Bible Study for the Fifth Week of Easter
  • 5/22 – John 3:1-21 – Who do I know who needs the gift of faith? Prayer starter: Spirit of Faith, I thank you for my ability to believe. Keep all those who do not believe in your care.
  • 5/23 – John 20:19-23 – Where can I be an agent of reconciliation in my family, work, or community? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, through your power the world can be renewed. Conform my heart to God’s will so that I might become you agent of peace.
  • 5/24 – Acts 2:1-21 – What has God given to me? How well do I use it? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, enkindle your fire in my heart. Lead me to use the gifts you have given me in God’s service.
  • 5/25 – Acts 5:1-11 – Have I ever tried to give a false impression for my own benefit? Prayer starter: Spirit of Truth, help me live in the truth. Allow me to live as the person I truly am – a child of God.
  • 5/26 – Romans 8:12-27 – Have there been times when I have been unable to pray in words? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, you ground my relationship to the Father. Speak to God for me, when I can find no words to say.
  • 5/27 – 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 – Do I consider the gift I have been given necessary for the Iife of the church? Prayer starter: Spirit of God, you create unity from the variety of gifts. Lead me to use my gift for the common good.
  • 5/28 – Revelation 22:12-21 – What role does hope in Christ’s return play in my spiritual life? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, you are my guarantee that Jesus will return. Let me burn with the hope that God’s love will rule the earth.

Bible Study for the Fourth Week of Easter
  • 5/15 – Mark 1:9-11 – When do I end to forget my dignity and worth as a child of God? Prayer starter: Spirit of Truth, you reveal my true identity. Allow me to believe that I am a beloved child of God and celebrate the wonder of your gift.
  • 5/16 – Mark 3:20-30 – When have I opposed God’s will, not out of weakness but willfulness? Prayer starter: Spirit of God, you are the presence of God in every time and place. Help me realize that I have the freedom to accept your light or to live in darkness.
  • 5/17 – Mark 13:1-13 – Have I ever been surprised by effectiveness in my actions that exceeded my intentions? Prayer starter: Creating Spirit, you are always at work shaping the world according to God’s plan. Use me as your instrument. I open my heart to your will.
  • 5/18 – Luke 1:26-38 – Do I believe that God is able to achieve what to me seems impossible? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, you are the power of God. Help me to measure my future not by my strength but yours.
  • 5/19 – Luke 4:14-30 – How would I define oppression? How could I be Christ to those who experience it? Prayer starter: Spirit of God, you are opposed to whatever is contrary to God’s will. Allow me to build justice, hope, and freedom today.
  • 5/20 – Luke 10:21-22 – In what ways is it possible for me to simplify my life? Prayer starter: Spirit of truth, you know well the things that matter. Allow me to see your truth and live in your joy.
  • 5/21 – Luke 11:9-11 – Have I ever been surprised by the way in which God has responded to my prayer? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, even when I do not receive what I have asked for in prayer, make me thankful for the gift of you.

Bible Study for the Third Week of Easter
  • 5/8 – Ezekiel 11:14-25 – In what area of my life should I ask the Spirit to change my heart? Prayer starter: Transforming Spirit, change me. Where I am selfish, allow me to give; where there is hurt, allow me to forgive; where I hate, allow me to love.
  • 5/9 – Ezekiel 37:1-14 – Where in my life do I find it difficult to hope? Prayer starter: Spirit of God, you guide me into the future. Help me to see that there is no sorrow you cannot turn to joy, no dying you cannot transform into life.
  • 5/10 – Joel 2:18-29 – Do I recognize that God’s care extends beyond myself and includes all that God has made? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, your life will be poured out on all creation. Help me to witness to your presence by the manner in which I respect the earth.
  • 5/11 – Wisdom 9:9-18 – Where do I require the guidance of the Spirit in my life today? Prayer starter: Breath of the power of God, breathe on me. Fill me with God’s wisdom so that I might choose rightly how to live this day.
  • 5/12 – Sirach 39:1-11 – What steps can I take not only to read the scriptures but also to pray them? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, you inspired the human authors of the scriptures to express God’s word. Inspire me to understand that word and live it.
  • 5/13 – Matthew 3:1-12 – Where do I experience evil holding me back from growth and service? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, you destroy all that is contrary to God’s will. Destroy whatever hinders me from the holiness to which I am called.
  • 5/14 – Matthew 28:16-20 – What weaknesses should I ask the Holy Spirit to help me address? Prayer starter: Spirit of Strength, I will not come to you with excuses of why I cannot serve. Christ has called me and you are with me. I will help build God’s kingdom.

