Holy Name of Jesus National Catholic Church

Our February 2012 newsletter and calendar is now available. You may view and download a copy right from this website.

Feb 2012 Newsletter

We pray for all the youth of our parish, our seniorarte, our diocese, and our Church especially this morning. We ask for God’s guidance as they return to the classroom, and that they be kept safe from societal and cultural harm as they move through their days. May we “elder brethren” be good examples of faith, love, and courage to them and for them.

A Prayer of Spouses, for Children, for Parents, for Families…

We asked God for strength,
that we might achieve,
We were made weak,
that we might learn humbly to obey.

We asked for health,
that we might do greater things,
We were given infirmity,
that we might do better things.

We asked for riches,
that we might be happy,
We were given poverty,
that we might be wise.

We asked for power,
that we might have the praise of others,
We were given weakness,
that we might feel the need of God.

We asked for things,
that we might enjoy life,
we were given life,
that we might enjoy all things.

We got nothing that we asked for -
but everything we hoped for,
Almost despite ourselves,
our unspoken prayers were answered
We are, among all, richly blessed!

The Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese of the PNCC will be hosting Convo 2012: Confirmed to Walk on Water from July 23rd-27th, 2012 at Niagara University in Niagara Falls, NY. As we hit the one year count-down to Convo 2012, keep all of the youth of the PNCC in your collective prayers.

For more information, visit the Convo website on Facebook or the Convo 2012 website.

Come visit and pray with us throughout these 40 days. Our doors are open and you are welcome.

• Ash Wednesday, March 9th, Litany and Imposition of Ashes on your lunch break at noon.
• Ash Wednesday, March 9th, Reflection on the Seven Last Words of Christ and Imposition of Ashes on your lunch break at 7pm.
• Traditional Stations of the Cross, Every Friday in Lent at 7pm.
• Matins and Holy Mass, Every Sunday starting at 9:20am.
• Youth – 30 Hour Famine sponsored by the National United Youth Association
• Directed Lenten Denial for Charity

The Music Scholarship Program was instituted on August 8, 1964 by the Sixth General Convention of the National United Choirs of the Polish National Catholic Church held in Carnegie, PA. The program was implemented at the Seventh General Convention, held in Cleveland, OH, on August 6, 1966, when the first awards were presented. The XII General Synod of the PNCC established the last Sunday in January as “Music Scholarship Sunday.”

The Music Scholarship program was instituted and tailored to develop musicians within the Polish National Catholic Church. The program was further expanded to establish a Chair of Music at the Savonarola Theological Seminary of our Church in Scranton, PA, and to also make scholarships available in other areas of music to enrich the musical life of the Church.

The Scholarship Program awards are divided into 2 categories: general scholarships and endowed scholarships.

General Scholarships

• The Bishop Francis Hodur Award
• The Bishop Francis Bonczak Awards
• The Bishop Francis Bonczak Youth Awards
• Church Music Award for Clergymen
• The Bishop Thaddeus Zielinski Awards
• Junior Incentive Awards

Endowed Scholarships

• The Polish National Union Award
• The Adam P. Pikulski Award
• The Cecelia Shumlas Award
• The Bishop Walter A. Slowakiewicz Award
• The Emil Swantkowski Award
• The George J. Balcar Award
• The Bishop Eugeniusz W. Magyar Awards
• The Edward and Frances Bialoglowicz Award

The Deadline to apply for any of these Scholarships is April 1st. Applications for any of these awards may be received from the Music Scholarship Administrator by writing to:

Mrs. Cathy Bilinski, Administrator
4051 Washington Crescent
Troy, MI 48085

Or by E-mail.

A few questions to test your personal knowledge of music history within the PNCC (answers will be posted February 1st):

The chant style of the PNCC is based upon _________ Chant.
The new hymnal of the PNC will be published in 20__.

These are our National United Choirs Music Scholarship recipients for 2010. The announcement of the Scholarships was made during Convo 2010 in July. Of the 18 Scholarships awarded this year, eight were in attendance at the Convo and were able to receive the accolades of their peers.

