Basket Social — Sunday, March 21st

Holy Name’s 8th Annual Basket Social will take place on Sunday, March 21st at VFW Post 357, 1309 Fifth Avenue, Schenectady NY 12303 (map). Doors will open at noon. Raffle tickets will be available for themed baskets. There are door prizes and Polish food will be available.

This wonderful fellowship event features variously themed “baskets” created by our parishioners. Attendees from far and wide are amazed at the creativity found in the various themes, finding everything from children’s baskets to a baseball, movie, or chocolate lovers’ paradise.
Once again, the Social features a Polish Kitchen headed up by Marianne Weglinski. Marianne highlights a wonderful cross-section of homemade Polish food.

Everyone is welcome to come enjoy the food and have a good time.

For more information call 518-587-0299.

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us.

Bible Study for the Second Pre-Lenten Week
  • 2/7 – Jonah 2:1-9 – Do my prayers reflect the awareness of being God’s beloved creature and child? Prayer starter: We acknowledge you, Lord, as the “God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Help us to acknowledge that you also made all nations and every human creature and that you care for everyone.
  • 2/8 – Job 7:7-21 – Is prayer a time and place where I can put forward my deepest concerns and greatest fears? Prayer starter: All loving God, you hear all our prayers, even the most desperate and confused. We trust that you will sort them out and being peace and light in our difficult times.
  • 2/9 – Job 10:1-22 – How sensitive am I to people around me who are wearied with life and what am I ready to do for them? Prayer starter: We pray to you, Lord of life, who fashioned every one of us and granted us the breath of life. Remember all those who are wearied and long for happiness and peace of mind in life.
  • 2/10 – Lamentations 5:1-22 – How can I pray and take action, for peace in the world? Prayer starter: Lord, see the disgrace and desolation of entire populations wearied by the plagues of war. Teach us the virtues of dialogue and peace between nations and cultures.
  • 2/11 – Nehemiah 9:5-37 – When asking for God’s forgiveness, do I take enough time to listen to God’s word and to recall God’s blessings? Prayer starter: We give you thanks for the many blessings received from you. We also acknowledge our sinfulness and our failures to live up to the greatness of your love for us.
  • 2/12 – Judith 9:1-14 – On which of God’s attributes do I rely when I pray for ”the forsaken” and “those without hope”? Prayer starter: You are a humble God whose heart is filled with compassion and understanding for the poor and the lowly. Protect them and keep them in your loving kindness.
  • 2/13 – Tobit 3:1-17 – Do I believe in the healing power of prayer? Prayer starter: Lord God, hear the prayer of all those who suffer and forget not those who suffer but cannot find the energy or the words to pray for their healing.

Septuagesima / Czas Przedpoście

Pre-Lent, or Septuagesima, began with the ninth week before Easter and includes the Polish names for the weeks dating from around 1248.

The liturgical period is a prelude to Lent and a remote preparation for Easter. It serves as a time of transition from Christmas joy to Lenten sobriety. The Gloria/Chwała is omitted.

Let this time cause you to focus on your journey with Jesus.

Prayer service on the Sunday within the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity

For the third year, St. Adalbert’s R.C. Parish and Holy Name of Jesus PNC Parish joined together on the Sunday within the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity to jointly offer our petitions and prayers for Christian unity. Fr. Carl Urban of St. Adalbert’s and Fr. Stanley Bilinski Jr. of Holy Name jointly planned the service. They invited His Grace, the Most Rev. Howard Hubbard, Bishop of the R.C. Diocese of Albany to join in prayer and to be the guest homilist.

The theme of this year’s service was: “You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:48). The Gospel reading was Luke 24. This year’s service fell on the centenary of the Edinburgh Mission Conference which began the Ecumenical movement. Fr. Bilinski and Fr. Urban offered prayer during the service using the texts adapted and published for use in the United States by the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute. Deacon James Konicki offered the Gospel, and Mr. Lawrence E. Panfil and Mrs. Claudia C. Bertasso, the Chairman and Treasurer of Holy Name Parish, offered the petitions. Music was offered by Holy Name organist and choir director Liz Battaglia.

Bishop Hubbard’s well elucidated talk focused on the centrality of prayer and local action as the starting points for ecumenism. He noted that unity will not be achieved by a forced unanimity in prayer and organization, but by a mutual sharing of the gifts, liturgical life, and organizational structures found in the Churches.

Following the service, Fr. Bilinski led the congregation in the Exposition and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament according to the Rites of the Polish National Catholic Church. Bishop Hubbard offered a blessing.

A festive repast was held in the Parish hall following the service where a large selection of delicacies, pastries, and drinks was served. As Fr. Bilinski noted, this event has now become part of our shared experience and something that stands along major events in our yearly calendar. We look forward to joining with the congregation of St. Adalbert’s at their Parish in 2011.

More photos are available in our Parish Photo Gallery.

“Souper Bowl” Sunday, February 7th

“Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat” — Souper Bowl of Caring founding prayer.

Even though this has become a “national” holiday in our American tradition, it has also become a kind of tradition in our parish as well. Our youth asks us to participate in this important way again this year: to consider a donation for the “Souper Bowl”.

This is a national effort wherein funds are collected and given to local agencies to help in some type of relief. A “soup pot” will be available this Sunday for your loose change, folding money, or even canned goods.

Thanks in advance for your consideration and help!

National United Choirs Music Scholarships and Choir Sunday

Our National United Choirs (NUC) is asking every choir throughout our church to sing a common hymn next Sunday, January 31st, on its annual observance of its ministry to our Church. The National United Choirs is one of the oldest organizations we have in our history.

