On Sunday, February 18, 2007, members of St. Joseph’s of Stratford gathered with relatives and friends to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the parish. It was exactly 100 years earlier to the day that the organizers of St. Joseph’s met with then bishop-elect Francis Hodur to establish the first Polish National Catholic parish in Connecticut. The anniversary celebration began with the Centennial Mass at 11 a.m. offered by the parish pastor, Bishop Anthony D. Kopka. He was assisted by Deacon Michael Masulli.
A procession into the church was led by Alex Christianson carrying the processional cross and five other altar servers: James Smith, Emily Discepola, Abby Nelson, Curtis Cocco and Michael Andorka. A candle corps of the Women’s Society for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament followed: Bertha Grabowski, Dolores Smith, Mary DiMenna, Barbara Vojtek, Marianne Charabowski, Susan Lewandowski, Kathy Smith, Carol Murdzia, Darlene Kopka and Joan Matzonkai. Preceding the bishop and deacon were ushers of the Young Men’s Society of Resurrection: John Macionus, Tom Lesnick and John Lewandowski. Leading the congregation in singing the processional hymn was the Morning Star Choir: Karen Lasecki (organist), Lisa Vasas, Janice Chernesky and Joyce Bresh.
Prior to the Mass, a ceremony was led by Bishop Kopka to bless new brass candlesticks and new sacred vessels purchased for the parish in celebration of the centenary. The ceremony also included the dedication of plaques to be added around the parish donor tree, which is featured prominently in the church foyer in honor of all those who have made major contributions to the Building Fund, which has been reestablished as the Parish Endowment Fund.
Each centennial gift was blessed separately for use in the liturgy of the church for the worship of God. The gift item was first announced by the bishop and then he introduced the donor or donors, who were asked to stand. Each blessing began with the gift being dedicated as a memorial or as a tribute.
The six 24-inch tall candlesticks behind the main altar were blessed first: two were given by Marianne Charabowski in loving memory of her son and husband, George and Frank Charabowski; two were also given by Roberta Y. Thornton in loving memory of her parents, Marie and Vincent Yuskiewicz; one was given by Michael and Valerie Chernesky in loving memory of the Chernesky (Czerwonka) and Wilk families; and one was given by Art and Lenore Niedzielski in loving memory of their parents, Wojciech and Helen Niedzielski, Leo and Rose Stanulis.
Two 20-inch tall candlesticks were blessed for the Blessed Virgin Mary altar. They were given by John and Jean Macionus, their son Adam and their daughter and son-in-law Julie and Scott Frissora in loving memory of Jean’s parents, Elizabeth and Edward Lasecki.
Two more 20-inch candlesticks were blessed for the St. Joseph altar. One was given by Chester and Mary Bielecki in loving memory of Chester’s parents, John and Alice Bielecki. The other was given in tribute of our beloved church by the Discepola family: Kevin and Marilyn, and daughters Emily and Sarah.
Four 12-inch tall candlesticks were then blessed. Two were placed on both sides of the Tabernacle: one was given by John and Carol Misurale in loving memory of their parents, Frank Steele, Anthony and Rose Misurale; the other was given by Carol and Ray Morrison in loving memory of Carol’s parents and grandparents, Matthew and Stella Czepiel, Leon and Caroline Czepiel. The other pair was placed on the offertory table for use during Baptism and for other liturgical purposes: one was given by Ann and Sara Stockman in loving memory of their husband and father, William Stockman; the other was given by Carol Murdzia in loving memory of her late husband’s whole family, the Murdzia family.
Two brass votive lamps, which match the new candlesticks, but use oil candles, were also blessed. One lamp was placed on the Blessed Virgin Mary altar, which was given by John and Susan Lewandowski in loving memory of Susan’s parents, Leo and Arline Staniszewski. The other was placed on the St. Joseph altar, which was given by Bishop Anthony and Darlene Kopka in honor of Prime Bishop Francis Hodur, their parents and their daughters. Glass globes for the votive lamps were also blessed: two red globes were given by Mollie Miller in loving memory of her husband, John S. Miller; two amber globes were given by Marianne Charabowski; one blue globe was given by Fred and Mary DiMenna.
The 16 new candlesticks and votive lamps replace all of the ones that were previously used in the sanctuary and represent an overwhelming gift to the parish of $7,820. The parish purchased new spring-loaded candle tubes, which hold wax candles, for the six tallest candlesticks at the cost of $690. (Candle tubes are used to maintain a fixed uniform height of candles.)
