When John and James approached Jesus and asked to be given prominent places in the kingdom of God, Jesus told them that heaven is not like an earthly kingdom in which there are places of greater and lesser importance, where a person’s value lies in power and material possessions. If James and John wanted to be close to Jesus, they must also follow Him through His suffering. Jesus was not among the people as a king to be served: His mission was of service, even at the cost of His life. Anyone who really loves someone is prepared to suffer with, and on behalf of, that person. The pain may be hard, but it is not meaningless. Parents who care for a sick child know that however much it hurts to see their child’s illness, the little one is too precious to abandon in tis hour of need. Jesus, who shares with us in our joys and sorrows, our weaknesses and temptations, was willing to give His whole life for us, purely out of love.
On Heritage Sunday
Each year on the third Sunday of October we commemorate our Heritage. This is an occasion to recall the history of Poles in the U.S. through the special programs and other events. The history of the Polish people in the U.S. began in October 1608 when five Poles arrived at Jamestown on the English ship Mary and Margaret. These Poles were not only adventurers, but also reliable and well-trained workers. They staged the first civil rights strike in the U.S. in 1619. The Zaborowski, Sadowski, and other families were the first ones to settle many regions of the eastern United States. During the Revolutionary War the Poles made great contributions to the U.S. in the persons of two generals: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and Casimir Pulaski.
Our immigrant ancestors wanted to uphold their spirituality, customs, traditions and language within the parishes they organized in their newly-adopted country. The PNCC created an oasis of a special identity for our ancestors who were determined to resist and brush aside discrimination, abuse and exploitation, and with the help of the PNCC, they were able to assure for themselves a better and more meaningful life under the courageous leadership of Bishop Francis Hodur.
Our annual celebration allows all Polish National Catholics, even those who are not of Polish descent, to honor the ideals of our free land where all of us are equal under God. Our strength lies in our diversity and in our tolerance and appreciation of that diversity. Here in the U.S. we are free to speak, think and worship as our conscience dictates. To be proud of our Polish heritage or any other heritage, appreciative of our differences and loyal to our faith, is to be loyal to America herself! May this annual celebration help all of us to celebrate not only Polish, but many other ethnic cultures represented in the PNCC. Our proud and hard working ancestors began local groups to maintain their precious heritage in America, and because of them, proud Polish Americans are encouraged to continue to celebrate in hundreds of communities across America, especially in schools, churches and in clubs or organizations.
The President and our government are doing all they can to remind us how blessed we are here in the United States by having such cultural, racial, and religious pluralism. Yet, it is our Polish National Catholic responsibility to respect others; it is our job to be good Americans and be accepting of other people. Polish American Heritage month is a good time to teach our young people as well as to remind the adult membership of our parishes that people of all races, cultures and of every color should be respected and treated with dignity, even if they seem “different.â€
From: Feasts, Solemnities and Observances of the PNCC Customs and Traditions, Scranton, PA, 2003
“REMEMBER, that in your vains flows the blood of great heroes, great leaders, great poets, statesmen, and noble, sturdy working people. Be proud, and try to show with your life that you are worthy of your Heritage.†– Bishop Francis Hodur