2017 New Year's Message from our Pastor

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As we start this New Year, and reflect on the old one
just passed, I would like to recall with you the important events
we experienced in 2016.
The most important was our spiritual strengthening
during the Universal Church’s Year of Mercy. Our church is one of a few within the Archdiocese where you can visit and pray from dawn until dusk. Almost daily the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy were recited. On the 16th day of each month, we held the devotion to St. John Paul II with the veneration and kissing of his relic. Our other devotions included 40Hours, Stations of the Cross, Gorzkie Zale, Sorrowful Lamentations and our devotions for Mary in the months of May and October. Our processions on Easter, the May Crowning, Corpus Christi, All Souls Day, and 40Hours
along with the Children’s Masses and our 15th Annual Walking Pilgrimage to the American Czestochowa gave us a path to a deeper spiritual life. The Parish Retreat during Lent with the Lenten and Advent confessions offered us the opportunity to become closer to God through the sacraments. We baptized 12 children, 22 children received their First Holy Communion, 33
students were confirmed, 9 couples were married and we offered 47 Burial Masses for our parishioners.
In the first months of 2016, we learned of Archbishop Charles J. Chaput’s decision that we could remain an independent parish with knowledge that the decision would be re-evaluated as Port Richmond experiences changes. With the help of volunteers and staff, the buildings, grounds and
functions were adequately maintained as Mr. Jan Szymula recovered from a work injury incurred while removing snow from the front of the Church. We hosted the Golec Orchestra for a post Christmas Concert to the delight of many. After Easter we began replacing the capitals on the pillars. Our
Bazaar became a Festival and was successful. The painting of the capitals started in October along with repairs to the plaster on the walls and ceiling. We purchased a second TV for the church and a controller for the choir loft so everyone could see the words to the songs clearly. We started to replace the windows in the rectory.

As we move into 2017, our finances are not the best but we are getting by with the help from our wonderful parishioners and friends. As the weather permits, we will continue to replace the 64 old and broken windows in the
rectory. We can only do this because of your support and generosity.
With hope and strong faith, let us go forward through this New Year of 2017. God bless you and your loved ones. 
Yours in Christ, Fr. Jan Palkowski, Pastor