The parish Women’s Society donated another $1,900 to purchase two seven-light candelabra, which are used for the exposition and benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament as well as high holy days and special occasions such as the centenary. The parish Men’s Society donated $695 to purchase a four-foot tall brass candle stand for the Paschal Candle, which symbolizes the Resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a permanent candle, which burns oil and holds nails that represent the five wounds of Christ. The men had presented the candle as a gift to the parish when the present church was built. The candle stand and candelabra match the new brass candlesticks. They were blessed for the greater glory of God in memory of all deceased society members on the Solemnity of the Institution of the PNCC.
Various vessels for use during Mass were also presented as gifts and blessed to commemorate the centenary. A gold-plated intinction set for the distribution of Holy Communion was given by the Nelson family, Steve and Rory and their children Abby and James in honor of Bishop Kopka and his family. Two gold-plated Communion patens were given by Deacon Michael and Beth Ann Masulli and their son Mikey for the greater glory of God. Three crystal cruets for Holy Oils were given by Bill O’Brien in honor of Tish Morrissey. Wine and water cruets in a tray, all of which are also crystal that match the other cruets, were given by Mark and Corinne Trenske and their sons Ryan, Brian and Matthew in loving memory of their grandparents: Charles and Susan Zapotoczny, James J. Trenske, Stanley and Stella Parzych.
The generosity of these donors amounted to $760 more being added to the value of the gifts dedicated for the parish centennial anniversary. Altogether almost $12,000 had been donated! All to the glory of God, to adorn His Church and to enhance worship offered to Him through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
When St. Joseph’s of Stratford celebrated its Centennial Anniversary with a Holy Mass on the very day that the parish had been organized—February 18th—parishioners not only remembered their organizers in 1907, but they also remembered another significant time in its history. Just a generation ago the parish built the present church after relocating from Bridgeport —where it had built two churches in 1909 and 1936— to Stratford in 1989. The present church was built on farmland that the organizers had purchased in August 1907.
Obviously inspired by the Holy Spirit at that time, the organizers had reserved the best acre of the six-acre parcel in the Lordship section of Stratford for the construction of a church sometime in the future. The other five acres became the parish cemetery, which according to Straz archives was consecrated by Bishop Francis Hodur in November 1907. That acre was preserved until July 1988 when ground was broken to build a new church.
The late 70s and early 80s were a very difficult time for St. Joseph’s Parish at its second church. The parish had moved from its original location on Bridgeport Harbor a little further north on the city’s east side in 1936. Just 40 years later that neighborhood began to rapidly decline. More and more parishioners left Bridgeport for the suburbs in the 70s and 80s, while crime and neighboring property increasingly worsened. Finally parish membership began to dwindle and when the parish was unable to retain a resident pastor for over a year, the prospect for survival started to dim.
Thanks be to God for the remnant of faithful people that He always seems to keep together. True leadership emerged from among that core group of parish members who had no quit in them. Great sacrifices were made by loyal and steadfast parishioners to maintain the church property and to uphold the faith of the parish. Eventually a new pastor was obtained and members started to come back. A priest for just one year, Father Anthony Kopka was assigned pastor in 1982.
From that point on—like the organizers in 1907—parishioners of St. Joseph’s became filled by the spiritual vision of a church in the Lordship section of Stratford. They committed themselves to building on that preserved acre at the parish cemetery, where they pinned their hope for the parish to resurrect.
On the Centennial Anniversary the parish acknowledged with gratitude those who gave so generously of their own financial means to ensure that the church in which we now worship and fellowship would be built. Before offering the Centennial Mass on February 18th, Bishop Anthony D. Kopka first blessed new candlesticks and sacred vessels that were given to the parish by individual members and families in celebration of the 100th anniversary. He then dedicated 17 plaques in honor of those who were the first to make major contributions to the church building fund. The plaques are to be added around the donor tree that is displayed prominently in the church foyer.
The bronze donor tree with brass leaves had been dedicated after the church was consecrated in 1989 for all who contributed $500 or more to the building fund. With the completion of the church/hall/classroom complex the building fund was reestablished as the Parish Endowment Fund. The balance of the building fund and all new contributions now make up the principal that will be preserved in perpetuity. Eventually the parish will be able to draw upon the interest earnings for whatever outreach or capital projects are necessary in the future. Those who contribute $500 or more are still recognized with the engraving of brass leaves.
The 17 new plaques that will be arranged around the trunk of the tree are made in three different sizes of brass, which will be attached to slightly larger bronze stones. The two largest plaques were inscribed for those who donated $100,000 to St. Joseph’s Parish. Three medium-sized plaques were engraved for those who gave $10,000 to build the present church. Twelve small plaques were made for those who were the first to contribute between $6,000 and $3,000 to the building fund.
