Transfiguration of Our Lord PNCC

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A photographic retrospective of our children receiving their First Holy Communion.

Bishop Anthony Mikovsky and the clergy of the Central Diocese, at their meeting on August 20, 2009, decided once again to organize Acolyte Retreat for the Central Diocese of the PNCC in summer of the year 2010.

The retreat will be held from Tuesday, June 29 (noon), through Friday, July 02 (noon) 2010 at the Bishop Hodur Retreat and Recreation Center, Spojnia Farm, Waymart, PA. The participants will have a great opportunity to pray together in order to know better our Lord Jesus Christ and to spend a wonderful time with “old” and “new” friends. The deadline for registration is June 06, 2010. Cost of retreat: $65. Registration Forms and Information Sheet are at the parish office. Please see Fr. Gregory.

Thanks to all of you who helped to decorate the church, helped during Holy Week and Resurrection services and processions, and those who attended. Special thanks to our Music Minister Dawn Wassman and our Choir. May Jesus’ Resurrection bring you many blessings! ALLELUIA!

April 11, 2010. The Second Sunday of Easter.

9:00am Holy Mass for President of Poland Lech Kaczyński and his wife Maria Kaczyńska.

11:00am Polska Msza Św. za dusze śp. Prezydenta Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej Lecha Kaczyńskiego i jego żony Mari Kaczyńskiej.

Fr. Gregory attended the recently held meeting of the PNC Church’s Mission and Evangelism Commission. The meeting was held at St. Joseph’s Parish in Davie, Florida from March 15th to the 17th. The meeting was in preparation for the Church’s National Mission and Evangelism Seminar, to be held at All Saints Cathedral in Chicago from April 30th to May 2nd.

The Passaic Ecumenical committee held its annual prayer service in celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Sunday, January 24th at St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Passaic, NJ. Fr. Gregory participated in the service as well as Fr. Senior Stanley Skrzypek from Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Passaic.

The Wallington Pułaski Memorial Association held a commemoration service and laying of flowers at the monument to Gen. Casimir Pułaski on Main Avenue in Wallington, New Jersey on Saturday, October 3rd at 5pm. Father Gregory offered the invocation.

Father offered the following as his prayer:

Take thy banner! and if e’er
Thou shouldst press the soldier’s bier,
And the muffled drum should beat
To the tread of mournful feet,
Then this crimson flag shall be
Martial cloak and shroud for thee!”
The warrior took that banner proud,
And it was his martial cloak and shroud!

From The Hymn of the Moravian Nuns of Bethlehem at the Consecration of Pułaski’s Banner by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

O God, Creator and Supreme Ruler of mankind, Who implanted in the people of the Polish Nation a love of their Fatherland, native language, and national ideals, and most particularly the ideal of freedom, we remember before you today General Casimir Pułaski who strongly believed in and fought for freedom, not only for his native Country, but for our United States in the struggle for independence.

Fighting bravely to preserve Poland’s freedom, General Pułaski lost his brother and father in war. In spite of this tragic loss, General Pułaski wrote to General Washington, “I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.” He offered his life in the cause of freedom. Therefore, Father, we commend to Your boundless goodness his soul and the souls of all who continue to defend freedom with their lives. Grant that we too may learn to pursue the path of duty, consecration, and sacrifice which General Pułaski, our forefathers, and our brothers and sisters have trod. We ask all this through Your Son, Jesus Christ Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Casimir Pułaski, the oldest son of Count Joseph Pułaski, was born in March, 1748. At the age of fifteen, he joined his father and other members of the Polish nobility in opposing the Russian and Prussian interference of Polish political affairs. Cast an outlaw by Russia for his actions on behalf of Polish liberty, he traveled to Paris where he met Benjamin Franklin. Franklin persuaded him to support the colonies against England in the American Revolution.

Pułaski, impressed with the ideals of a new nation struggling to be free, volunteered his services. Franklin wrote to George Washington describing the young Pole as an officer, renowned throughout Europe for the courage and bravery he displayed in defense of his country’s freedom.

In 1777, Pułaski arrived in Philadelphia where he met General Washington, Commander-in -Chief of the Continental Army. Later at Brandywine, he came to the aid of Washington’s forces and distinguished himself as a brilliant military tactician. For his efforts, Congress appointed him Brigadier-General in charge of Four Horse Brigades. Then again, at the battles of Germantown and Valley Forge, Pułaski’s knowledge of warfare assisted Washington and his men.

Later in 1778, through Washington’s intervention, Congress approved the establishment of the Cavalry and put Pułaski at its head. The Father of the American Cavalry demanded much of his men and trained them in tested cavalry tactics. He used his own personal finances, when money from Congress was scarce, in order to assure his forces of the finest equipment and personal safety.

Pułaski and his legion were then ordered to defend Little Egg Harbor in New Jersey and Minisink on the Delaware and then south to Charleston, South Carolina. It was at the battle of Savannah in 1779 that General Pułaski, riding forth into battle on his horse, fell to the ground mortally wounded by the blast of cannon. It is said, the General’s enemies were so impressed with his courage, that they spared his life and permitted him to be carried from the battlefield. However, two days later, on October 11 Pulaski died.

Today all over the United States there are memorials for Casimir Pułaski. Many parks, streets, statues, and schools bear his name in memory of his courage and commitment to freedom.

On Saturday, August 8th the Central Diocese’s Convo 2010 Planning Committee held a meeting at Transfiguration Parish. Among the items discussed were the location for Convocation and events to be held in conjunction with Convo.

The Committee decided on Monmouth University in Long Branch, New Jersey as the Convo 2010 location. The theme will be “Governed by God.”

The Committee also determined that Convo 2010 participants would be invited to a beach party at the Ocean Place Resort and Spa, and to a tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island where Bishop Francis Hodur’s name is on display.