śp. Loretta Offman, passed away on March 24th. She was a dedicated member of our parish beginning in Paterson before our parish moved to Woodland Park. She was a member of Moniuszko Choir and treasurer of the Daughters of Holy Cross for many years.
A funeral Holy Mass was celebrated on Wednesday June 13th. Loretta was buried alongside her mother, Josefa Offman at St. Nicholas Cemetery, 2 Terrace, Ave, Lodi, NJ. May she rest in peace.
Ś+P Loretta Offman Read More »
To the Very Reverend, Reverend Fathers and the Reverend Messrs., and my dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord:
¡Viva el mes de junio! That’s Spanish for “Long live June,” “Hurray for June.” Hurray, indeed! And welcome to the month of vocations in the Polish National Catholic Church: June is Sacred Vocations month for us. June is the month we focus on our great need for priests, and on the need for significant donations throughout the PNCC to be made to the Clergy Pension Plan.
Our need of priests is dire and critical, but I am nonetheless hopeful and optimistic. Even though no Polish National Catholic families have sacrificed even one of their men, young or old, to our altars in the past twelve years, (and it doesn’t look like any family will in the near future), I remain optimistic. Even though our seminary has been empty for that period of time, except for the occasional priest from another Church orienting himself there to work as a priest in the PNCC, I have good reason to hope because I have experienced God’s providence. Our parish in Denver was declining but was pulled back from the brink of closure by an Hispanic priest from Mexico and 90 people of Mexican heritage who now comprise the great majority of that parish. St Francis, Denver, is growing, and is enthusiastically PNCC, and is flying 18 young people and 6 adults to Convo 2018 here next month.
Because Father Alfonso Castillo needs pastoral help there, I enthusiastically agreed to review applications from priest friends of his in Mexico to provide assistance to him, and subsequently serve our American parishes desperate for priests. In our Diocese, two priests, in fine parishes, are retiring next year. I have no one to fill them. A priest in our Diocese is on three parishes in Jersey. Three priests are on two parishes each. And there are ailing and aging priests all over the place! And yet I am hopeful. So I say, ¡Viva México!
With the increase in aging clergy comes the need for our Clergy Pension Plan to support them all. We collect for this vital entitlement throughout the year and especially in the month of June. We need more capital to invest, the interest from which the pension payments are made. From age 70, a PNCC priest can look forward to a monthly check in the amount of $600; and his widow, a check in the amount of $300. Please be generous in this drive. And so I say, in my optimism, ¡Viva el Plan de Pensión del Clero! (Hurray for our Clergy Pension plan!)
I believe God is showing us a potential direction for the future of our Church; and that pathway seems to be presenting itself from south of the border. For the Methodist Church, that pathway is from South Korea, and for the Roman Catholic Church, from India among other sources. In light of all of this, Bishop Hodur has indeed blessed us with a most optimistic motto for our Church when he penned: A través de la Verdad, el Trabajo y las Dificultades ¡Venceremos!
Yours in Christ,
Bishop Bernard
To read the original version as a PDF file.
Bishop Bernard’s Pastoral Letter on Vocations Read More »
On the Solemnity of Holy Trinity, Sunday, May 27th we heard the commission of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He sent apostles to proclaim the good news, make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We witnessed the fulfillment of the Gospel through the Sacrament of Baptism administered to Luciana Maria Aldas Pillasagua, the precious daughter of Angel Aldas and Wendy (Pillasagua); proud godparents were uncle and aunt: Gustavo Hualoto and Susana Aldas. We congratulate parents, godparents, family members and friends on this special occasion.
The Sacrament of Baptism is the foundation of our Christian faith, it is a gateway to life in the Spirit and the door that gives access to other sacraments. It regenerates us to a new life of grace, unites us with God, and makes us members of Christ’s Church. In baptism we are immersed into the life of Jesus – His death and resurrection.
We welcome Luciana as the newest member of our parish.
God Bless Luciana Maria Read More »
On the Solemnity of Pentecost we witnessed the celebration of First Holy Communion administered to Roxanne Cadavid, Joseph Cadavid, Dominic Porcoro Jr., and Julianna Porcoro. We congratulate them and their families on this special day.
The new recipients of the Holy Eucharist are welcomed to participate in the life of the parish by serving as altar servers, and in the future, as lectors reading the Word of God.
The Holy Eucharist is Jesus Christ who is really present under the forms of bread and wine. In the Eucharist, Jesus Christ gives us Himself as a food for our souls. The bread and wine becomes the Body and Blood of our Lord during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass when the priest says words of consecration which Jesus used during the Last Supper: This is My Body… This is My Blood… (Catechism of the PNCC)
First Holy Communion Read More »
We congratulate Dominic-James Porcoro Jr. and Julianna Theresina Porcoro on receiving the Sacrament of Baptism on May 15th. They are children of Dominic Porcoro and Jena Wramage. Proud godparents are Dennis Hoffmann and Jennifer Porcoro; Gustavo de Suoza Rocha and Michelle Porcoro-Marino.
