostles and disciples to conquer the earth for faith in Jesus.

As we lay in bed in the morning our prayer to the Holy Spirit may well be, Spirit, help me get out of bed. Then we lay there and perhaps feel guilty, perhaps feeling that we either missed out on or lost those great gifts of the Spirit; even the energy to get up.

What scripture teaches about the Holy Spirit is important to us.

We learn that as Christians we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit dwells in each of us and is constantly filling us with love, inspiration, and very unique gifts – the variety of gifts given to each person for a good purpose.

The Spirit lives in us and listens to us. It is not a one-way conversation, the Spirit prompting us to do things but ignoring what we have to say. The Spirit takes what we say, and even what we cannot articulate, and brings those as prayers and petitions before the Father. As a result we get help.

Key to all of this is trust. Jesus told the Pharisees that the only unforgivable sin was to speak against the Holy Spirit. This is not literal – like saying the Holy Spirit is a bad guy. It is a failure to see and acknowledge the good the Spirit is doing, to trust the obvious power of the Spirit in our lives with Christ. This Pentecost we may feel exhausted, but we must trust that the Spirit is with us, giving us the gifts we need to do good, hearing our prayer, filling us with power!

The Holy Name of Jesus National Catholic Church, is holding a rummage and bake sale on Saturday, May 18th from 9 am to 3 pm in the parish hall at 1040 Pearl Street (between Chrisler Ave. and Crane St.), Schenectady (CDTA Route 353). A bag sale will begin at 2 pm. The sale features clothing, household items, toys, furnishings, great baked goods, and many other items.

What Matters to Girls

The Schenectady League of Women Voters is hosting the Working Group on Girls Community Forum, “What Matters to Girls” on Wednesday, May 22nd at 7pm at the 1st Reformed Church, 8 North Church St., Schenectady NY. The Forum is dedicated to empowering middle and high school girls and will provide information on Girl’s Day Out and Girl’s Circles programs for student participants and adult volunteers. Topics will include increasing self esteem, making healthy choices, valuing education, and expanding girl’s vision of the future.

Connecting Faith-Based Groups with the Affordable Care Act: What You Need to Know about Changes in Health Insurance for Your Members

Congressman Paul Tonko is hosting a workshop on Connecting Faith-Based Groups with the Affordable Care Acton Wednesday, May 29th at The Crossings of Colonie, 580 Albany Shaker Rd., Loudonville, NY from 1—3pm. The focus of the workshop will be on providing up-to-date information on federal health insurance programs available to members of Faith-Based organizations. Representatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Region II U.S. Department of Health & Human Services will be available to provide information and resources that can help make it easier to understand health insurance options.

Medicare (health insurance for people 65 and older or with long- term disability or end-stage renal disease), Medicaid (health insurance for people with limited income), and new options for expansion of health insurance that will soon be available under the Affordable Care Act will be discussed.

You may pre-register online or by calling 518-465-0700.

Youth Forum

Schenectady Youth Boxing & Fitness is sponsoring a Youth Forum on June 13th, 10am-12pm at the Fenimore Gallery at Proctors Theater, 432 State St., Schenectady, NY. The forum includes a roundtable discussion with members from community youth focused programs with a focus on sharing goals and information as well as information on upcoming summer plans. A light lunch and opportunities for networking will follow. For more information please contact Schenectady Youth Boxing & Fitness or Judy Decker by E-mail.

2013 Kurs Youth Encampment

The 2013 Kurs Youth Encampment sponsored by the Young Men’s Society of the Resurrection of the Polish National Catholic Church will be held from June 29th through July 6th at the Bishop Hodur Retreat & Recreation Center, 596 Honesdale Road, Waymart, PA. This is by far the best summer youth event anywhere. Our young people are encouraged to attend as well as to invite friends and parishioners for a summer event that builds up faith and friendships that last a lifetime.

Click on the links below for further information and forms:

• KURS Facebook page
• Informational Letter
• 2013 KURS Camper Application Form
• PNCC Camper Release Form
• List of Items to Bring to Camp

National United Choirs 2013 Music Workshop

The National United Choirs 2013 Music Workshop and Convention will be held from July 24th to 27th at St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church, 5375 Broadview Road, Parma. OH. Click here for details and a registration form.

