December 1^st is the first Sunday of the Advent Season.  It is also the start of a new church or liturgical year, Cycle “C” during which the Gospel readings each Sunday will primarily focus on the Gospel according to Saint Luke.  Advent gives us the opportunity to prepare ourselves, physically, emotionally and spiritually for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please resolve to spend a few minutes each day in prayer and reflection so that you may truly appreciate God’s great gift to His people, Eternal Life in the form of the Baby Jesus.

Today, at 10:45 AM, we will host a Special Breakfast and Service in the Fellowship Hall recognizing our veterans.  We will be honored by the presence of a guest speaker from the PA National Guard, Captain Brandon Sweeney.   This breakfast and service will be free to all who attend.  Please see the flyers on the table in the vestibule for more information.  Take several and spread the word to your friends and neighbors.   November 11^th is set aside each year to remember and to honor all those who serve or who have served in the armed forces of the United States of America, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us and for our freedom.  Please, do not forget or diminish their service in any way.  Go out of your way to thank a veteran or active duty member this week and pray for their safety always.

The Annual Polish Picnic is over!  It was a great success.  Many thanks to everyone who worked so hard in any way to make it so.  And thanks to all of our guests for your continued support!  SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR!

 

As we continue to enjoy this beautiful, albeit hot, summer season with which the Lord has gifted us, please try to take a moment out of your busy days to remember those of our brothers and sisters who are less blessed than ourselves.  If you are able, reach out financially, spiritually, socially or bodily and act on the Lord’s behalf.  Go, as the Lord sent His disciples, and spread His love to all of those who feel neglected or forgotten. Show them that they are not alone and that God loves them and so do we.

Wishing a Happy Fathers’ Day to all fathers everywhere especially those of our Parish.  And prayers for the repose of the souls of those fathers who have passed to life eternal.

June is set aside by the Church as Vocations Month.  Please pray that the Lord will send more men to serve as priests and deacons in His Holy Polish National Catholic Church. 

I want to wish every mother of our parish a happy, healthy, joyous and blessed Mother’s Day.  We are all guilty of taking you for granted at least sometime during the year, so please accept our apologies and best wishes on this special day honoring God’s second greatest gift to mankind.

Over these next few weeks, we will be learning about the time that Jesus spent on Earth after His resurrection and before His glorious Ascension to the right hand of the Father in Heaven.  We will hear of theses deeds from the apostles who were the witnesses of them.  Then we will celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples, filling them with wisdom, knowledge and power as well as the gift of tongues or the ability to speak so that all people could understand them regardless of their own languages.  So as you can see, Easter is not just one day.  It is not even the Octave, or eight weeks that we celebrate.  No, Easter is every day of the year.  Christ risen from the grave happens eternally and forever for the forgiveness of our sins.

In these trying times, I urge you to take comfort and draw joy from the eternal Easter message, He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!   Christ’s glorious resurrection is what being a Christian is all about and today is when we sing aloud our happiness and joy. For it is through Jesus’ eternal, perfect sacrifice on the cross that we are made whole, our sins forgiven and the promise of eternal life is bestowed upon us.  All we need to do to reap this greatest of all gifts is to believe in Him, our Lord and Savior, and to follow His teachings as He leads us on the road to the Heavenly Kingdom.  Please, be strong, take care and stay well as we once again join together as the one Body of Christ to sing praise, honor and glory to His most Holy Name.

The Triduum begins tonight with the Mass of Holy Thursday, sometimes called Maundy Thursday.  This is the Mass that celebrates Christ’s Last Supper during which He instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist in which He shares His Body and Blood with us for the strengthening of our spiritual life. Please join us at 7:00 PM for this solemn occasion.