June Is Sacred Vocations Month

Each year during the month of June, the PNCC observes Sacred Vocations month. During this month, the Church reminds all of her faithful of the urgent need to pray for the gift of vocations to the Holy Orders. The Church asks all of us to offer special prayers to bless our Church with new vocations.

The purpose of this month of Sacred Vocations is to petition God, the Author of every vocation, to bless our Church with new priests and deacons who are blessed with strong faith, broad vision and solid academic background. PLEASE, PRAY FOR AN INCREASE VOCATIONS TO THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD of the Polish National Catholic Church.

Those interested should contact Fr. Stan.

On the faithful reception of the Holy Communion by Thomas à Kempis

When the faithful considers his numerous weaknesses and the grievous temptations which assail him, and recalls that Jesus invites and commands him to receive Holy Communion, he is filled with a holy confidence because he knows that he will receive the necessary help from this Celestial Food.

The frequent and daily reception of Holy Communion withdraws one from evil and comforts one in good, lt is food not only for the strong, but also the weak. It is food necessary to recuperate, conserve, increase and fortify the sanctity of our soul.

Knowing the necessity of preparing ourselves well to receive Holy Communion, let us ask Jesus to give us a lively faith, simplicity of heart, peace, zeal, fervor, confidence and especially humility and love of God. If we receive Holy Communion with these dispositions, our mind will be refreshed and illuminated, and our souls will be enriched with many graces and celestial favors.

Every day Jesus descends upon the altar at the words of the priest. All the faithful are, in a certain sense, priest, because they are members of the mystical Body of Christ and they are participators in offering, in union with the priest, with Jesus Christ and the Church,
the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. Let us unite ourselves to this offering and meditate on the necessity to bear our cross as Christ did.

The best preparation for Holy Communion is to elect Jesus as King of our heart. That is, make Him absolute ruler of us and make ourselves obedient to Him in all and never refuse Him anything.

First Communion Sunday plus Video

Welcome Loryn DonVito, Seth Garrison, Victoria Konicki, and Nylyse Rios into our Eucharistic family.

http://www.youtube.com/v/36PsiJZi3E8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01

We gave a warm and joyful welcome to all the families and friends of our First Communion Class who came to join in this festive day. We acknowledged the many miles that have been traveled to our humble parish for all of those who joined in this celebration. We also affirmed your place in the hearts of our young people, as they knew you were present to celebrate this special day with them.

We continued in our fellowship as we assembled in the parish hall following the Mass to partake of some refreshment.

We, as a parish family, also celebrated this day, for we received into our Eucharistic family four of our younger sisters and brother who witnessed with us to the faith of Jesus as we approached the Sacrament of the Altar together.

Please know that you have the love and appreciation of the faith community here at Holy Name.

Bible Study for First Eucharist Week
  • 5/30 – Mark 4:26-29 – In what areas of my life do I fail to recognize that God is in charge? Prayer starter: Almighty God, allow me to acknowledge your power, not simply in theory but in the very fabric of my life.
  • 5/31 – Mark 4:3-9 – When do I find myself too cautious to spread God’s kingdom? Prayer starter: Lord, help me to waste, to give so freely that enough seed will grow to accomplish your will.
  • 6/1 – Luke 14:16-24 – Who are the people I find difficult to accept and love? Prayer starter: Lord, give me patience with those who frustrate and challenge me. Help me see that every person is a person beloved by you.
  • 6/2 – Luke 15:3-7 – When in my life have I felt lost and in need of God, my shepherd? Prayer starter: Good Shepherd, when I lose my way, keep me from panic and despair. Let me admit my fault and wait for you to find me.
  • 6/3 – Luke 15:8-10 – Do I locate my self-worth in my own achievements or in God’s love? Prayer starter: God, my Creator, allow me to value your perspective over my own. When I am tempted to designate my dignity and worth, let me surrender to your love.
  • 6/4 – Luke 11:5-8 – ln times of great need have I been willing to pray with shamelessness? Prayer starter: Provident God, I believe that you will answer my prayers, but let me pray to you not with timidity but from the depths of my soul.
  • 6/5 – Matthew 20:1-16 – Have I ever felt that God was acting in a way that was unfair? Prayer starter: Faithful God, your ways are not my ways. When I cannot understand your will, increase my trust in your love.

First Communion Sunday — Niedziela Pierwszego Komunia

Don’t forget to come and witness younger members of our parish family receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time in their young lives this coming Sunday, May 30th, during our regular Mass time.

What an exciting time for them, and for us, as we remember that holy time in our life when we first received Jesus. Let us celebrate as a family with our younger brethren.

