Polish Catholic Church
Encyclopedia
The Polish Catholic Church is an Old Catholic
denomination in Poland
which belongs to the Union of Utrecht
. It is a member of the World Council of Churches
and the Polish Ecumenical Council. It is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church
nor is it in communion with the Pope
. In 2009 the Polish Catholic Church had roughly 18,900 members. Bishop Wiktor Wysoczański
was chosen as the Church's superior in 1995.
, referred to as Polonia
, participated in the protests of laymen in Roman Catholic parishes against the domination of clergymen from German and Irish origins. The parishers demanded insight into the financial matters of parishes, usage of vernacular in liturgy, and the appropriate care and treatment of clergymen from their own ethnic group. After the unsuccessful presentation of their requests to the Vatican
in 1898, the Polish National Catholic Church
was formally founded in Scranton, Pennsylvania
out of a number of independent Polish parishes. After the consecration of Reverend Franciszek Hodur
as Bishop in 1907, the newly organized church community became a member of The Union of Utrecht of Old Catholic Churches
.
After realizing the necessity of establishing and maintaining contact with Poland, Bishop Francis Hodur worked to establish the PNCC in that country. According to the religious and social precepts of the PNCC, there was an obligation to serve their country of origin, Poland. They especially sought the independence of their native land. The Church worked to maintain this tradition among Polish immigrants, along with defending Polish national interests. Independence in Poland was gained in 1918, although the missionary work of the Church was impeded due to lack of legalization. The efforts of the Church for legal recognition were unsuccessful until 1939. It was not until February 1946 that the Church gained legal status on the basis of the decision of Polish Ministry of Public Administration.
After 1945, Polish Communist authorities were not keen on legalising the Polish National Catholic Church because its leader, Bishop Franciszek Hodur, was a United States citizen. In 1951, under pressure from the Communist regime, the Polish diocese of the original Polish National Catholic Church declared itself independent of its parent church in the United States. This was partially due to the arrests of Bishop Joseph Padewski and Father Edward Narbutt-Narbuttowicz. In the autumn of 1951, the church changed its name to the Polish Catholic Church. The new leader of the church was Father Józef Dobrochowski who, in close cooperation with Father Eugeniusz Krieglewicz, followed the orders of the Communist authorities. The Polish government now had complete control over the Church, in that state authorities appointed and removed bishops, managed Church personnel, and financed Church operations.
The duties of the new Church included organising Masses for the celebration of the anniversary of the 1952 Polish Constitution which occurred on July 22, a Communist holiday not supported by the Catholic Church, and sending letters of congratulation to the authorities concerning other anniversaries.
Full regulation of the Church’s legal status occurred after Polish Parliament on June 30, 1995, passed a Bill on Mutual Relations Between the State and Polish Catholic Church in the Republic of Poland (Dz. U. Nr 97, poz. 482). On May 26, 2000, the Polish Catholic Church and the Catholic Church of Poland agreed upon mutual respect and cooperation.
. The Polish Catholic Church has many similarities to the Roman Catholic
liturgy, in that it expresses Trinitarian doctrine, Marian devotion
and reverence for the saints. The Church also employs the traditional Catholic liturgical calendar.
The central point of spiritual life within the Church is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
, which is the re-presentation of the redeeming sacrifice of Christ. The Church also pays reverence to the angels, Apostles, martyrs and saints, keeping among them a special place for the Virgin Mary.
According to the Church, a sin is an intentional and voluntary breaking of God’s or the Church’s commandments. The seven deadly sins
are pride, envy, lust, anger, greed, sloth, and gluttony. Penitents gain the absolution of sins by participating in the sacrament confession
, where sins are confessed in the presence of a priest in order to gain absolution. The conditions of a good confession are:
There are two forms of confession exercised in Polish Catholic Church: individual and corporate. Individual confession takes place privately with a priest, while corporate confession is exercised as a separate public ceremony in front of the altar, or as a part of the Holy Mass during the Act of Penitence. Individual confession is obligatory for children and youth under the age of 18; it is also recommended for adults any time they feel the need to participate. It is believed that proper and frequent reception of the sacrament of confession will allow an individual to grow in the spiritual life.
specialising in Old-Catholic Theology, and a graduate of the Higher Clerical Seminary of the Polish Catholic Church in Warsaw
. Candidates also need approval from Church authorities. Clergy of the Polish Catholic Church are not bound to celibacy
.
All candidates for bishop must be episcopally consecrated by at least three bishops who are members of the International Conference of Old Catholic Bishops, known as the Utrecht Union
. The presiding bishop of the Church is selected by the National Synod.
Old Catholic Church
The term Old Catholic Church is commonly used to describe a number of Ultrajectine Christian churches that originated with groups that split from the Roman Catholic Church over certain doctrines, most importantly that of Papal Infallibility...
denomination in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
which belongs to the Union of Utrecht
Utrecht Union
The Union of Utrecht is a federation of Old Catholic Churches, not in communion with Rome, that seceded from the Roman Catholic Church over the issue of Papal infallibility. The Declaration of Utrecht solidified this movement in 1889...
. It is a member of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
and the Polish Ecumenical Council. It is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
nor is it in communion with the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. In 2009 the Polish Catholic Church had roughly 18,900 members. Bishop Wiktor Wysoczański
Wiktor Wysoczanski
The Right Rev. Wiktor Wysoczański is notable as a Bishop and the present Superior of the Polish Catholic Church. He became Superior in 1995, succeeding Bishop Tadeusz Majewski...
was chosen as the Church's superior in 1995.
History
The Polish Catholic Church, known within Poland as the Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) until 1951, has its origins in the final decade of 19th century. During this time, Polish immigrants in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, referred to as Polonia
Polonia
The Polish diaspora refers to people of Polish origin who live outside Poland. The Polish diaspora is also known in modern Polish language as Polonia, which is the name for Poland in Latin and in many other Romance languages....
, participated in the protests of laymen in Roman Catholic parishes against the domination of clergymen from German and Irish origins. The parishers demanded insight into the financial matters of parishes, usage of vernacular in liturgy, and the appropriate care and treatment of clergymen from their own ethnic group. After the unsuccessful presentation of their requests to the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in 1898, the Polish National Catholic Church
Polish National Catholic Church
The Polish National Catholic Church is a Christian church founded and based in the United States by Polish-Americans who were Roman Catholic. The PNCC is a breakaway Catholic Church in dialogue with the Catholic Church; it seeks full communion with the Holy See although it differs theologically...
was formally founded in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
out of a number of independent Polish parishes. After the consecration of Reverend Franciszek Hodur
Franciszek Hodur
Bishop Franciszek Hodur was the founder and the first, and longtime, Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church.Hodur was born on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1866, to Jan and Maria Hodur in the village of Zarki, 35 miles from Krakow, Poland. He enrolled as a seminarian in Krakow and studied...
as Bishop in 1907, the newly organized church community became a member of The Union of Utrecht of Old Catholic Churches
Utrecht Union
The Union of Utrecht is a federation of Old Catholic Churches, not in communion with Rome, that seceded from the Roman Catholic Church over the issue of Papal infallibility. The Declaration of Utrecht solidified this movement in 1889...
.
After realizing the necessity of establishing and maintaining contact with Poland, Bishop Francis Hodur worked to establish the PNCC in that country. According to the religious and social precepts of the PNCC, there was an obligation to serve their country of origin, Poland. They especially sought the independence of their native land. The Church worked to maintain this tradition among Polish immigrants, along with defending Polish national interests. Independence in Poland was gained in 1918, although the missionary work of the Church was impeded due to lack of legalization. The efforts of the Church for legal recognition were unsuccessful until 1939. It was not until February 1946 that the Church gained legal status on the basis of the decision of Polish Ministry of Public Administration.
After 1945, Polish Communist authorities were not keen on legalising the Polish National Catholic Church because its leader, Bishop Franciszek Hodur, was a United States citizen. In 1951, under pressure from the Communist regime, the Polish diocese of the original Polish National Catholic Church declared itself independent of its parent church in the United States. This was partially due to the arrests of Bishop Joseph Padewski and Father Edward Narbutt-Narbuttowicz. In the autumn of 1951, the church changed its name to the Polish Catholic Church. The new leader of the church was Father Józef Dobrochowski who, in close cooperation with Father Eugeniusz Krieglewicz, followed the orders of the Communist authorities. The Polish government now had complete control over the Church, in that state authorities appointed and removed bishops, managed Church personnel, and financed Church operations.
The duties of the new Church included organising Masses for the celebration of the anniversary of the 1952 Polish Constitution which occurred on July 22, a Communist holiday not supported by the Catholic Church, and sending letters of congratulation to the authorities concerning other anniversaries.
Full regulation of the Church’s legal status occurred after Polish Parliament on June 30, 1995, passed a Bill on Mutual Relations Between the State and Polish Catholic Church in the Republic of Poland (Dz. U. Nr 97, poz. 482). On May 26, 2000, the Polish Catholic Church and the Catholic Church of Poland agreed upon mutual respect and cooperation.
