YOUNGSTOWN Small church serves community with dinners, outreach

Heavenly cooking draws a crowd.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Rev. Michael Pozzuto knows his way around church finances.
And a kitchen.
The pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish National Catholic Church worked as a fundraiser before taking over as the congregation's leader.
As the church's congregation has aged and dwindled, the pastor and his wife, Kathy, and a few parishioners have kept the church solvent by providing dinners.
Many churches, of course, use their banquet halls or food sales as a moneymaker. In Sacred Heart's case, the church has paid half its budget this year and built up a six-month reserve based on the sales of chicken and swiss steak.
That's with a congregation of about 30 and a Sunday attendance of about 10 people that routinely feeds up to 200 people at a time.
The congregation dates to 1919. It built its first church in 1926 and its present church, at 702 Cameron St., in 1966.
The church is in a residential neighborhood on the South Side a few steps from Krakusy Hall, a sign the area was once a Polish stronghold.
"Most people are surprised the church is here," said the pastor, who in the tradition of the church uses the title "Father."
History and tradition
The title and name of the denomination as well as its service closely mirror those of the Roman Catholic Church. The Polish National Catholic Church began in 1890 near Scranton, Pa., when Polish immigrants broke away from Rome because they wanted a greater voice in church affairs.
The church is in Europe and throughout the United States. But Father Pozzuto said the entire Polish National Catholic Church membership in the United States might reach 50,000 people.
"That's a small Roman Catholic Diocese," said the pastor. By comparison, the six-county Catholic Diocese of Youngstown has 239,960 Catholics.
Sacred Heart is part of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh diocese based in New York state, although most of the diocese's churches are near Pittsburgh. There are two other churches locally: Holy Cross in Warren and Holy Trinity in New Castle, Pa.
Locally, the church's founders were almost entirely Polish. Sacred Heart's congregation is composed of the sons and daughters of its founding immigrants.
"Now those sons and daughters are old enough to be our parents," said Father Pozzuto.
Their children have either left the area, attend a different church or don't go to church at all, the pastor said.
Gaining recognition
PNCC leaders are considering how to broaden the appeal of the church. In San Antonio, Texas, for example, the denomination at one church goes by National Catholic Church and has a congregation that is mostly Hispanic.
The denomination's creed -- work - struggle - truth -- is etched on Sacred Heart's front door. That ethic came into effect when Father Pozzuto took over the church nine years ago.
The question became, said Father Pozzuto, "How can we keep it open?"
The beautiful church also a kitchen and a large hall built in two stages.
His wife, who has restaurant experience, is the cook, and three or four parishioners help. The bus boy is 88 years old.
"Before we came here, dinners wouldn't see more than 60 or 70 people," said the pastor.
News of the dinners spread by word of mouth. The church offers banquets, such as graduation parties and once a month has a meal open to the public after the worship service.
The Sunday of the month on which the dinner is held varies.
If another area church is having a meal one Sunday, Sacred Heart tries to have its on another date, says the pastor.
The banquets and public meals draw a variety of customers ranging from retirees to bowlers to politicians.
The future of Sacred Heart isn't clear, but in the meantime, said Father Pozzuto, "We'll do all we can to keep it going."
wilkinson@vindy.com.