What!?! only one newsletter for July and August? Check it out, stay informed all summer long, remember that God is constant and never leaves us for vacation, want to go to a Valley Cats game?, see our action packed schedule, and be entertained. You may view and download a copy right here — July/August 2013 Newsletter.
What Matters to Girls
The Schenectady League of Women Voters is hosting the Working Group on Girls Community Forum, “What Matters to Girls” on Wednesday, May 22nd at 7pm at the 1st Reformed Church, 8 North Church St., Schenectady NY. The Forum is dedicated to empowering middle and high school girls and will provide information on Girl’s Day Out and Girl’s Circles programs for student participants and adult volunteers. Topics will include increasing self esteem, making healthy choices, valuing education, and expanding girl’s vision of the future.
Connecting Faith-Based Groups with the Affordable Care Act: What You Need to Know about Changes in Health Insurance for Your Members

Congressman Paul Tonko is hosting a workshop on Connecting Faith-Based Groups with the Affordable Care Acton Wednesday, May 29th at The Crossings of Colonie, 580 Albany Shaker Rd., Loudonville, NY from 1—3pm. The focus of the workshop will be on providing up-to-date information on federal health insurance programs available to members of Faith-Based organizations. Representatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Region II U.S. Department of Health & Human Services will be available to provide information and resources that can help make it easier to understand health insurance options.
Medicare (health insurance for people 65 and older or with long- term disability or end-stage renal disease), Medicaid (health insurance for people with limited income), and new options for expansion of health insurance that will soon be available under the Affordable Care Act will be discussed.
You may pre-register online or by calling 518-465-0700.
Youth Forum
Schenectady Youth Boxing & Fitness is sponsoring a Youth Forum on June 13th, 10am-12pm at the Fenimore Gallery at Proctors Theater, 432 State St., Schenectady, NY. The forum includes a roundtable discussion with members from community youth focused programs with a focus on sharing goals and information as well as information on upcoming summer plans. A light lunch and opportunities for networking will follow. For more information please contact Schenectady Youth Boxing & Fitness or Judy Decker by E-mail.
2013 Kurs Youth Encampment
The 2013 Kurs Youth Encampment sponsored by the Young Men’s Society of the Resurrection of the Polish National Catholic Church will be held from June 29th through July 6th at the Bishop Hodur Retreat & Recreation Center, 596 Honesdale Road, Waymart, PA. This is by far the best summer youth event anywhere. Our young people are encouraged to attend as well as to invite friends and parishioners for a summer event that builds up faith and friendships that last a lifetime.
Click on the links below for further information and forms:
National United Choirs 2013 Music Workshop
The National United Choirs Click here for details and a registration form.
Polish National Union Trip to Poland
The Polish National Union (Spójnia) is sponsoring a trip to Poland in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Żarki (Libiąż) Poland, the birthplace of Bishop Francis Hodur. The parish was built through the generosity of members of the Polish National Union. The trip will run from September 18th through 25th and includes tours of southern Polsnd including noted attrations in Kraków, Zakopane, and Żarki. For details please see the current issue of Straż. Reservations are due by June 10th.
Completed, even before the month of May begins! Check the newsletter out, stay informed, wish mom a happy Mother’s Day, see our action packed schedule, learn that it is ok to point, and be entertained. You may view and download a copy right here — May 2013 Newsletter.
Looking at the truth of some young lives in Schenectady is challenging. It can make us pause, question, and regret or it can spur us to action. Our faith offers that secure place if we open our hearts and parish home to offer the gifts of faith, family, and friendship. Our small church on a small street offers that big and caring heart that will listen.
Congratulations to Prince Sprauve and the students who took the risk to tell the story.
From WTEN: Schenectady High School students share stories of struggle, triumph in ‘Fast Life’ film
SCHENECTADY – Schenectady High School students take to the big screen to get their real-life stories of struggle, triumph and loss out to the public.
“Fast Life” sheds light on the hardships young people face growing up in dangerous Schenectady neighborhoods. The movie was filmed entirely in Schenectady on a budget of just $1,000. The cast is comprised of SHS students. “Fast Life” was written and directed by school district Multimedia Specialist Prince Sprauve.
“This movie is going to be difficult for some people to watch. It’s a story of molestation– you have gangs, you have violence, you have poverty. It’s real life for some of these students. And sometimes life doesn’t have a happy ending,” says Sprauve.