The first large plaque was dedicated to remember Estelle L. Scalzi whose building gift had been made in loving memory of her parents Joseph and Sophie Zapotoczny (Patusky) and her husband Leonard J. Scalzi.
The second large plaque was dedicated in tribute to Elizabeth M. Pfriem whose contributions were made in honor of the Coterwas family and Golembeski family.
The first medium plaque was dedicated to acknowledge David Robert Kasper and Gertrude Swiatek Kasper whose gift was made to express that “Our dreams have come true!” They also recognize their daughters Sharon Sheffield, Julianne Feller and Lynette Tryjada with their gift.
The second medium plaque was dedicated in honor of Helen Steele and her late husband Frank whose building gift was made for God’s blessings.
The third medium plaque was dedicated in memory of both Joseph and Mary Kafara who “helped to build this church for the Lord and for our future generations.”
The remaining smaller plaques were dedicated in recognition of the following who also made the first major contributions toward the relocation of the parish and the construction of the church: 1) Ray and Joyce Krasko whose gift was made in loving memory of Helen and Ed Krasko; 2) William and Carol Petrino whose gift was made in loving memory of Martha and Joseph Swiatek; 3) in memory of both Theodore and Olga Paul whose gift was made in loving memory of Frank and Katherine Paul; 4) in memory of both Edmund John Krasko and Helen L. Pavlick Krasko; 5) in memory of Gertrude Krasko Swiatek whose gift was made in memory of her husband Edward Walter Swiatek, the parents of Gertrude Kasper and Diane Kolesnikoff; 6) Janet and the late Gerald Macionus; 7) Gerald and Dolores Smith whose gift was made “to build this new church for the Lord, which was a wondrous happening;” 8) Richard and Karen Lasecki (and son Peter) whose gift was made in recognition that “though this building may not last forever, it is our sincere wish that this parish family will;” 9) Kenneth and Margaret Krasko; 10) Helen and the late Walter Patusky whose gift was made for our beloved church; 11) in memory of Mary Loyek whose gift was made in memory of her husband Frank as well as for our beloved church; 12) John and Jean Macionus whose gift was made in honor of Bishop Kopka and the past and present parishioners for their love and dedication to the PNCC.
Thirty Polish National Catholics make up this select group of donors who came forth in the late 80s and early 90s. Their donations altogether totaled $283,000 for the successful replanting of St. Joseph’s Parish. Those donors provided an example of giving for other members to follow. Today 12 have already gone onto their eternal reward, another four have moved out of the area, and two more could not attend because of medical recuperation. Nonetheless, they have all set before us a standard of giving for all future generations to continue in order to ensure not just the survival of the parish, but its growth and development.
The Centennial Anniversary Mass was attended by over 180 faithful, who were later joined by another 20 friends for fellowship in the classroom annex and church lobby. The double-golden jubilee celebration then moved to the Prime Bishop Francis Hodur Hall and continued with a short program and banquet.
Opening the banquet was Parish Committee Chairperson Richard Lasecki. He said: “Today we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of St. Joseph’s PNC Church. Through hard work and dedication of past and present members of St. Joseph’s we have reached a milestone in our history—today we are 100 years old!
“Our past has been highlighted by many successes, our present is bright and full of hope, and our future is a lighted highway that we will follow for another 100 years.
“Right now I would like all the children and young adults who are members of St. Joseph’s to stand. This is our future standing before you: the future priests, future committee chairpersons, future directors and future leaders of our church. Their hard work and dedication will lead us on for another 100 years.
“On behalf of the Parish Board and everyone who has worked so hard on today’s banquet, thank you for coming and may God bless you.”
Parish Committee Recording Secretary Dolores (Kafara) Smith then presented her poem, entitled “One Hundred Years Ago.” She dedicated it to the men and women who had the faith, courage and conviction to overcome oppression and adversity while continuing to follow the way of the Lord.
“The Lord looked down and what did He see?
People who wanted to worship and be free:
Free to speak in their language of choice;
Free to decide with a vote and a voice;
To have a priest that they liked—not be taken away
To know he would be there for them every day;
To own their church and the property too—
Were these just dreams that would never come true?
One hundred years ago this was their plight.
With “Truth, Work and Struggle” they continued the fight.
To face ridicule and scorn is what they would do—
Any sacrifice to be free, Lord, and to only serve You!
The Lord looked down and what did He decide?
He sent Bishop-elect Hodur to stand by their side.
In a rented hall nearly 500 strong did meet that day;
They came to hear what this holy man had to say.
He spoke of freedoms like the ones that they sought
And of dreams that they dreamed and fights that they fought.
They listened to every word he did say,
Then they knew he was the one that would lead their way.
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