Theology
According to the Church Law which is currently in force, the Polish Catholic Church professes catholic faith, morality, and principles as set forth in the Holy Bible, formulated in common symbols of faith and decisions of the First seven Ecumenical CouncilsFirst seven Ecumenical Councils
In the history of Christianity, the first seven Ecumenical Councils, from the First Council of Nicaea to the Second Council of Nicaea , represent an attempt to reach an orthodox consensus and to establish a unified Christendom as the State church of the Roman Empire...
. The Polish Catholic Church has many similarities to the Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
liturgy, in that it expresses Trinitarian doctrine, Marian devotion
Marian devotions
A Marian devotion is a gift of oneself, or one's activities to the Virgin Mary. It is a willingness and desire to dedicate oneself to, or venerate her; either in terms of prayers or in terms of a set of pious acts...
and reverence for the saints. The Church also employs the traditional Catholic liturgical calendar.
The central point of spiritual life within the Church is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, which is the re-presentation of the redeeming sacrifice of Christ. The Church also pays reverence to the angels, Apostles, martyrs and saints, keeping among them a special place for the Virgin Mary.
According to the Church, a sin is an intentional and voluntary breaking of God’s or the Church’s commandments. The seven deadly sins
Seven deadly sins
The 7 Deadly Sins, also known as the Capital Vices or Cardinal Sins, is a classification of objectionable vices that have been used since early Christian times to educate and instruct followers concerning fallen humanity's tendency to sin...
are pride, envy, lust, anger, greed, sloth, and gluttony. Penitents gain the absolution of sins by participating in the sacrament confession
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
, where sins are confessed in the presence of a priest in order to gain absolution. The conditions of a good confession are:
- Examination of conscience
- Repentance
- Firm purpose of amendment
- Sincere confession
- Compensation to God and neighbours.
There are two forms of confession exercised in Polish Catholic Church: individual and corporate. Individual confession takes place privately with a priest, while corporate confession is exercised as a separate public ceremony in front of the altar, or as a part of the Holy Mass during the Act of Penitence. Individual confession is obligatory for children and youth under the age of 18; it is also recommended for adults any time they feel the need to participate. It is believed that proper and frequent reception of the sacrament of confession will allow an individual to grow in the spiritual life.
Clergy
In 2009 the Polish Catholic Church consisted of 80 parishes with 111 priests. A priest must be male, a graduate of the Christian Academy of Theology in WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
specialising in Old-Catholic Theology, and a graduate of the Higher Clerical Seminary of the Polish Catholic Church in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. Candidates also need approval from Church authorities. Clergy of the Polish Catholic Church are not bound to celibacy
Celibacy
Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from marriage. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for priests in some religions, for reasons of...
.
All candidates for bishop must be episcopally consecrated by at least three bishops who are members of the International Conference of Old Catholic Bishops, known as the Utrecht Union
Utrecht Union
The Union of Utrecht is a federation of Old Catholic Churches, not in communion with Rome, that seceded from the Roman Catholic Church over the issue of Papal infallibility. The Declaration of Utrecht solidified this movement in 1889...
. The presiding bishop of the Church is selected by the National Synod.
List of superiors of Polish Catholic Church
- 1951 – 1957 – Bishop College
- 1957 – 1958 – Bishop Julian Pękala (1904–1977)
- 1959 – 1965 – Bishop Maksymilian Rode (1911–1999)
- 1965 – 1975 – Bishop Julian Pękala (1904–1977)
- 1975 – 1994 – Bishop Tadeusz Majewski (1926–2002)
- 1995 – present -[Bishop Wiktor WysoczańskiWiktor WysoczanskiThe Right Rev. Wiktor Wysoczański is notable as a Bishop and the present Superior of the Polish Catholic Church. He became Superior in 1995, succeeding Bishop Tadeusz Majewski...
(1939–present)
Links
- Polish Catholic Church Official site (pl)
- The Holy Spirit Polish Catholic Cathedral in Warsaw (en) (pl)
- Our Lady Zielna Polish Catholic Church in Leszno (pl)
- Our Lady Perpetual Help Polish Catholic Church in Strzyżowice (pl)
- John Baptist Polish Catholic Church in Świeciechów (pl)
- Heart of Jesus Polish Catholic Church in Zamość (pl)
- St.Jacob Polish Catholic Church in Żółkiewka (pl)