Directed Lenten Denial – your generosity

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 penitential season. May the Lord bless your denial!!! We had more bags than last year (52!!!), and were still able to provide for many.

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.

Also four bags of toiletries were taken to the Albany City Rescue Mission (the facility where the “famine” participants went to serve lunch). The administrator welcomed the donation, which will allow them to serve needs on an individual basis.

Bible Study for the Second Week of Easter
  • 5/1 – Numbers 22:36-41, Numbers 23, Numbers 24:1-20 – Am I conscious of any truths within me which I am afraid or unwilling to express? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, you instill God’s love and truth in my heart. Allow me to reveal God’s love in what I do and express God’s truth in what I speak.
  • 5/2 – 1 Samuel 10:1-13 – Have I ever experienced an ecstatic moment? Am I open to accept one? Prayer starter: Spirit of Mystery, rule my life. Let me experience your presence in the usual and the extraordinary, in the commonplace and the ecstatic.
  • 5/3 – 1 Samuel 16:1-13 – Do I permit my shortcomings to discourage me in God’s service? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, the Father calls me in your grace. Let your power compensate for my weakness and enable me to serve you.
  • 5/4 – Psalm 139 – When is it difficult for me to remember that God is near? Prayer starter: Spirit of God, your presence fills my life. Help me to remember both in joy and in sorrow that I am never alone.
  • 5/5 – Psalm 143 – Have I ever felt too unworthy to ask for God’s help? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, guide my life today, not because I deserve your love but simply because you are God.
  • 5/6 – Isaiah 11:1-10 – What gift have I been given to build peace in my family and in the world? Prayer starter: Spirit of peace, preserve me from discouragement in face of the violence of the world. Make me a peacemaker according to God’s will.
  • 5/7 – Isaiah 42:1-9 – What concrete choice can I make today to promote the justice of God? Prayer starter: Spirit of Justice, change my heart. Allow me to let go of the possessions I do not need and share them with those who struggle.

Bible Study for Bright Week
  • 4/24 – Matthew 27:27-44 – Am I giving enough consideration to prayers and symbols reminding me of Jesus’ Passion and death on the Cross? Prayer starter: O God, you couldn’t go any further than the ignominy of the Cross to show us your love. May we worship you with total gratitude and unrestricted love.
  • 4/25 – Matthew 27:45-66 – How does the kind of death Jesus died impact my faith in him as the true Son of God? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, you remained true and faithful to God until the end. We praise you for gaining for us, at such a high price, access to resurrected life.
  • 4/26 – Matthew 28:1-15 – Who are the living witnesses who best helped me to believe in the resurrection of Jesus? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, we acclaim you in your victory over death and evil, and we acknowledge you as the Lord of our lives.
  • 4/27 – Matthew 28:16-20 – What am I prepared to do to bear witness to the Jesus I have come to know through the gospel of Matthew? Prayer starter: Jesus Emmanuel, we know and we truly believe that you are with us forever and that you give us the inspiration and the strength to proclaim to the world the good news of your resurrection.
  • 4/28 – Genesis 1:1-31 and Genesis 2:1-3 – Is there any place in my life where I face fear and chaos? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, you gave form to the world around me. Give form to my life; give me confidence in God’s love.
  • 4/29 – Numbers 11:1-30 – Is it possible to ask someone to share in my responsibilities? Prayer starter: Spirit of God, help me to see that your work can be done even by other hands than mine.
  • 4/30 – Numbers 22:36-41 and Numbers 24:1-20 – Am I conscious of any truths within me which I am afraid or unwilling to express? Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, you instill God’s love and truth in my heart. Allow me to reveal God’s love in what I do, and express God’s truth in what I speak.

