[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 140 (Wednesday, October 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          ST. MARY OF CZESTOCHOWA CHURCH CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 17, 2001

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of the 
House of Representatives to the 100th anniversary of the founding of 
St. Mary of Czestochowa Roman Catholic Church of Nanticoke, 
Pennsylvania, which will be celebrated on October 21.
  At the turn of the last century, an increase in the Polish Catholic 
population led to the need for a third church in the Nanticoke area. 
The original St. Mary's church was a simple wooden structure located at 
the corner of Hanover and Grove streets. It was home to a congregation 
of approximately 500 parishoners, although an estimated 2,000 people 
worshipped there.
  Nearly five years to the day of its dedication, the first church was 
destroyed by fire. Under the leadership of the first resident pastor, 
Rev. Adolph E. Nowicki, a new church was built at the corner of Hanover 
and Field streets and was blessed and dedicated soon thereafter.
  St. Mary's present pastor, Rev. John S. Krafchak, is the eighth 
pastor to serve the parish, having served since 1983. He also served as 
assistant pastor at St. Mary's from 1960 to 1966. During his 18 years 
as pastor, Father Krafchak has continued to support the efforts of the 
church's organizations, the spiritual needs of the congregation and the 
material upkeep of the parish.
  Father Krafchak's first major undertaking was the construction of a 
new rectory, which was completed in 1985. A Holy Hour of Prayers for 
Priests was begun in 1986 and has been held once a month since its 
inception. It was also around that time that air conditioning was 
installed in the church. With the 1988 consolidation of all the parish 
schools in the Nanticoke area into Pope John Paul II School, St. Mary's 
school became the home of Head Start, a federal pre-school program 
offered to Nanticoke-area children ages 3 and 4 from low-income 
families. St. Mary's has also teamed with St. Stanislaus Church to 
promote the Renew 2000 program, a parish renewal endeavor to foster 
spiritual growth among their parishoners. The parishes have also held 
consolidated Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes since 1996.
  In preparation for this year's 100th anniversary, the interior of the 
church was painted and refurbished with carpeting and most 
significantly, an imported replica of the famous Our Lady of 
Czestochowa image, measuring more than 7 feet in height, was placed on 
the wall above the main altar. The church organ was also reconditioned 
to return it to most of its original musical capabilities.
  One of the portions of St. Mary's history of which the parishoners 
can be most proud is that the parish has been the mother of 39 
vocations, 18 to the priesthood, 20 to the sisterhood and one to the 
deaconate. The parish also acknowledges the dedication of another 
parishoner, Henry Gonshor, who aspired to the priesthood but was called 
to his eternal rest before finishing his preparatory studies.
  Over the past 100 years, St. Mary's has seen the formation of the 
following organizations, most of which are still flourishing today: St. 
Cecilia's Choir, Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality, the Holy Name Society, 
the Sacred Heart Society, Third Order of St. Francis, Purgatorial 
Society, the Catholic Council of Women and the Usher's Club. These 
organizations have helped unite many parishoners throughout the years 
toward a common cause of service to God and the Church.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of 
Representatives the 100 years of dedication, faith and good works of 
the people of St. Mary's Church, and I wish them all the best.

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