Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M.

3365923939_049ba1b718Did you know that our parish was originally founded as the parish of St. Joseph? Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the B.V.M.

As we reflect, let us recall Joseph, the silent man of the Gospels, part of the line of great men of faith. He is described as a “just man”, a righteous man of integrity. For centuries his place in the story of Jesus was comparatively unnoticed. Gradually, the Holy Church recognized him as patron of fathers, of families, of manual workers, especially carpenters, and of all who desire a holy death. St. Joseph, pray for us and our parish.

O God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant that as we venerate him as our protector on earth, we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in Heaven, Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.

Are You Observing Lent in Schenectady?

If you are, come and join with us and we can increase our Lenten prayer, sacrifice, fasting, charity, and forgiveness together.

ash_wednesdayThe season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, March 5th with our Service of Worship at 7:30pm at which ashes will be blessed and distributed. On this day we consciously receive ashes on our heads to symbolize penitence, humility and mortality. The powerful reminder in these ashes calls us into a Lent filled with sacred opportunities to return to a right relationship with Jesus.

We offer the Lenten Devotion of Stations of the Cross every Friday at 7:30pm – a great opportunity to add to your prayer life this Lent.

During Lent our Directed Giving program helps us to focus on sacrifice and charity as we gather food for those in need locally. Bring canned and dry goods each Sunday as an offering for those in need.

We also fast and abstain from meat every Wednesday and Friday in Lent and from Holy Wednesday through Holy Saturday. This practice helps us to remember Jesus’ sacrifice every time we sit down to eat a meal. By this small sacrifice we train with the easy stuff (but it seems so hard) so we can better fight the really tough things that try to draw us away from Jesus.

We hope and pray that you will join with us as we use these 40 very special days to the greatest possible good.

Labor-Religion Coalition Announces Moral Mondays

Throughout the month of March, clergy, community, and labor allies will come together to call for a faithful New York State budget that values every member of society, prioritizes the common good, and lifts the burdens of poverty. Our many faiths call us to reject tax breaks for the wealthy and demand a budget that serves the people.

screenshotIn Albany- March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 12 PM – Gather at the War Room on the 2nd floor of the NYS Capitol for a vigil led by clergy and faith leaders as well as those directly impacted by cuts to education and the social safety net as well as reductions in wage theft enforcement. More details at the Coalition’s Facebook page here.

In NYC – March 3, 10, 17, 24 at 11 AM – Gather in silence at the lobby of the Millenium UN Plaza Hotel, 44th St. and First Ave, proceed to the governor’s office at to protest and to pray.

Additional events are shaping up for Binghamton, Rochester and other New York cities starting March 10th. For more information or for help setting up a Moral Monday event near you, please contact Joy Perkett.

Souper Bowl Weekend – Feeding Those in Need

Be part of a movement that is sharing God’s love with those in need. Please give generously in church on Super Bowl Sunday – February 2nd.

For the 13th year in a row, our parish is participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring. Through the Souper Bowl of Caring we are providing food help for those in need in our local community. We ask for your support and deeply appreciate your generosity!

Your monetary and food donations in church will support the work of Schenectady Inner City Ministry.

Scripture asks us to be attentive to the needs of others.

  • For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. — Matthew 25:35
  • John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” — Luke 3:11
  • If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? — 1 John 3:17

Listening to the voice of the Lord, more than 20 years ago the Souper Bowl of Caring began with a simple prayer from a single youth group:

“Lord, even as we enjoy the SuperBowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.”

In 2013 more than 7,000 groups participated in Souper Bowl of Caring, collecting more than $7.3 million in dollars and food for local hunger-relief charities. Since 1990, more than $97 million has been collected for hunger-relief charities across the country. Souper Bowl Sunday has become a powerful movement that is transforming the time around SuperBowl weekend into the nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving.

Be part of this movement that is sharing God’s love with those in need. Please give generously in church on Super Bowl Sunday – February 2nd.