Polish National Union Trip to Poland

The Polish National Union (Spójnia) is sponsoring a trip to Poland in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Żarki (Libiąż) Poland, the birthplace of Bishop Francis Hodur. The parish was built through the generosity of members of the Polish National Union. The trip will run from September 18th through 25th and includes tours of southern Polsnd including noted attrations in Kraków, Zakopane, and Żarki. For details please see the current issue of Straż. Reservations are due by June 10th.

For I see…
What do you see?

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.”

Today, our readings and Gospel look at the present and the future.

As Stephen is about to die he looks up and sees Jesus at the right hand of the Father. He is heading toward Jesus, to His loving embrace. Stephen has Jesus with him in his suffering, and because of that forgives his murders. He is also joyful, even in the midst of the stoning, because He knows what the future holds. Stephen is in a moment so totally now, and in his (and our) future.

John is on the island of Patmos. Jesus is speaking with him once again in terms that can be read as very now, in the present, and for the future. Jesus tells John that He is the Alpha and the Omega – timeless. He also tells John: “Behold, I am coming soon.”

We look at these statements and from them understand that Jesus is ever present, always with us and is also the ultimate goal, our promised future. John knows that Jesus is his present and future. To him Jesus is a joy, better than any other thing the world can offer.

Jesus is delivering His farewell address to His disciples just before the road that will lead Him to Calvary. He is reminding them that they are bound to Him by their knowledge and love, by their unity. They have the reality of God living with and in them, ever present, ever now. They also hear that they have a share in the future reality of God – the kingdom and paradise.

Like Stephen, like John, we need to listen to Jesus and rely on this reality – that He is with us in this moment, in the present, and is not just as a goal or someone we will meet in the future. Also, that we have a share in a wonderful future that surpasses any suffering or difficulty.

Our mothers have seen what Stephen and John saw. They brought us into the Holy Church so that we would see these things, so that we might listen to Jesus and understand a moment so totally now, and a vision for our future.

Because of their faith and the instruction they provided for us we were given an opportunity. When asked, ‘What do you see?’ how will we answer? If we took mom’s lessons to heart we can say: “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” Saying that we can offer this vision to others. We can let them know about Jesus who is with us now and is our future.

What better way to start the day than to praise God for the blessings He has given us through the work and sacrifice of our mothers? Please join us in praying with and for mom this Sunday as we also seek the intercession of our heavenly mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, on her behalf. Join us too after Holy Mass for a free Mother’s Day breakfast.

A woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. – Proverbs 31:30-31

Come join us on Thursday, May 9th at 7pm for Solemn Vespers in honor of the Solemnity of the Ascension. Let us look to the last day with hope and joy rather than fear.

• 5/5 – Acts 20:7-8 – Lord Jesus, grant that I may set aside my desires and do as You will for me. Strengthen me to speak of You constantly.
• 5/6 – 1 Corinthians 14:26 – Holy Spirit, I praise and thank You for the gifts You have bestowed on me. Grant that I may readily share them in my faith community so to build up the body of Christ.
• 5/7 – Hebrews 10:23-25 – Lord Jesus, grant that I may hold fast to the confession of my hope without wavering. Help me in encouraging my brothers and sisters in love and to the performance of good deeds. Gather me into the community of faith so that I may never neglect to meet with and encourage my brethren. Bring me, with them, to the the Day that is quickly approaching.
• 5/8 – 1 Peter 2:9 – Lord Jesus, I thank You for calling me out of darkness and into hope; that You have made me a member of Your royal priesthood, Your holy nation, Your Father’s own people.
• 5/9 – 1 Peter 5:2-3 – Lord Jesus, make of me an example to Your flock. Use me to show many Your way.
• 5/10 – Titus 2:7-8 – Lord Jesus, grant that I may be a model of good works, that I may have integrity in teaching Your way, and give me the gift of sound speech that cannot be censured. Bring the schemes and words of those who hate to shame.
• 5/11 – Romans 12:3 – Lord Jesus, grant that I may have sober judgment and humility in accordance with the measure of faith given me.

Pray the week: Holy Spirit, guide our parish and Your Holy Church to decisions in accord with Your will.