The Pastor’s Easter Message

Lent 2011 was different.
The Triduum this year was different.
Even this morning things are different.

There have been years wherein Easter didn’t click; Easter was just a time to pass through, or pass over, as would use the terminology from this time. Tradition plays a deep part in our reckoning of times that we pass over in our lives. Tradition brought me to a point this Lent, this Triduum, which I’ve never been to before.

This morning, we have a choice before us. Jesus didn’t stay in Gethsemane. He walked through, walked to Calvary, and walked out of the tomb. Our choice is where we want to be this morning: staying in Gethsemane, still waiting by the Cross, or walking with Jesus, yea, even skipping with Jesus through the garden on a day of Resurrection.

Personally, without all of you here this morning, my choice would be more difficult; but because we have walked through Gethsemane, I can’t look back; I want to continue to walk with Jesus through Calvary and from the tomb – the tomb of doubt and worry, the tomb of confusion, the tomb of the unknown. Jesus did it all in three days; I’m not sure how long it will be for each of us. But what I do know is that Jesus will be waiting up ahead, speaking our name, calling to us, and waiting to take us forward, wherever that may be. Whatever path you take from the garden this morning, please believe that Jesus is there waiting for you. There’s no need to look back at the garden; what was done there is done – there are exciting and new adventures ahead. There may be other Gethsemanes, but, hey, once you’ve walked through one, it’s hard not to remember the recipe.

My friends, may His Holy Resurrection give us the power to walk on, to persevere, to apply ourselves to the challenges ahead! Praise Jesus! Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!

Fr. Stan

Chrystus Zmartwychwstał! Alleluja!

I tak cały świat staje się
zwierciadłem Jego chwały,
Tak niech nasze serca
odzwierciedlają radość
Jego blogosławieństwa i miłości.

Pełnych spokoju i miłości
Świąt Bożego Zmartwychwstania,
Z radosnym Alleluja
życzą.

Rev. Stanisław i Deborah
Joshua i Hannah

Drodzy Siostry i Bracia,

Zmartwychwstanie Chrystusa Pana to postawa naszej wiary. Po wiekach oczekiwana przychodzi Zbawiciel – Chrystus! GÅ‚osi Swoja naukÄ™ – EwangeliÄ™ ÅšwiÄ™tego, czyni cuda, jaÅ›nieje Å›wiÄ™toÅ›ciÄ…. Åšwiat otwiera pomaÅ‚u oczy, wyciÄ…ga don ramiona, upadajÄ… siÄ™ sÅ‚odka nadzieja. Nagle wszystko siÄ™ zmienia. Chrystus Pan pojamy, umÄ™czony, ginie Å›mierci haniebna, staszna na krzyżu. JakiÅ› cios dla naszej wiary! ZwÄ…tpienie ogarnia serca. Ten Å›laby, zdeptany czÅ‚owiek jest ze Synem Bożym, Bogiem, Zbawicielem? Jest za nauka Jego Boska, cuda prawdziwie? Gdzie moc, potÄ™ga Jego? UmarÅ‚, okryty haÅ„bÄ…. JeÅ›li nie speÅ‚ni obietnicy, nie stanie z grobu, daremne nadzieje Å›wiata “JeÅ›li Chrystus nie powstaÅ‚, próżne przepowiadanie naszym próżna jest wiara nasza!” (1 Kor. 15:14) Pod tym kamieniem grobowym spoczywaÅ‚ los naszej wiary! Nie otworzy siÄ™, tedy wszystko zginęło, zawiodÅ‚o nas. Lecz nie! AnioÅ‚, jak bÅ‚yskawic zstÄ™puje z nieba, odwala kamieÅ„. Chrystus powstaje grobu. PrzybiegajÄ… niewiasty, ApostoÅ‚owie – AnioÅ‚ im gÅ‚osi: “Wstaci z martwych!” WstaÅ‚ z martwych wÅ‚asna mocÄ…, pokonaÅ‚ Å›mierć po wiÄ™c udowodniÅ‚, że jest Bogiem prawdziwym ze dzieÅ‚a zbawienie istotnie speÅ‚nić. Zmartwychwstanie tedy to pieczęć, fundament, podstawÄ…, pokoja trudy, przelewajÄ… krew, życie oddajÄ…. I my dziÅ› tak wierzymy, i my woÅ‚amy z Piotrem Åšw.,: “Pan mój i Bóg mój!” Zadna siÅ‚Ä…, pokusa, nie zachwieje wiary naszej: z radoÅ›ciÄ… i chÅ‚ubÄ… odpowiadamy “Wiem, komu uwierzyÅ‚em” (2 Tym 1:12).

