A year in the streets

There was a letter floating around announcing one of today's events:

St. Casimir lives!

The Polish national anthem begins with the line, Poland has not perished. In the original poem, the verb was 'died'. There is a stubborn determination for survival. It is not only for the nation, the land, but also of the faith and parish. St. Casimir Parish lives!

On 8 November 1917 Lenin took Russia. On 8 November 2009 Lennon took Casimir's. The party of Lenin lasted till 1991. We look forward for the end of our lennonist reign. We have been victims of unsympathetic tyranny, but we have not surrendered. We have fought the good fight, we have kept the faith.

The church buildings were taken, and St. Casimir's was thrown to the curb and street. We did not disband. We still congregate and celebrate our faith and community.

11.30 a.m. 7 November 2010 will be the 52nd Sunday gathering of St. Casimir-in-Exile meeting on the street and curb outside our church. It is true that not 100% of the members have joined us there, but friends that have recognised our plight, and the justness of our cause -- have. We will be joined by some of our brothers and sisters that have been dispatched from their parishes also, for we recognise our sadness is not a singularity, but others have suffered too.

We ask for the Divine Mercy of Jesus to come to us all. We believe in the words of Jesus, that were quoted by His apostle, Matthew:

For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

There is another letter making the rounds, also:

"Nie Bojcie Sie", in Polish it means "Do Not be Afraid". These words are the famous words spoken by the late Pope, John Paul II on his first visit to Poland as the Vicar of Christ. These words ignited a nation to throw off the chains of tyranny.

These words are also the words that have inspired the faithful of St. Casimir Church to continuously hold prayer vigils outside the locked gates of their church, which was closed by Bishop Richard Lennon on November 8, 2009.

On this upcoming Sunday, November 7th, at 11:30 AM, the 52nd prayer vigil will be held to mark a year of these Catholics refusing to give up their parish.

Every Sunday, the prayer leader, Wojtek Fleszar repeats these words, "Today we pray and sing on the street in front of our boarded up church but we hope for the day that once again we can kneel in prayer inside our church".

No matter the weather, rain, snow or freezing cold, the Casimir Catholics and Catholics from throughout the diocese return to the vigils week after week.

Krysia Moreno, a longtime parishioner said that at the vigils, "I have witnessed faith in action, strangers coming together to pray." Another longtime parishioner, Ray Kasperski said that "Many people from other closed ethnic parishes attend the vigils to express their support and solidarity with us. God bless freedom of speech."

At St Casimir, this Sunday, the prayer vigil will be special. Representatives of churches that have been closed and churches that are appealing the bishop's closures to Rome will be attending.

A third note circulating, in part:

Sunday the 7th of November, the displaced Christians of the Diocese of Cleveland shall again meet in the streets, our sidewalk catacombs. We are not hiding in fear to worship God with our brethren. We are cast off by the bishop. We are visible to all, whom wish to see us. Richard Lennon is the canonical ordinary of the diocese. He is the latin rite bishop. He is rightfully bishop, but his actions are not pastoral, not loving, not Gospel inspired, nor are they in the spirit of canon law, and the tradition of Holy Mother Church.

We are five parishes that still exist and are functioning in brotherhood: St. Casimir, St. Patrick (West Park), St. Emeric, St. James (Lakewood) and St. Wendelin. St. Peter's is celebrating a valid and licit Liturgy (Mass) indoors in rented space, and is the sixth parish continuing against Bishop Richard's wishes.

We pray to Jesus, as our patron in His Divine Mercy, in which we trust to aid us. We ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hardened heart of our current overseer, Bishop Lennon.

We want our closed parish buildings opened, and our parishes recognised as existing, if not by Richard our bishop, then by his successor, whomever he may be. We built (or I should say, our forbears built these churches; we merely sustain them) these churches and parishes. We were here before the arrival of Richard Lennon, and we will be here after his departure. Our Catholic Christianity has been dealt a harsh blow by his tenure, it has not been vanquished. We were baptised Catholic, we live as Catholics, and we remain Catholic.

St. Emeric will celebrate their patronal feast (transferred from 4 November) of St. Emeric. Their exiled pastor, now ministering in Chicago, Sandor Siklodi will be celebrating with them on their cul-de-sac next to the West Side Market at 9.45. St. Patrick will have their service on the front steps of their church at 11.30. St. James will have theirs at 12.30. St. Wendelin will have one at 9.00. St. Casimir will meet on E. 82nd and Sowinsi, in the street, curb and sidewalk for the 52nd consecutive Sunday.

At St. Emeric four dozen came to pray outside their church. Their pastor, Fr. Sandor Siklodi, came from Chicago to lead the prayer litany. People sang national magyar hymns, and a translation of How great Thou art. Later they would go to St. Colman's to celebrate an early afternoon Mass. They also marked their patron's day [4 November, St. Emeric]. They have maintained a consecutive vigil since their eviction. They congregated again. There was noise from a constantly circling, advertising aeroplane (there was a nearby football to be played later), and the electric trains. Just before 10 o'clock the Cleveland police circled the cul-de-sac and went on.
Their faith remains constant. Later on the east side, the Casimiri met for the 52nd time since their eviction. Three other parishes also met on the street to-day: St. Wendelin, St. Patrick, and St. James. St. Peter's had Mass inside rented space outside the reach of Lennon.
To Saint Casimir more than two hundred people came. There is an argument in american society, that, if it's not on television, then it didn't happen. Two television cameramen came. They like to have pre-interviews, and to set themselves up for the best angles. They get shots, and then leave; but the event continues.
Across the street from the church is the closed convent, and on its lawn is a Madonna and Child statue. After the initial prayers, a procession was made there to lay flowers. Several people, young and old put them down. People sang a polish Marian hymn, and then recrossed the street to continue there. They sang, far from there best, but still the hymns count as augmented prayers. A few people spoke, the local councilman, TJ Dow; leaders of two lay groups Nancy McGrath of Code Purple and St. Peter's, and Patricia Singleton of Endangered Catholics and St. Patrick (West Park); Dr. Michael Klymiuk whose dream of the Black Madonna [Matka Boska Częstochowska] began the street vigils. Dr. Klymiuk scolded the behavior of Bishop Lennon, and proclaimed that the people also had proper say in the diocese.

All along the fence, there were many national flags, signs, posters, and photographs of the past vigils. Afterwards people enjoyed a pastry and coffee table.
Far away across the ocean sea, the situation has not gone unnoticed. The word on the seventh hill of Rome is, "Lennon e' pazzo."