People tried to save Polish Mass

People tried to save Polish Mass

I’m 19 years old and a very ac- tive member of St. Stan’s parish. I’m a lector, Eucharistic minister, homebound minister, CCD teacher, member of Christian education and family life committee, and member of parish council. I was at the meeting when the change in Masses was decided, so I know this story from beginning to end and every part in between.

I’m Polish, and my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents were married in this church starting in 1908. I would love to have the opportunity to do the same, but in reality, we have to accept things are changing. We have to embrace what we have now and be thankful we still have a church for the time being. This church, the building and the people, are what hold the memories and traditions of St. Stanislaus Parish.

I understand the pain and sadness everyone feels from the loss of our 9 a.m. Mass, but we’re still trying our best to carry on our Polish traditions such as the Polish choir singing at the end of the month, Goszkie Zale, May devotions, Resurrection Mass at Easter, and Polish singing at Midnight Mass.

We’re doing our best to create a balance to satisfy people, but we have to be practical. While we love our Polish parishioners, we also have to cater to the needs of the majority of the church which are the English speaking people with Polish backgrounds. The 9 a.m. Polish Mass is the least attended; the 70 people who attended weren’t even all parishioners. Some were family members of parishioners who never come any other time.

We sought other Polish priests to say Mass, but no one wants to come.

Maybe we wouldn’t have so many hard feelings about this if instead of talking and just complaining, people would have gotten involved and proposed an idea.

We all have to remember, we’re a church. It doesn’t matter what time we worship, what matters is that we’re a group of people who come to share in the celebration of our Lord.

Terri Brincko, Youngstown