Wszystkiem Wiernym naszego parafii, bÄ™dziemy razem gÅ‚oÅ›no mówić – “WesoÅ‚ego Alleluja!”

Oddany w Bogu,
Ks. Stanisław

Holy Week and Easter in Schenectady, NY

Holy Tuesday

At 10am, the Clergy Conference of the Central Diocese will meet for its spring meeting. Following the close of the meeting, our diocesan ordinary and all the diocesan clergy will celebrate the Holy Mass of Chrism at St. Stainslaus Bishop & Martyr Cathedral in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The holy oils that are used throughout the year in our parish are blessed and consecrated by the bishop during this liturgy.

Holy Wednesday

– Fast and Abstinence

Maundy Thursday

– Fast and Abstinence

At 7 pm, Institution of the Eucharist celebrated with Holy Mass, Communion, and the Procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the Repository, and the stripping of the Main Altar. The Church will remain open following Mass for meditation.

O 19:00 wiecz. Msza święta, Komunia; Procesja z Naj. Sakramentem do bocznego ołtarza Ciemnicy i obnażenie głownego ołtarza. Kościól będzie otwarty aby Iudzie mogli modlić i Adorować.

Traditionally, historically and liturgically, this night begins the Paschal Triduum (three days). It was on this night that our Lord Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist, which we all share whenever we come to Mass. Following the Mass on this night, the Blessed Sacrament will be taken to a place of Repose until Easter Sunday. The faithful should consider the liturgies of the next two days as a continuation of this night’s, hence, the Triduum.

This is an important liturgy for all of us who revere and worship Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for it was on this night that Jesus gave us the Sacrament of the Altar, of which some are preparing to receive for the first time. Students should endeavor to attend all of the Holy Week services.

Good Friday

– Fast and Abstinence

Noon – The Parish Church will be opened.
1 pm – Stations of the Cross
2 pm – Bitter Lamentations, parts 1-3
3 pm – Opening of the Grave
4 pm – 7pm – Fish Fry Dinner
7 pm – Mass of the Pre-Sanctified

12:00 po pod., Kościól będzie otwierać.
13:00 po pod., Droga Krzyżowa
14:00 po pod., Gorzkie Żale, czesci 1-3
15:00 po pod., Otwarcie grobu Pańskiego;
16:00 do 19:00 we wiecz., Obiad: Ryba Smażowa;
19:00 we wiecz., Obrządek Piatkowej Mszy i Adorować Krzyża;

STRICT FAST – ONLY ONE FULL MEAL IS EATEN!
TYLKO JEDEN PELNY POSIŁEK MOŻNA SPOŻYĆ!

