St. Ladislaus Parish

St. Ladislaus Parish, Philadelphia
The Jubilee Year 1980 - 1981
by The Chronicles
Being the Pastor during the Diamond Jubilee, Father Bernard had the privilege and responsibility of planning the celebration of this special occurrence. He determined that the observance would last the entire year from Spring 1980 to Spring 1981 and established "The Diamond Jubilee Committee", appointing Mr. Frank Frysiek as its' Executive Chairman.

On April 13, 1980 the Jubilee year was begun by an afternoon Mass. The main celebrant of the Mass was Father Francis Luszczak, Pastor of St. Peter and Paul Church in Allentown, PA, and a priest-son of the Parish. Msgr. Naja and Father Bernard concelebrated. Father Anthony Ziemba, Pastor of St. Laurentius, and a former Assistant in our Parish, was the homilist.

Following the Mass, a memorable banquet was held in our parish hall.
A sad event occurred to dampen the joyous spirit of the jubilee year when our beloved Monsignor John A. Naja became seriously ill. After suffering a stroke on December 31, 1979 and spending several months in the hospital, Monsignor was able to return to the rectory, but was restricted in his activity. He was still able to hear confessions, sitting in his wheelchair and was able to concelebrate Mass. It was his joy to be able to concelebrate Mass for the opening of our Jubilee year and he was able to take part in the banquet that day.
Monsignor was called to his reward on May 19, 1980. The parish mourned his passing, and showed its love and respect for him by turning out in large crowds for the transferal of the body and his funeral. Cardinal Krol was the main celebrant at our church.
A wonderful tribute to Monsignor was the fact that more than 100 people made the trip to Shenandoah, PA, to witness the graveside ceremony at St. Casimir's Cemetery, where Monsignor was brought home to lay at rest.
The Diamond Jubilee Committee decided to celebrate our anniversary by a year long series of events. It seemed the only appropriate way to properly commemorate 75 years of Polish life and spirit.
The year began, of course, with the Mass and banquet mentioned above. Other events were planned in order to allow all members of the Parish to participate in the anniversary. And so through the efforts of the Events Committee, Youth Committee and Liturgical Committee, special events - religious and social - were prepared for both the young and old of our Parish.
This record of events, we hope, will show future generations at St. Ladislaus that we in 1981 knew how to thank God for His many Graces; that we knew how to appreciate our Polish heritage; that we were conscious of the importance of our youth.
The first social event, a Parish dance, was held on June 28, 1980. It was the occasion for many members of the Parish to discuss the upcoming Jubilee and to reminisce about old times. The ladies of the Events Committee provided the food and the Dydak Diamonds the entertainment.
On August 10, 1980 the first Parish Picnic in a long time was held on the Parish grounds. The extensive planning of the Committee was very evident in the arrangements for the affair. The schoolyard was beautifully decorated. There were booths with food and games set up in the yard. In the Parish Hall delicious Polish foods and drinks were available. The hall was filled to capacity with many of our parishioners, former parishioners and friends. All agreed that it was a great homecoming celebration and suggested that the affair become an annual event. Everyone labeled it a success.
On Sunday, September 21, 1980 the Youth Committee arranged for a guitar Mass as its first Jubilee Event. It was beautiful. The planning by the Committee and the participation by our youth were outstanding. Father John Sitko was the celebrant of the Mass. Frances Halenda of our parish and her friends, Sue Banks and Tina Yorko, provided the music, and the singing was led by our school's chorus consisting of Gena and Jill Dionisio and Diana Dziuban.
In the Entrance Processional were Annmarie Glinka (1st gr.), Mark Smith (3rd gr.), Albert Rod (5th gr.) and Marie Stinger (8th gr.); and the recent alumni, namely Carol Kenny (80), Paul Gabrys (79), Cathy Morton (78) and Joseph Sierko (78).
Participants in the Offertory Procession were Ronald Dionisio (2nd gr.), Marianne Gabrys (4th gr.), Tricia Ralph (6th gr.), and Paul Ablaza (7th gr.); and recent alumni Ayn Harrigan (80), Gerald Kosyla (78), Kevin Stelmach (78) and Kathleen Stelmach (78). Sodalists Karen Kosyla (77), Maryann Dziuban (79) and Lorraine Lupica (80) and the entire Youth Committee also joined in this procession.
The third special event sponsored by the Events and Affairs Committee, was the "Polish Festival." It took place from 1 to 10 PM, in the parish hall. The festival featured Polish imports, a Polish bakery, paper cut-outs (wycinanki), games, and a kitchen filled with delicious foods, home made by our ladies. A number of our ladies were attired in colorful Polish costumes.
In the early afternoon, our St. Cecelia's Choir performed a concert of Polish and English hymns sung throughout the year in our church. It was well attended, and they were complimented for an excellent performance.
In the evening, the PKM Dancers put on a beautiful program of Polish folk dances, which everyone enjoyed enthusiastically. Later, Johnny Opiela and the "Jay Ems" furnished dance music for everyone's pleasure.
It was a large and enthusiastic crowd which enjoyed the celebration of our Jubilee and our Polish heritage. As in previous events, it gave the opportunity for many people to renew old friendships and talk over old times. There was a very pleasant atmosphere in the hall this day. It lifted the spirits of everyone and caused a lot of smiling faces.
The Jubilee Youth Committee sponsored its second event on November l, 1980 in our Parish Hall. "Destiny", a rock group consisting of recent St. Lad's graduates John Kotyla (80), Anthony Mikos (78) and Vincent Lupica (77) entertained over 100 of our youth with its repertoire. It was a night made for the young, who cheered and danced to the sounds of "Destiny" until midnight.
Under the direction of Sr. Rose Colette, the Principal, the school children presented their Christmas Play on December 17, 1980. Each class participated in a special skit, dance or song. The play was intended to put everyone in the spirit of Christmas, but it also touched on the Jubilee Year. Mrs. Rita Zisk, 4th grade teacher, composed a special Jubilee song for the grand finale. All the children joined in the singing of the song to the tune of "The Bells of St. Mary's."