Bible Study for Pentecost Week
  • 5/23 – Tobit 12:1-10 – Am I a generous and cheerful giver in dealing with people in need? Prayer starter: Lord, give me neither poverty nor riches; or I shall be full and deny you, or I shall be poor and profane your name (see Proverbs 30:8-9).
  • 5/24 – Tobit 12:11-22 – Who have been the angels in my life and how did I discover in their goodness a manifestation of God’s mercy? Prayer starter: Lord, help me to discover your presence in the people around me and your hand in the events of my life.
  • 5/25 – Tobit 13 – What can I do to bring about more understanding, love, and unity between people and nations? Prayer starter: Praise him, “Because He is our Lord and He is our God, He is our Father and He is God forever.”
  • 5/26 – Tobit 14:1-11 – How important is almsgiving for me? How do I respond to the many requests and needs in my community? Prayer starter: Lord, I know that my love for you is sincere and true when I also show in deeds that I love my neighbor.
  • 5/27 – Tobit 14:11-15 – How do l face the death of people close to me? And how do l approach my own death? Prayer starter: Lord, giver of life and eternal life, blessed are you forever and ever. Amen!
  • 5/28 – Luke 5:36-39 – When has life forced me to leave the familiar behind and face new challenges? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, I prefer to hold onto what I know and understand. Help me believe that the new things I must face will lead me to a new happiness.
  • 5/29 – Mark 4:30-32 – When has someone’s simple action toward me given me hope? Prayer starter: God of wonder, give me energy to spread small seeds of love and service, aware that the size of my effort does not determine its impact or value.

The Solemnity of Pentecost is today!

The day of Pentecost is the Church’s festival of the Holy Spirit. It is the third principal festival of the church year, the day on which we remember how the Holy Spirit came powerfully to a gathering of Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem.

In Polish, this Feastday is called “ŚwiÄ™to Zielonych ÅšwiÄ…tki” or, literally, the “Holiday of Green”. Green, in the Church, is the color of hope. We’d like to “green up” the Church in a feeling of hope. If you have any green plants that you would like to decorate the church, window sills, sanctuary area; please bring them – thereby we shall emphasize the season of hope; for us, and for the Church to which Jesus promised the Holy Spirit.

This summer’s youth events

Registration forms and information have been received for the youth events happening this year.

Diocesan Acolyte Retreat – June 27-30 – Bishop Hodur Retreat and Recreation Center, Waymart, PA.

All of our acolytes are encouraged to attend this year’s Retreat. Hopefully, We will be able to participate in the entire schedule this year. The parish covers the registration fee and travel expenses. Please see Father Stan for more information.

Even though this year’s Retreat is not being hosted by our seniorate, Father Stan has nonetheless been asked to provide a talk for one of the days.

“KURS” Church Camp

The 2010 edition of KURS will be held from July 1 – July 10, also at the Retreat Center. Fees for this Camp have not yet been posted, but will be so in the near future.

CONVO 2010

The deadline for registration is June 1. We are a bit short in the necessary funding to send all who would like to go, as always has been the practice of this parish to pick up the registration fees for its youth. We still need, however, to honor the closing date. Your generosity and ideas in this regard are appreciated.

The list of the anticipated attendees for the CONVO includes our Confirmation class of seven students, four parish youth, and three chaperones. If there are any additions or deletions from this list, we need to make them in the next week for $285.00 for each on the list is due by June 1st.

What are you wearing next week?

Given that the liturgical color for the Solemnity of the Pentecost next week is red, perhaps it would be a kind of parish celebration of the Holy Spirit if we all wore some garment of the red color. It would bring some liturgical continuity as well as a faith-filled parochial expression of faith in the Holy Spirit. Just a thought!

Also, as this celebration has a Slavonic tradition attached whereby the Holy Spirit gives life to the Church, we have symbolized this fact in years past with bringing live plants to adorn our parish church. lf you would also like to add this to our celebration next week, please do not hesitate to do so.

With every good wish and prayer,

Father Stan

Bible Study for the Seventh Week of Easter
  • 5/16 – Tobit 8:9-21 – When celebrating joyful events with friends or family, do I take time to express my gratitude to God? Prayer starter: Blessed are you, O God, it did not turn out, as I feared it would, you always deal with me in your great mercy.
  • 5/17 – Tobit 9:1-6 – What are the values I can share with younger generations? Prayer starter: Lord, you created each one of us in your image and likeness. May I respect that image in me and make it shine in the world around me.
  • 5/18 – Tobit 10:1-7 – What can I do to alleviate the suffering of people who miss one of their children? Prayer starter: Lord, you are a God of mercy. You keep waiting on the road each day to see us come back to you. Help me to be more forgiving myself.
  • 5/19 – Tobit 10:7-13 – How do we live our family relationships? Do we care enough for grandparents and senior people? Prayer starter: We thank you, Lord, for children, for parents, and for grandparents. We can offer each other so much and we need each other so much.
  • 5/20 – Tobit 11:1-9 – When someone has hurt me, am I willing to welcome the person back into my life with an open, forgiving heart? Prayer starter: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:29-30).
  • 5/21 – Tobit 11:10-15 – Do we pray to God only when in trouble or in needs or do We also think of thanking him when our prayer is heard? Prayer starter: “Blessed be God. May his holy name be blessed throughout all the ages. He has had mercy upon me.”
  • 5/22 – Tobit 11:16-18 – Is the “welcome” sign we find at the entrance of our homes only a word or is this what we really wish people coming to visit us? Prayer starter: I thank you, Lord, for the people you bring into my life and into my home. Help me to be a welcoming host and friend.