The Music Scholarship program has at its core a ministry to the musicians studying in all disciplines. There is a scholarship and category for instrumental, vocal, conducting, and study of sacred music. If anyone of our congregation is eligible to apply for a scholarship, please see Father Stan for an application. He can also fill you in on the details of the application and its process.

The Scholarship program was begun in 1967 at a convention in Cleveland, OH, and has been highly prolific in its years of operation. Father Stan was a two-time recipient back in the last century. We are also blessed to have a multiple-year recipient in Hannah, and singular year winners in Jenna, Melissa, and Claudia.

If you have read the articles in the church papers, you would have seen the notices to purchase the CD’s and/or tapes that were made of the concerts performed at the bi-ennial gatherings of the Choirs. And, God being kind, the long-anticipated bi-lingual hymnal will soon see the light of day.

Again, if anyone is taking lessons in any of the music disciplines and would like to apply for a scholarship this year, the application request must be mailed soon to meet its completion deadline of 1 April.

We thank our good Lord for the ministry of the Choirs, and pray that they will continue to serve our Church in the years to come.

Bible Study for the Fifth Week of Christmas
  • 1/24 – Luke 23:1-32 – How can we, as Christians, foster the option for peace rather than violence in the world around us? Prayer starter: Jesus, you were condemned in my place. May I firmly resolve to reject sin and its ways; do not hide from my eyes the things that make for peace.
  • 1/25 – Luke 23:33-56 – To what extent do my deeds match my faith in Jesus? Prayer starter: Jesus, you died for love of me. May I live always for love of you.
  • 1/26 – Luke 24:1-32 – If death cannot derail God’s plans, what reason is there to ever fear? Prayer starter: Lord of life, you make all things new through your death and resurrection, renew me and make me a new creation in you.
  • 1/27 – Luke 24:36-53 – Do I believe in and hope for this other side of life opened up by Jesus’ resurrection? Prayer starter: Lord, help me to believe that you can raise me and my loved ones from the death give me a strong hope in eternal life.
  • 1/28 – Exodus 15:1-21 – What have been the greatest deliverances and wonders for which I want to praise God? Prayer starter: There is no God like you and no deliverance like yours. Blessed are you, God of my salvation.
  • 1/29 – Deuteronomy 32:1-43 – When praying, do I allow God to challenge me? Prayer starter: You are a faithful God, O Lord, and your compassion is infinite. Keep us in your loving kindness and help us to rise up to the greatness of your call.
  • 1/30 – 1 Samuel 2:1-10 – What would be the circumstances of my life that would call for a Magnifcat to the Lord who raises the lowly? Prayer starter: Lord, you are a humble God who hears the prayer of the lowly and of the poor. Cast away any pride or arrogance in our hearts so that we may rejoice in your victory.

Do you have a Serendipity Calendar?

We have already had one winner in December! Registration for 2010 continues. Calendar numbers are available at $20 per year. Your donation supports the Parish and provides the opportunity to play along throughout the year. Consider picking up an unreserved number for an opportunity to win! Call the Parish for more information at 518-372-1992.

Rules for participation!

  1. Upon registration you will be asked to choose a three digit number. Three choices per registration will be asked for and will be granted/filled on a first-come, first served basis.
  2. Only one thousand (1000) registrations will be taken.
  3. If your chosen number matches the three-digit number (straight) for the New York State evening daily lottery, you will win the prize amount for that day.
  4. Winners’ names will be posted in the Parish Hall (1040 Pearl Street, Schenectady, NY 12303) at the end of every month.
  5. Checks will be issued at that time and mailed to winners at the addresses given upon registration.
  6. Serendipity calendar donations are not tax deductible.
  7. Proceeds from this serendipity calendar shall be used towards parochial educational programs and expenses.
  8. If less than 500 calendars are registered prior to 1/31/2010, the Holy Name of Jesus Parish reserves the right to cancel the program for the year. Registrants will be informed of any decision made and will be given the opportunity to have their registration donation returned.

Further information can be received either by mailing Holy Name of Jesus National Catholic Church – PNCC, 1040 Pearl Street, Schenectady, NY 12303, by telephone at (518) 372-1992 (Office/Fax) or via E-mail.

Bible Study for the Fourth Week of Christmas
  • 1/17 – Luke 16 – Am I a good steward of the gifts received from God? Prayer starter: Dear Lord, help me to be faithful in all the little things that you have given me to do; help me to be considered a trustworthy servant in your kingdom.
  • 1/18 – Luke 17 – How do I respond to the many blessings I have received from Jesus? Prayer starter: Lord, help me to have faith to forgive my brother and see all the reason I am like the leper who needs to come to you with gratitude for the many ways you heal me.
  • 1/19 – Luke 18 – How can my prayer conform to the simple and humble prayer of the tax collector? Prayer starter: Lord God, be merciful to me, give me the desire to pray always so that I will not become weary along the way.
  • 1/20 – Luke 19 – Do I see Jesus’ Kingdom as a gift entrusted to me and for which I must exercise good stewardship? Prayer starter: Lord, help me to seek and find you like Zaccheus; help me to be a wise steward of all that you have entrusted to me.
  • 1/21 – Luke 20 – Have I found the proper balance in giving back what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God? Prayer starter: Lord, you do teach the way of God in all truth, help me to accept your teaching and always discern what is true and lasting.
  • 1/22 – Luke 21 – Whom in my life have I judged by outward appearances and failed to look at the heart? Prayer starter: Lord, help me to give my very self to you and to those around me.
  • 1/23 – Luke 22 – How does the experience of the Eucharist make me enter into Jesus’ new covenant? Prayer starter: Lord, each time I receive you in the Eucharist you give yourself once again to me. May I respond to your love by giving myself and following you wholeheartedly.