Your Lenten Journey in Schenectady

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

Directed Lenten Denial

Each week of Lent this year, we will be asked to bring in a specific item that is needed for those who have not. Although each week is a different item, you may either “catch up” or plan ahead, whichever is better for you. (Note: for those of you who will need to document your donations, simply list what items you have donated and the list will be verified after the Easter season.)

  • FIRST WEEK OF LENT, (3/13): Pasta products: any type of pasta can be donated; boxed or bagged.
  • SECOND WEEK OF LENT, (3/20): Baby Formula: any type of formula may be offered; ready-mix, concentrated, powder, etc. Please be sure it contains iron. Also powdered milk, canned milk, as well.
  • THIRD WEEK OF LENT, (3/27): Baby Food: any type of canned or jarred baby food may be donated for any age group. This donation may include all vegetables, fruits, meats, etc.
  • FOURTH WEEK OF LENT, (4/3): Canned vegetables: any type of canned vegetables may be offered. Soups may be here included.
  • FIFTH WEEK OF LENT, (4/10): Canned fruits: any type of canned fruits may be donated. Fruit sauces are also included here.
  • HOLY WEEK, (4/17): Protein Products: peanut butter, nuts, canned meats (tuna, ham, chicken, etc.), dried cheeses.

The distribution of donations will be done on Maundy Thursday.

This type of donation schedule will allow us to meet specific needs of those in our community. Any other items than these above listed may also be brought in.

May God bless this Lenten Season.

History of the National United Choirs Music Scholarship Program of the PNCC

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__.

Work in a democratic Church

To sustain our democratic Church, its members are encouraged to be involved, and to exercise their right to a voice and a vote.

Call to Volunteer Ministries

Once again, we turn to the parish family and ask for assistance in the tasks we share as a community:

Altar Servers – This ministry is open to all who have made their First Holy Communion, especially those of this past year’s class. If you would like to share in this ministry, please give your name to Father Stan.

Lectors – This ministry is open to all adult members of our parish, including those who have made their Confirmation. Additionally, if you would like to enter into this ministry, please give your name to Father Stan.

Womens’ Society for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament – we are always looking for more of our parish women to join the long-standing organization. We thank the women thus organized for their ministry thus far in the service of our Lord and to this parish. Please consider this invitation.

Saturday Night Bingo Workers – we are entering into a new chapter in our efforts on Saturday evening. We could always use some extra help, even if you can only give a few hours between 5-7 pm. If you can offer these or a few more, please see Father Stan.

Nominations and our Annual Congregational Meeting

Please remember that nomination forms found in the December Newsletter are due next Sunday, January 2, 2011. This will give the Nominations Committee some time to fill any positions which have no names suggested for them. Please interact with this democratic aspect of our parish government.

Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held following Holy Mass on Sunday, January 30, 2011.

The Christmas Season at Holy Name – Schenectady

Vigil of the Nativity and the Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord

Midnight Holy Mass/Pasterka (Mass of the Shepherds) will be celebrated on Friday/Saturday, December 24/25, beginning at midnight with the procession to the manager and the reading of the Christmas proclamation.

The Holy Mass for Christmas Day will be celebrated on Saturday, December 25th at 10am.

Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds

Holy Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, December 26th at 9:30am. The blessing of wine in honor of St. John the Evangelist will take place following Holy Mass. Blessed wine will be distributed and shared.

Solemnity of the Circumcision of our Lord

Holy Mass will be celebrated Saturday, January 1st at 10am.

Solemnity of the Holy Name of Jesus

Holy Mass will be celebrated Sunday, January 2nd at 9:30am. This Solemnity marks the Feast Day of our Parish.

Solemnity of the Lord’s Epiphany

Pastoral Epiphany visitations begin.
Holy Mass will be celebrated Thursday, January 6th at 6:30pm.

Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord

Holy Mass will be celebrated Sunday, January 9th at 9:30am.

Solemnity of the Presentation of the Lord

Candlemas Day, End of the Christmas Season.

Special Holy Mass this Friday, November 12th

A word about the special mass scheduled for this Friday evening –

In years past, we had placed our parish concerns before the Lord within the prayers of Holy Mass. Since each Sunday Mass is specifically celebrated for the congregation, this intention is more focused.

We are facing once again some uncertainty is our near future: financially, organizationally, and ministerially. In years past, we have presented these concerns before the Lord, especially those of our financial needs, and He has been faithful. The despair and uncertainty were erased and we were able to carry on in His overwhelming grace.

Facing these uncertain times for our parish, as well as many other concerns as a nation and world, it is time, once again, to kneel before the Lord as a parish family to make these petitions. As The Lord has been faithful in those other times we have placed our concerns before Him, there is no reason to expect Him not to heed our pleas, and He will show us what lies ahead. If there are changes to be made, we must be courageous enough to accept them and apply them.

In whatever resolution to our payers that will come from our communal time together, we must truly believe that it is His Will for us.

Let us gather this coming Friday evening, November 12th and place ourselves within the presence and mercy of our gracious Lord. Holy Mass is scheduled for 6:30 pm.

A historic event: Installation of the 7th Prime Bishop of the PNCC

On Sunday, November 21st, the seventh Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church will be formally installed for service in a solemn ceremony prior to Holy Mass concelebrated by all the Bishops of our Church. (we currently have 2 Prime Bishops Emeritus, 1 retired bishop, 6 active bishops and 1 bishop-elect).

The Ceremonies shall begin at 3pm, with a dinner following at the Scranton Hilton Hotel. The Supreme Council of the Church is hosting this dinner at no charge to the attendees.

Ecumenical dignitaries have been invited to participate as well as local governmental officials. Local television coverage has been arranged, with the possibility of the ceremony being carried into the national broadcast venue.

We will need to let the National Church Office know of the number of attendees by November 5th. Again, there is no cost to attend the dinner.

We won’t have to consider the planning of an event like this for another eight years; and, since our new Prime Bishop is only 44 years old, we may not have to consider this event for another 16 years. So it is of importance that we consider witnessing this great event in the life of our Holy Church.

Please let Father Stan know of your intentions to represent our parish for this important time in the life of our Holy Church.

Congratulations to Adam Konicki & Hannah Bilinski

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.

Upcoming Parish Events

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?”

A special celebration, this September

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.