MRN of D€STINV

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following individuals have responded to our appeal for photographs which made possible the “Manof Destiny - A Pictorial History.”

Rt. Rev. Anthony M. Rysz Mr. Stanley Janus

Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Gnat Mr. Joseph Kochan

Very Rev. Rene Zawistowski Mrs. Gloria Carlson

Very Rev. Edward Abramski Mr. Edward Tencza

Very Rev. Jan Chwiej Mrs. Mary Peterof

Rev. Dennis Ruda Mrs. Lottie De Yonghe

Rev. Sigmund Szczepkowski Mrs. Mildred Koninski

Rev. Edward Tomczyk Mrs. Stella Kopchinski

Rev. John Tengowski Mr. Walter Lasinski

Mr. John Gontarz Mrs. Mary Visnosky

Mr. Vincent Yuskiewicz Mrs. Cheryl Gaszak Rev. William Chromey* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Prepared for publication by: A rt Work by:Mr. Edward Jazgier

Very Rev. Jan Chwiej

Very Rev. Louis Orzech Cover lettering, Composition &Camera ready preparation:

Very Rev. Stephen Gnas Matilda G. Drost

Rev. Edward Tomczyk Printed by:The Straż Printery

Bishop Hodur Biography Commission

ISBNNumber: 0-944497-01-2 Printed - April, 1988

FOREWARD

The Bishop Hodur Biography Commission of the Central Diocese has once again presented the Church with a gift of incalculable wealth.

This publication entitled “Man of Destiny” by the Commission preserves for posterity the image of Prime Bishop Franciszek Hodur from the moment when he received the Sacrament of Priesthood from the hands of the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton, the Most Rev. William 0 ’Hara, to the end of his earthly pilgrimage as the Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church.

So much religious history lies in the pictures which are part of this publication. So very much of the battle for human rights and dignity for that great body of Poles who immigrated to this country at the end ot the nineteenth century and well into the twentieth.

It is significant that this publication was completed as the citizens of the United States of America celebrated the two hundredth anniver- sary of the Constitution of the USA. As the last of his assistants, I am sure that he would have appreciated the symbolism attached to the preparation of this publication. This book appears in the thirty fifth year of his death. I recall vividly that February 16, 1953 when at 7:20 a.m. Bishop John Misiaszek, then Ordinary of the Central Diocese and I administered the Sacrament of Holy Unction to this dying man of God, the first Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church. It seemed that the whole world stood still as the sexton began tolling the cathedral bells announcing to the parish which Bishop Hodur organized, the City of Scranton and the world that God called unto himself His servant.

My mind is filled with pictures of the throngs of people who moved through the Cathedral Rectory and the Church as his body lie in peace- ful repose. The mourning, cries and sobs made a lasting impression on the mind of the young priest, assistant whoseteacher and mentor Bishop Hodur was from baptism to priesthood.

Prayerfully this book will be a source of inspiration to all Polish National Catholics and will acquaint those who are not part of our faith community, with the organizer of our church and the rich legacy he left.

Bishop Anthony M. Rysz Ordinary - Central Diocese Polish National Catholic Church February 1 ,1988

MAN OF DESTINY

In the state of Ohio there is a courthouse that stands in such a way that the raindrops that fali on the north side go into Lake Ontario and the Gulf of St. Lawrence and those that fali on the south side go into theMississippi and the Gulf o f Mexico.Just a puff of wind determines thedestiny of a raindrop for 2,000 miles.

On April 1, 1866, Franciszek Hodur, son of John and Mary Ko­sowski, was born in the village of Żarki, County of Chrzanów, Babicepansh, six kilometers from Kraków.

In 1889 he completed his studies at St. Anne’s Gymnasium and received an excellent certificate of maturity and began to reflect about his futurę. He was attracted to literature, art and the priesthood. He now had to decide what to choose in order to be helpful to the people from whom he came and about whose fate he was singularly concerned. After a lengthy hesitation the decision was made. Franciszek Hodur concluded that the Christian priesthood had all the means and opportunities needed in order to fulfill all that he proposed to do which was to work for the welfare of the Polish people.

At this stage of his life, Divine Providence determines his fate. He is destined to dedicate his futurę priestly life for the Polish people. How- ever, not in his beloved Poland but in America in the city of Scranton, Fennsylvania.

This city, the place of his work and actions for the next 62 years, is situated in the northeast region of Pennsylvania in coal valleys. It began to attract large numbers of Polish workers who eąually repre- sented the three partitions of Póland. They mostly worked in the thickly scattered mines of the region or in the iron foundries and steel mills.

This relatively poor Polish settlement was chosen by Providence to ignite the torch of Polish thought and faith among the working people. It was m Scranton that a elear program was erystalized which produced the Polish National Catholic Church. It was here that the powerful voice of the miners was spread from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains, Begone with Rome! Begone with the bishops!