Souper Bowl Sunday

Prayers of Sympathy

238Åš+P Patricia Anne Lewis, 68, entered peacefully into eternal rest on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at her home, surrounded by her loving family and friends.

śp. Patricia was born on March 8, 1945 in Schenectady and was the beloved daughter of the late Howard Joseph and Alice (VanAuken) Lewis.

śp. Patricia is survived by her aunt; Reta Van Auken; her loving brother, Charles (Beth) Lewis; her devoted daughters, Christine (Scott) Cadan and Kimberly (Michael) DonVito; her cherished grandchildren, Jenna, Mikayla, Megan, Loryn, Jayson, and Nikolas; her cherished great grandson, Carson; her dear friends, Deb and Bob Sutherland, Linda and Ben Froggett, and Faye and Bill Zielinski; and her former spouse, Ed Jakubiak.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the Holy Name of Jesus PNCC. Internment will follow at Memory Gardens in Colonie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 in memory of śp. Patricia Anne Lewis.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

All Souls Remembrances/Wypominki

238Of blessed memory:

All souls entrusted to our prayer by their families

All who have perished in natural disasters and tragedies over the past year
All who gave their lives in service to our Country
All departed Servicemen and women
All departed Civil Servants

Of blessed memory:
Most Rev. Francis Hodur
Most Rev. Dr. Leon Grochowski
Most Rev. Thaddeus Zieliński
Most Rev. Francis Rowiński
Rt. Rev. Joseph Padewski
Rt. Rev. Dr. Casimir Grotnik
Rt. Rev. John Misiaszek

All deceased Bishops of the Holy Polish National Catholic Church

Of blessed memory:
Rev. Augustyn Krauze
Rev. Bolesław Szepczyński
Very Rev. Roman Pawlikowski
Rev. E. Brzozowski
Rev. Joseph Michalski
Rev. J. Jakubowski
Rev. E. Wożniak
Rev. John Toporowski
Rev. E. Kozłowski
Very Rev. Joseph L. Zawistowski
Rev. Joseph Klimczak
Rev. Roman Jasiński
Rev. Walter C. Poposki
Rev. Marian Góra
Rev. Stephen Krawiec
Rev. John Neyman
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Trela

All deceased Priests, Deacons, Sub-deacons, and Orders of Clerics of the Holy Polish National Catholic Church

Of blessed memory:
Deceased members of St. Joseph’s/Holy Name of Jesus Parish of the Holy Polish National Catholic Church
The souls of all those interred in Holy Name of Jesus Cemetery
Deceased members of the Society for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Deceased members of Branch 50 of the YMS of R
Deceased members of the Concordia Choir
Deceased members of the Harmonia Choir
Deceased members of our Spójnia Branch
Deceased members of the St. Joseph Society
Deceased members of the Maria Konopnicka Society
Deceased members of “Ognisko”
Deceased members of the Children of Mary
Deceased members of the Defender’s Society,
Deceased members of the Mother’s Club

Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord
and may the perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.

Ojcze nasz…
ZdrowaÅ› Maryjo…
Wieczne odpoczynek racz im dać Panie,
a światłość wiekuista niechaj im świeci.
Niech odpoczywajÄ… w pokoju, Amen.

November 2013 Newsletter

It’s so scary… One day before November begins and the parish newsletter is complete, mailed, and posted. Our newsletter for November reflects on the end times (should we be scared?), remembering our dearly departed, the great saints who gave us strong examples of faith, thanks-giving — that and more all in our new newsletter. Check it out, stay informed and see our action packed schedule. You may view and download a copy right here — November 2013 Newsletter.

thats-all-folks-cartoon

Caleb, Welcome to the Family of Faith

On Saturday, October 26th, we welcomed Caleb Joshua into the family of faith through the waters of regeneration. May our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, grant Caleb Joshua the gifts of strength and courage like his biblical namesakes who witness and lived in accordance with God’s way regardless of any obstacle in their way. May God bless and support his parents Joshua and Lisa, his godparents, Brett and Heather, and his entire family.