Adam, a first-time recipient, received the Polish National Union Award. This Award is endowed by our fraternal organization and is given to a member of both the Church and Spójnia. We congratulate Adam for this accomplishment and look forward to his sharing his God-given talent with us here in church sometime in the future.

Hannah received the George J. Balcar Award. George was a lifetime member of the Church. His home parish was SS. Cyril and Methodius in Chicago, IL. He was a dedicated churchman seriously devoted to his parish and his Church. George was also intricately involved in the United Choirs, being both the Treasurer of the Western Diocesan Circle Choirs and of the National Board. After his passing, and in recognition of his fierce love for the Choirs and the Church, this Fund was established to honor those of the same mettle.

Our heartfelt congratulations are extended to our 2010 recipients.

Applications for 2011 Scholarships will be available in February. Let us have all our parish musicians apply to be so honored.

SOCL: Our School of Christian Living sessions begin next Sunday, October 17th. Registration for these sessions continues. Children who have reached the necessary age for sacramental preparation will be enrolled for those session. We’re looking forward to another great year!

Music Scholarships: We will recognize and congratulate all Music Scholarship recipients from our Parish next Sunday, October 17th. In honor of their accomplishment we will share in coffee and cake following Holy Mass.

Semi-Annual Rummage Sale: Our Fall edition of our semi-annual rummage sale will take place on Saturday, October 23rd. Have something that needs a good home, a good home looking for something, make the connection.

Donations to Help Pets: Our annual tradition of gathering items for pets in need and pet rescue organizations continues. Please drop items off at the Parish.

Operation Christmas Child: We will be collecting shoeboxes during the last two weeks of October and the first two weeks of November. Let us once again help Samaritan’s Purse bring the love of Jesus to a child somewhere on our plant once again this year.

Pampered Chef: Stay tuned for further details on our Pampered Chef party following Holy Mass on Sunday, November 7th. Will Father Stan and Deacon Jim put on another edition of “Cooking with Clergy?”

On behalf of the Parish Committee and the Congregation of the Holy Name of Jesus National Catholic church, I, as administrator, would like to welcome our diocesan shepherd, His Excellency, the Rt. Rev. Anthony Mikovsky, to our parish. We welcome our gracious neighbor, the Rev. Fr. Carl Urban. And we also welcome the fine dedicated clergy of our Mohawk Valley Seniorate, and for any and all of their parishioners they have encouraged to share our worship this afternoon.

It is indeed an honor to have the bishop confirm our newest soldiers for Jesus, and through which action, has ensured a continual blessing on our parish from our gracious God. The results of God’s abundant grace and our participation with it have allowed our humble parish to be made more holy through this ministry.

May this day be for all of us here gathered a true day of renewal, of the Pentecost experience, and for a day of sharing and fellowship, celebration and thanksgiving, one with another.

May I gratefully affirm all those who had assisted in the many varied tasks in allowing this day to be glorious.

As we look to the future, filled with hope by the grace of God, the inclusion of these new adults in the faith, and the fellowship of us all, may we give hearty thanks for all of God’s blessings, given and yet to be given.

– Fr. Stan

Congratulations to parishioner Claudia Bertasso on attaining the title of Miss Junior Altamont Fair.

Want to know the next “Gerber Baby?” Visit the Gerber website to vote, and search on Kailyn and Rensselaer to vote for one of our youngest parishioners, Kailyn.

Sunday, September 19th will mark a special celebration in our parish family…

This year our parish family will get stronger — Stronger by the presence of the Holy Spirit being strengthened in five of our young people.

As we all (those old enough, of course) have the power of the Spirit within our lives through our Confirmation, so shall it be true for this class.

We will welcome our Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Anthony Mikovsky, making his second visit to our parish within his short tenure as Ordinary. In so doing, we also need to plan for the days’ response. The parishes of our Seniorate have been invited to participate, gracing us with their presence and prayer.

Please keep this afternoon open and partake of the grace, ecclesiology, and witness we will have to share.