The evening of March 14, 1897 became a solemn moment in the life of Father Franciszek Hodur. On taking an oath before the people he accepted the Divine Mandate to lead his people with these finał state- ments:

“We shall go forth fearlessly. The rights of the people are more power- ful and sacred than the privileges of the bishops and priests. Therefore, Almighty God, the Source of Truth and Law, will lead us to victory. You must remember that I stand before you without the bishop’s knowledge and will. For this they will excumunicate and persecute me. But, I am not afraid neither of their excommunication nor any kind of punishment. They will attem pt to frighten, deceive and curse you until the words of the Divine Master spoken to His apostles and fulfilled on you, ‘‘truły, truły I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy." (John 16:20) “They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Lukę 12:53) “They will put you out of the synagogues.” (John 16:2) “And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake; But he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22). Therefore, be not afraid because your cause will not fail. Your courage will be an example to the other Polish settle- ments and just as the wide world praised the Apostles for carrying the cross of Christ from the waters of the Euphrates to the shores of the Tiber, so will the futurę Polish generations with reverence recollect your names. For this difficult and great task, let us seek light and advice only in Him who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life-” (John 14:6) “ I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,” (John 8:12) Finally, as you embark on this thorny road, I bless you, my brothers and sisters and friends, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

A Chinese proverb states, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” It is our fervent wish that each picture in the pictorial album of theMAN OF DESTINY will tell its fuli story. .

Yery Rev. Louis Orzech

FIRST BISHOP FRANCISZEK HODUR

BORNŻarki Poland, April 1, 1866

ENTERED JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY

Kraków, Poland, 1890

DEPARTED EUROP E Hamburg, Germany, December 31, 1892

ARRIVED IN NEW YORK, U.S A. January 23,1893

ENTERED ST. VINCENT’S SEMINARY

Betty, Pennsylvania, 1893

ORDAINED Scranton, Pennsylvania, August 19, 1893

DEPARTED HOLY TRINITY Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1897

RECEIVED AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP November 26, 1902

ELECTED BISHOP First Polish National Catholic

Church Synod Scranton, Penna., September 7, 1904

CONSECRATED Utrecht Holland, September 29, 1907

DIEDScranton, Pennsylvania, February 16,1953

REPOSED Grotto of Christ Benign

February 21, 1953

TRANSFERRED Monument of Gratitude

July 4, 1955

C H R Y S T U S IDZIE NA PODBÓJ Ś W IA T AChrist goes on to conąuer the world

Żarki Yillage

Hodur Family: (Seated - L to R): Wife of Jacob - Ludwika, Father John, Mother - Mary; Standing - L to R.): Sister - Agnes, Brother - Jacob, Brother - Andrew, Sister - iosephine, Husband of Josephine - Stanley, Sister - Cathryn, Sister - Salomena.

Photographed after Ordination - August 19,1893

Assigned as Assistant Pastor

School in ŻarkiStudent łiodur witn coiiegaues

at Jagiellonian University - Kraków

St. Vincent’s College and Archabbey Latrobe, Pennsylvania

Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary Scranton, Pennsylvania

Holy Trinity Church N?r.iicoke, Pennsylvania

Original St. Stanislaus Church Scranton, Pennsylvania - Built 1897

Bishop-Elect - 1907

First Synod - 1904

Consecration - Sunday, September 29, 1907 in Old Catholic Church, Holland

St. Gertrude Cathedral - Utrecht, Holland

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Bishop Franciszek Hodur - newly consecrated

St. Stanislaus Church - renovated 1906 and new rectory

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Gravesite of parents

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At Our Savior on Golgotha - Detroit, Michigan (1925)

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Savonarola Theological Seminary

Parish youth gather for Penitential Devotions a t St. Stanislaus Cathedral

Bishop Hodur with Rev. John Misiaszek (right) and Rev. Stanley Cybulski (left)

B ISH O P H O D U R BACK FROM EU R O PE —When the prime bishop of the Polish Na­tional Church arrived at the Lackawanna station Thursday night, «fter attending a church synod in Warsaw, Poland, he was greeted by more than 500 of his parishioners. He was snapped by The Scrantonian photog- rapher while enroute from the station to St. Stanislaus church.

_ _ _ _

Bishops: Leon Grochowski, Walenty Gawrychowski, Franciszek Hodur, Franciszek Bończak and Jan Gritenas.

In Scranton, second Sunday of July - Inaugurating the commemoration of the defeat of the Tutonic Knights - Grunwald, 1918.

Straż Printery ( ls t building) adjacent to Cathedral

Spójnia Farm, Waymart, Pennsylvania, purchased, 1929.

Encampment with youth at Spójnia Farm

New camp facility for youth at Spójnia Farm, Waymart, Pennsylyania, 1934

Opening of recreational facility for YMS of R, Prospect Street, Scranton, Pennsylvania

St. Stanislaus Parish Committee - 1934

Provincial Synod - April 23-25, 1928 - Scranton, