Bishop Bernard’s Visit and Thank You

Events, Parish Life, PNCC, St. Valentine /

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Last Sunday, July 7th, we had the pleasure of our Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Bernard Nowicki visiting with us. Bishop Bernard celebrated a very uplifting and beautiful Holy Mass. His homily and and his spiritual manner were refreshing and hopeful.

After Holy Mass, Bishop Bernard shared a light brunch with us and took the time to express his feelings and extend his gratitude for all our hard work and accomplishments.

The Bishop plans to visit us again in near future. We look forward to next visit.

This week we received a beautiful note from Bishop Bernard:

Dear Kris and Parishioners of St. Valentine’s Parish,

I just today received your generous gift for last week’s visit. It was mailed to the national Church Center where the Prime Bishop is located. He had it mailed to me here at the residence,

Thank you for your kindness and all the good work all of you are accomplishing and planning for God’s kingdom and our beloved Church.

Bishop Bernard

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Thank you

Events, Parish Life, St. Valentine /

From Mr. Anthony Trzaska: I just wanted to let you know that my the family reunion was a huge success and on Saturday, June 15th. Many more people than I anticipated showed up at the cemetery making that portion of the reunion a large success also. Being able to mark the relevant graves with the balloons (each grave had a red and white balloon) made it much easier for out of town people family members who were not familiar with the cemetery to find our ancestors.

I want to again thank you for your cooperation in helping make our event successful.

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Pułaski Day Parade Committee meeting

Events, St. Valentine /

The PuÅ‚aski Day Parade Committee of Polish American Congress (PAC), Eastern Pennsylvania District invites all members and delegates to attend a PuÅ‚aski Parade Committee and PAC Community Update Meeting on Wednesday, June 19th. Refreshments will be served starting at 7pm and the meeting will begin at 7:30pm in St. Valentine’s Parish Hall.

Kazimierz PułaskiThe Pułaski Observance Recognizes General Casimlr Pułaski who gave his life in the cause of our freedom in the Revolutionary War. The parade coincides with the 80th Anniversary of the PAC, Eastern Pennsylvania District. Normally, an individual is selected to be the Grand Marshal of the parade. However, due to the celebration of the 80th Anniversary, and in recognition of the many organizations that have marched in the parade over the years, the Parade will highlight those organizations and their designated representative as co-Grand Marshals.

Organizations can click here for an Information Contact Sheet. Please complete the sheet with the name of every person that should be contacted regarding upcoming parade meetings and other important parade information. We would like everyone’s E-mail address if possible, since future parade meeting notices will be E-malled. Those who do not have E-mail will receive notices by regular mail.

For more information about Philadelphia’s PuÅ‚aski Day parade visit the Polish American Congress Eastern Pennsylvania District website or the PuÅ‚askl Day Parade website. You may also call the PAC offices at (215) 739-3408 or send an E-mail to the PAC.

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Family reunion includes faith heritage

Events, Parish Life, PNCC, Prayer, St. Valentine /

Mr. Anthony Trzaska along with his cousin Antoinette Chwastyk Wills have been planning a large 3 day family reunion for over a year. The reunion will take place from June 14th through 16th. This reunion involves the Szczepanski, Sawicz, Chwastyk, and Trzaska families, all of which are interconnected and whose roots are in St. Valentine’s Polish National Catholic Church since it was founded in 1912.

During the afternoon of Saturday, June 15th the families will gather to visit the graves of family members interred in St. Valentine’s cemetery. Mr. Trzaska notes, “Many family are traveling great distances for this reunion and have never had an opportunity to visit these graves.”

Mr. Trzaska will be stationed at the cemetery for several hours to help guide people. He will have marked the graves with a single balloon for ease of locating family members’ resting places.

We invite all family members to visit the Church as well for Holy Mass on Sunday at 11:30am. May God bless your family gathering and protect you in your travels.

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Progress on our Spring Cemetery Cleanup

Parish Life, St. Valentine /

We are progressing nicely with our cemetery cleanup project. So far trees have been trimmed of dead branches and dangerous overhang. A wood chipper was rented to help clean up the massive piles of dead branches. This was a big undertaking for all who worked body, heart, and soul for our beautiful grounds. We were also able to look at the layout for the future site of our new pavilion. After working hard all morning our volunteers were rewarded with a great lunch, wonderful conversation, and a lot of laughs. Thank you so much and we hope to see you again on our next cleanup day.

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Happy Polish Constitution Day

Events, PNCC /

On May 3rd Poland, and members of Polonia worldwide celebrate Polish Constitution Day. This day is also a day of celebration for all who believe in the principals of democracy, a pluralistic society, and the heritage and life of our democratic Church.

Konstytucja_3_Maja

The annual commemoration of Polish Constitution Day commemorates the spiritual and moral renovation of the Polish nation, after a period of stagnation caused by foreign influences under the Saxon kings. This day has become a proud and integral part of the civic and patriotic activities for Poles and those of Polish descent in many cities throughout the world.

To the Poles and their descendants May 3rd is a national holiday for it bestows upon the Pole a priceless heritage of humanitarianism, tolerance and a democratic precept conceived at a time when most of Europe lived under the existence of unconditional power and tyranny exemplified by Prussia and Russia.

Poland’s parliamentary system actually began at the turn of the 15th century, but a series of defensive wars, internal stresses, outside influences, widespread permissiveness and excessive concern for the rights of dissent brought Poland to the brink of disaster and anarchy in the 18th Century. Urgently needed reforms became imperative.

The May 3rd, 1791 Constitution was the first liberal constitution in Europe and second in the world, after the Constitution of the United States.

Following the American pattern it established three independent branches of government – executive, legislative and judiciary. Throughout the constitution runs philosophy of humanitarianism and tolerance, such as perfect and entire liberty to all people, rule by majority, secret ballot at all elections, religious freedom and liberty.

The constitution curtailed the executive power of the King and State Council. It forbade them to contract public debts, to declare war, to conclude definitely any treaty, or any diplomatic act. It only allowed the Executive Branch to carry on negotiations with foreign courts, always with reference to the Diet (Parliament).

In terms of democratic precepts, the May 3rd Constitution is a landmark event in the history of Central and Eastern Europe.

The Polish Constitution was deemed too dangerous by the tyranny of absolutism still rampant in Europe. Thus Russia, Prussia and Austria decided to wipe out “the Polish cancer of freedom” from the face of the earth. In 1795 partitioned Poland ceased to exist as a state and in terms of national life, she lost the entire 19th Century, being reborn in 1918 at the conclusion of World War I.

You can read more at Wikipedia or the Polish American Cultural Center.

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