The Sacrament of Baptism is the foundation of our Christian faith, it is a gateway to life in the Spirit and the door that gives access to other sacraments. It regenerates us to a new life of grace, unites us with God, and makes us members of Christ’s Church. In baptism we are immersed into the life of Jesus – His death and resurrection.
We welcome Dominic and Julianna as the newest members of the Church.
God Bless Dominic-James and Julianna Theresina Read More »
On Sunday, May 13th, the Seventh Sunday of Easter, and Mother’s Day, we welcomed the newest member of our parish – Jackson Joseph Rutch through the Sacrament of Baptism. Jackson is the precious son of Michael Joseph Rutch and Elizabeth Lillian (nee Vasquez). Proud godparents were Luis Manuel Vasquez and Maria Molina –Vasquez. We congratulate Rutch and Vasques families, relatives and friends on this special occasion.
The Sacrament of Baptism is the foundation of our Christian faith, it is a gateway to life in the Spirit and the door that gives access to other sacraments. It regenerates us to a new life of grace, unites us with God, and makes us members of Christ’s Church. In baptism we are immersed into the life of Jesus – His death and resurrection.
God Bless Michael Joseph Read More »
We congratulate Leonard William Schaefer and Lidia (Aguilar) Schaefer for on the baptism of their precious daughter, Leila Rose Schaefer on Sunday April 8, 2018. We also congratulate the proud godparents, Daniel Schaefer and Sandralis Barbosa as well as grandparents, members of Schaefer and Aguilar families, relatives and friends. We welcome Leila as the newest member of the Holy Church.
The Sacrament of Baptism is the foundation of our Christian faith, it is a gateway to life in the Spirit and the door that gives access to other sacraments. It regenerates us to a new life of grace, unites us with God, and makes us members of Christs’ Church. In baptism we are immersed into the life of Jesus – His death and resurrection.
God Bless Leila Rose Read More »
We congratulate Nelson Castillo Jr. and Kiara Marie (Santiago) on the baptism of their precious daughter, Valentina Rose Castillo on Saturday, April 7th. We also congratulate the proud godparents, Brandon Santiago and Isabel Castillo as well as grandparents, members of Castillo and Santiago families, relatives, and friends. We welcome Valentina as the newest member of the Holy Church.
The Sacrament of Baptism is the foundation of our Christian faith, it is a gateway to life in the Spirit and the door that gives access to other sacraments. It regenerates us to a new life of grace, unites us with God, and makes us members of Christs’ Church. In baptism we are immersed into the life of Jesus – His death and resurrection.
God Bless Valentina Rose Read More »
On Sunday, February 25th the Baptism, the first part for the Sacrament of Baptism-Confirmation was conferred upon David Joseph Mazur, son of Christopher Mazur and Rosanna (Bartolomeo) Mazur. Proud godparents were Nicola Bartolomeo and Gabrielle Brown. We congratulate the Mazur and Bartolomeo families as well as grandparents, family members and friends on this special occasion. The Sacrament of Baptism-Confirmation is the foundation of our Christian faith, is a gateway to new life in the Spirit, and the door that gives access to other sacraments. Through the Sacrament of Baptism-Confirmation we are regenerated and incorporated into Christ’s body – His Church.
As God made the covenant with his people so through Baptism, Jesus makes a new and everlasting covenant with his followers. As Jesus won new life for us on the cross, with the symbol of the cross, David was marked to receive the new life in the Lord. As the waters of the Red Sea led the people of Israel to freedom so the water of Baptism gave new life and lead to Salvation. Parents, godparents and all members of our parish pledge to help this child to grow in Christian faith.
David became the newest member of Holy Cross Church. With his presence we continue our service of spreading God’s presence in our community for the past 92 years.
Sacrament of Baptism Read More »
From Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral’s Blog
Bishop Thaddeus Peplowski 1936 – 2018
The Right Rev. Thaddeus S. Peplowski, Bishop Emeritus of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church, died Friday in the Macauley Residence, Town of Tonawanda, after nine months of declining health. He was 81
Bishop Peplowski was born on Nov. 4, 1936, in Albany, the son of Joseph and Sophia (Zalenski) Peplowski, and baptized in the Polish National Catholic Church. As a youth, he received his Catholic education at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Albany and his formal education in the Albany public education system.
He entered the Savonarola Theological Seminary, in Scranton, PA, in September 1954, and completed a four year course of study. He was ordained to priesthood on May 15, 1958 by Most Rev. Leon Grochowski. His first assignment was, ironically, at the parish he is serving presently, the Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral, which he served for nine years. Of his first assignment in Buffalo he stressed involvement with the youth of the parish, and organized a strong Youth Club of whom members are still very active in the parish.