The annual Christmas "Oplatek" on January 10, 1981 was more meaningful than usual, as it was the first jubilee event in the New Year. Because of space limitation in our hall, only 300 persons could attend.
There was the usual Polish traditional "wigilia" supper, sharing the oplatek, and the singing of our beautiful Koledy. The program was brief but interesting, with the guest speaker being Father Maciej Wronski from Warsaw, Poland. After the program, our people enjoyed good music which lasted to midnight. It was a satisfying get-together to close the holiday season and an auspicious way to continue our jubilee observance.
On January 12, 1981, despite the record-tiding temperature of zero degrees F, more than 100 men, women and children donned roller skates for an evening of "fun and falls" at the Concord Roller Rink in Frankford. "Representatives on Wheels" were Celie Tomkiewicz, Senior Citizens; Fr. Bernard Witkowski, Religious; and Carol Dionisio, Youth Committee. Several more of our Senior Citizens and Nuns turned out as sideline observers to watch the action. Unfortunately, for some weeks later, Fr. Bernard sported a leg cast as a result of a fall. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable evening.
Early in February, Edward Polec, President of the Choir, and several members discussed the possibility of a choir reunion in the Jubilee Year. They were not sure of the number of former members who could be found, but they thought it was worth a try. Many contacts were made and the former members were invited to join the present choir to sing High Mass on March 2, 1981.
About 60 members attended and even without practice they were able to sing the familiar Polish hymns that they had not forgotten. Everyone enjoyed the Mass very much.
Afterwards, coffee and cake were served in the parish hall and Fr. Bernard invited all choir participants to return for the Jubilee Mass on April 26, 1981.
One of the most touching events of the year was the Mass and celebration on April 4, 1981 in honor of the 90 years old, or older, members of our parish. Under the direction of the Liturgical Committee it was decided to make the occasion also "a day of recollection" for the entire parish as we honored our special guests. Fr. Lucius Tyrasinski, O.S.P., Prior of the Monastery at Czestochowa, was invited as homilist for the day.
The parishioners honored were: Petronella Baran, Elizabeth Brennan, Walerja Bukowska, Laura Hartman, Katarzyna Janowska, Katarzyna Kielar, Anna Masiuch, Stanislawa Paluchowska, Katarzyna Piech, Leopold Rutkowski, Bronislawa Wiliszewska, Franciszka Ziembka.
Each one was presented a Papal Blessing from the Parish. The Societies to which they belonged offered gifts as well. It was a memorable and unusual day. Later in this book there is a page of pictures and notes about our eldest parishioners.
Closing events of the Diamond Jubilee year
The best was saved for last! The Liturgical Committee arranged for a Mass of Thanksgiving on April 26, 1981. It was a very pleasant day. The lavish church decorations for Easter were still fresh and intact to provide a beautiful setting. Promptly at 4 P.M. our historical bells, "St. Joseph" and "St. John" began to peel, to signal the start of a traditional procession of clergy, nuns, societies with their banners, school children, the jubilee committee and guests. The church was filled to capacity when St. Cecelia's Choir began the entrance hymn, "My Chcemy Boga".
Several hundred voices joined in. The faith and spirit of this parish were manifested by a sound perhaps never heard in our church before. The organizers and pioneers of this parish would have been proud that their efforts and hopes for the future were confirmed so successfully three generations later.
The mood of the service can be expressed best by a note written by Father Bernard for the church bulletin for this day:
"Today we celebrate a very special day in the life of our Parish. We celebrate 75 years of God's goodness to St. Ladislaus, as well as 75 years of St. Ladislaus' love and devotion to God and His church. We also celebrate the thousands of parishioners, who over the many years worked so generously for the good of our parish. We celebrate the priests and sisters who gave of themselves in the service of the parishioners. And, we especially celebrate the goodness that permeates the world because of the many men and women who passed through St. Ladislaus and are now spread throughout the country and perhaps throughout the world. We also ask God this day to continue His care and love for us. We pray that He will bless us and treat us kindly - always."
It was fitting that many portions of the Mass were especially composed for the occasion. The initial greeting, prayers of the faithful, and hymns reflected the appreciation and hopes befitting the celebration of a 75th anniversary. Fourteen gifts were presented during the Offertory by officers of organizations. Many gifts were symbolic of our unique Polish character and our loyalty to church and country.
The main celebrant of the Mass was Monsignor Anthony E. Jaworowski, Pastor of St. Adalbert's Parish. Concelebrants were our Pastor, Father Bernard; our Assistant Pastor, Father John; and priest-sons Fathers John S. Klapp and Joseph M. Baraniewicz. Several other priests, among them natives of the parish, were present also.
The homilist was Father Baraniewicz, who came from Salt Lake City, Utah, for this observance. He spoke in English and Polish to remind us about the courage and sacrifices of our forefathers, who, on a basis relative to their means, achieved truly amazing results in establishing St. Ladislaus Parish. His comments on the influence of our church and school on his life had to be shared by most of the congregation, as their early paths in life were the same.
Throughout the Mass, St. Cecelia's Choir continued to sing traditional hymns, and was joined by the congregation. This was beautiful and nostalgic.
Everyone who participated in this Mass of Thanksgiving will recall it with great pleasure and satisfaction for the rest of his or her life.
Following the Mass, over 800 parishioners, friends, and invited guests assembled at Four Chefs Restaurant for a banquet and dance, to conclude the Diamond Jubilee Year on a joyful note. Participants came from several other Polish parishes and from suburbia, where many of our parishioners and former parishioners reside. It was gratifying that so many came from afar, because of their continuing interest and desire to join us.
The conversational din was continuous and people were table-hopping throughout the evening. Despite the festive atmosphere, enough order was established to execute the following program:

There were many laughs and serious reflections as our speakers carried out their assignments expertly.
Several surprises occurred in the program and should be noted for the future:
Father Bernard received a plaque of appreciation from the Diamond Jubilee Committee for his skills, interest, and work for the benefit of our parish.
He also received a beautiful and artistic collage, carved in marble, of Vatican City. This was a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Walter Zapor.
Congratulatory letters were received from Governor Richard Thornburgh, Mayor William Green, Orchard Lake Seminary, and the Sisters of Nazareth.
Following the formal program, the "Diplomats" orchestra took over for dancing until midnight.
The Banquet Committee must be commended for the splendid dinner, program, favors, and entertainment, which were thoroughly enjoyed by so large a gathering.
With the busy and memorable events of this day, the year-long observance of the Diamond Jubilee Year ended. It has been a very successful observance which proved that a high degree of cohesion and cooperation exists in the parish. The interest in our celebration grew as more people came together with each succeeding event. It was a year of rebirth, which becomes a part of our history in this record.
A heartfelt "thank you" is said to all who worked countless hours to make the jubilee so active and successful, and also to those who supported the events in some way or took part in them.
Source: Saint Ladislaus Diamond Jubilee 1906-1981 Memorial Book