The student cast believes the film is an opportunity for adults to see the role they play in how young people grow up, through hard-hitting, no-holds-barred dialogue and a plot based on true life stories.
“Fast Life” opens at Proctors in Schenectady April 25th at 7pm.
http://WTEN.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=184818;hostDomain=www.news10.com;playerWidth=540;playerHeight=304;isShowIcon=true;clipId=8811756;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=;enableAds=false;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=overlayNEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports
It is February 1st and lo and behold – a newsletter is here on-time! Our February 2013 newsletter and calendar is complete and now available. Tons of events, Soup on Sunday, everything you’d ever want to know for your Lenten journey, and a few surprises too. You may view and download a copy right from this website.
Happy New Year and a new newsletter! Our January 2013 newsletter and calendar is complete and now available. Tons of events, Soup on Sunday, our annual meeting (yes, we are a democratic church where you have a voice and a vote and can expect accountability) everything you’d ever want to know — all in one place. You may view and download a copy right from this website.
Key kids.
You get it.
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
Why did Jesus compare receiving a child to receiving Him?
The key in this verse is the word “receive.” It actually means to take by the hand. It means to take up. It means to befriend. It means to receive in hospitality. It means to accept into one’s life.
Whoever does these things isn’t just receiving a child, but they are also receiving Jesus because they no longer care about being pretentious, pompous, high-and-mighty, or arrogant. They are open, not just the innocence or a child, but to becoming small themselves.
We all know that we can’t act like big shots around children. They see right through it and will call us on it. In relating to a child we have to let down our guards, open up, and soften ourselves.
We have to do the same to accept Jesus, and to accept and welcome His Father as our Father.
Jesus was showing the disciples, who were arguing about who’s first that they had to let go of that attitude. They had to stop pretending after greatness because the only place they could find greatness, find heaven, was in being the servant to each other.
Jesus loved children because they weren’t competing. They were open to love and plain teaching. They recognized Jesus’ love – they got Him. While the men and women around Him, even His disciples were blinded by their own goals, children clearly saw God’s goals for their lives – and they accepted God’s goals as their goals.
We will all be called to account for our approach to life – how closely our lives follow Jesus’ way.
Did we treat our faith as something complex and hierarchical? Did we treat our faith as based on community and service to each other and the wider world?
Do we dwell on disputes and the competition to be greater than others? Do we focus on humility and self-denial so as to be most like Jesus?
St. James, having learned from Jesus during these days, points out that we tend to seek for ourselves, we focus only on our passions, we ask wrongly. We need to listen to the child’s voice. When we hear, “May I please have a glass of water?†our hearts should melt to become the servant who fulfills that child’s need – for the water that brings both physical and spiritual life. Be a humble believer, accept that child, and receive Jesus.
The Polish American Journal is sponsoring a Veteran’s Day Scholarship Contest for high school students honoring Lt. Col. Matthew L. Urban, the most decorated soldier in United States military history. Six awards will be made to winners and runners-up. Students must submit an essay entitled “Why I Think the United States Postal Service Should Issue a Stamp Commemorating Lt. Col. Matthew L. Urban.” Entries must be submitted no later than November 11, 2012. Download the rules, eligibility, and submission criteria by clicking on the picture below.
We have an active and on-going Confirmation class. We are now signing students up for our School of Christian living, which will begin mid-September. It is every parent’s duty and obligation to see to the spiritual education of their children. Godparents are similarly obligated toward their godchildren. We are here to assist in delivering knowledge of the faith through our School of Christian Living (SOCL). Also remember, no one is too old to learn or make one’s confirmation. We welcome all students.
Our Holy Church marks this last Sunday in August as Youth Sunday. Let us take time this Sunday and everyday to pray for our youth.
May our Lord bless and protect our young people, our children. May He always guide and protect them so that they will not fall into danger. May He protect their steps, their studies, their play, and their travels. May the Holy Spirit guide their minds and their hearts, so they grow in knowledge and wisdom. May Jesus stand as their light and way of life, with His gospel as their guide. May they always be cognizant of their baptismal commitment and their place in the community of faith – the Holy Church. May their parents and the adults in their lives be right and worthy examples of Christian life. We ask all this in Jesus name. Amen.