After leaving Buffalo he was assigned to All Saints Parish in Rome, New York and St. Joseph Parish in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, until 1971. After those assignments he organized the St. Barbara Parish in Houtzdale, PA, and stayed there until 1990 when he was assigned to the Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral in Buffalo which he served until his retirement in 2012.
He was elevated to the office of Monsignor (Senior Priest) in July 1982 by Most Rev. John Swantek and served as the dean of the Central Deanery of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese. He was elected a bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church at the 19th General Synod of the Polish National Catholic Church in Toronto, Canada. On Nov. 30, 1995 he was consecrated bishop by Most Rev. John Swantek, and installed as Ordinary of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh diocese on the same day at Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral.
During his time as priest and bishop, he was responsible in organizing several parishes that include St. Stephen the Martyr Parish in Canada in 1969, St. Barbara Parish in Houtzdale in 1970, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Lilly, PA, in 1995. Later he organized St. Martin & Rose Parish and Annunciation Parish, both in San Antonio, TX, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Mesa, AZ, Transfiguration Parish in Mt. Pleasant, PA, in 2003, Our Lady of Good Health in Dallas, TX, and St. Anne Parish in New Millport, PA, with the last two in 2008.
He has performed mission work at St. Thomas Mission in Tyrone, PA, Blessed Sacrament Mission in Fayetteville, NC, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Denver, CO, and Holy Cross Mission in Pe Ell, WA. Mission work was also performed in North and South Carolina, Virginia, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Canada. Mission work over ten years was done with the Nordic Catholic Church which had eight parishes in Norway where he served as its Missionary Bishop.
He instituted many items of importance, that exist to this day, such as the National Youth Convocations, first held in Buffalo in 1964, Altar Boy Retreats, Diocesan Basketball Tournaments, Youth Tours to Poland where he served four times as Youth Chaplain, the Diocesan Holy Mount Retreat Program, and helped to establish the bi-annual Music Workshop of the United Choirs of the PNCC.
His other activities in the Polish National Catholic Church are: representative in the Old/Orthodox Dialogue Commission, which produced the book, “Road to Unity,” served for six years on the Dialogue Commission with the Roman Catholic Church, which produced “Journeying Together in Christ,” signed a Convenant agreement between the Buffalo Roman Catholic Diocese and the PNCC Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese with Bishop Edward Head, taught Liturgy for five years at the Savonarola Seminary, and authored a “Handbook on Liturgy” in 1981, for students and priests of the Polish National Catholic Church. He then was appointed to chair the PNCC/Orthodox Dialogue Commission.
He directed a Polish Cultural Program in Houtzdale which included weekly Polish language and pisanki classes. He directed Polish dance groups that performed in Buffalo, Cheektowaga, in Poland, in the State Education Building in Harrisburg, PA, and many other performances in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and at the rededication ceremony of the Statue of Liberty. While serving on the board of directors of the Polish National Union for eight years the Bishop Hodur Center was built, and a new office was constructed.
However his biggest achievement, as far as his present parishioners are concerned, was the building of the multi-million dollar cathedral complex, located on Broadway in Lancaster. His foresight, courage, guidance, and inspiration were essential to the successful completion of this project.
During his 50 years in the priesthood he has traveled extensively, and has visited Poland fourteen times, Holland, Germany, Italy on several occasions, Switzerland, England, Greece, Turkey, Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. He has had an audience with Pope John Paul II in 1992 and met with the Patriarch, Bartholomew II in Istanbul, Turkey. At one time Bishop Peplowski had a private pilot’s license, and wishes he still had it to help him in his journeys.
His many recent awards include the General Pulaski Association of the Niagara Frontier Recognition of his spiritual guidance to Polonia in 2002, the Polish National Union of America award in recognition of many years of dedicated service in 1999, the Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies (Roman Catholic) Ecumenical Award for outstanding work for God, church and community in 1993, the 1991 Am-Pol Eagle Citizen of the Year Award in the religion category, the 2005 Am-Pol Eagle Citizen Award in the heritage category, and the Buffalo Bisons and the Polish Community of WNY award of Polish American Citizen of the Year award in 2006. He is listed in Strathmore’s Who’s Who in 2006-2007.
On June 7, 2008 Bishop Peplowski was honored at the Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral, in Lancaster, the See of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese, bishop, pastor, and spiritual leader on his 50th anniversary of priesthood. He retired in 2012.
The parishioners of Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral know how blessed they were to have Bishop Peplowski as their pastor and spiritual leader. While their hearts are deeply saddened in his passing, it was their greatest honor to know and love him.
God bless you Bishop Peplowski or Bishop Pep as we fondly referred to him, you will remain forever in our hearts!
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace Amen.
Joyfully Remembered, Already Missed! Read More »