The second day of the Triduum, the day our Lord died, begins with the time our Lord was nailed to the cross, re-tells the story, and ends with the symbolic opening of the tomb. The “pre-sanctified” liturgy is so described for no consecrations of bread and wine can take place on this day. A host consecrated the night before is used at this liturgy. The third will be placed in the Monstrance and carried in procession Easter Sunday morning. The evening service will be recited, and contains an ancient Lenten devotion, once more re-telling the events of the day.

Holy Saturday

– Fast and Abstinence

4 pm, Liturgy of Holy Saturday. Blessing of New Fire, also Paschal Candle and Baptismal Water. Easter foods will be blessed concluding the liturgy; and in homes by appointment.

16:00 po pod, Liturgia Wielkiej Soboty; poświecenie ognia, świecy Paschalnej, wody chrzcielnej z świeconej. Święcenie pokarmów Wielkanocnych będzie w kościele; aby ksiądz przybył do domu, to prosze zatelefonować do domu księdza.

The third and last day of the Paschal Triduum contains many historic blessings. The Church, at one time during each year, blesses all of the items she uses during the year; hence, the fire, baptismal water, holy water, and the Paschal Candle are all prepared during this liturgy. The traditional blessing of Easter food will be offered to any and all who desire. The traditional foods for the Eastern Europeans are meats, eggs, bread, and any other foods that will be eaten on the day of Resurrection. However, whatever foods any of our families will be sharing on Easter day can also be blessed for our use in this special ceremony. Please try to keep the tradition handed to us, or begin an old new family tradition in your homes this Eastertide. You may bring your basket to church on Holy Saturday or please call Father Stan to make a visit to your home for this blessing. The Parish Church will be dressed for the Easter holyday following the close of this liturgy.

Resurrection Sunday/Niedziela Wielkanoc

8 am – Resurrection Procession and Resurrection Mass of Easter Day.
08:00 w rano, uroczysta Suma Wielkanocna.

10:30 am – Solemn Mass of Easter Day
10:30 w rano – Msza Niedziela Wielkanocna

(Following each liturgy, there shall be a festive repast. Please plan to join the celebration!!!)

Two Mass times are offered this Easter. The 8am will have the Resurrection Procession and Mass of Resurrection celebrated. The 10:30am Mass will be a solemn celebration for Easter Sunday. Please make sure you attend and celebrate the Lord’s victory together with your family.

Bible Study for Holy Week
  • 4/17 – Matthew 24:1-25 – Where do I stand with regard to the end-time: fear or hope? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, you know about rumors of war growing louder in the world. Give us the strength and endurance to testify even louder to the hope we put in the good news of your second coming.
  • 4/18 – Matthew 24:26-51 – Am I anxious or indifferent, or trusting and hopeful toward the future? Prayer starter: Lord, may we keep your exhortations to vigilance not to idleness, to trust not to fear, to joyful hope not to alarming speculations.
  • 4/19 – Matthew 25:1-30 – Am I willing to act for the sake of the Kingdom or am I trying to play safe and keep the treasure buried? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, keep us awake for the Kingdom and eager to make it bear fruit within and around us.
  • 4/20 – Matthew 25:31-46 – How can the sick, the poor, the stranger, the prisoner testify to Christ in my favor at this point in my life? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, do not allow us to let you go unattended whenever you come to us under the guise “of the least” of your brothers and sisters.
  • 4/21 – Matthew 26:1-29 – How can the Passion narrative help me cope with suffering and make me a better disciple of Christ? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, forgive us our weaknesses, our betrayals, and our denials and give us the courage to follow you all through your paschal mystery.
  • 4/22 – Matthew 26:30-75 – When things get tough, do I pray to be spared from suffering or for courage to cope? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, you have not cheated with human suffering and you have taken upon you our inner struggles. Help us to say Amen to God’s will, however demanding.
  • 4/23 – Matthew 27:1-26 – When facing blatant injustice do I dare stand up and speak out for justice? Prayer starter: Through your unjust condemnation, Lord Jesus, you brought salvation to the world and you redeemed the tragic failures of our human injustices.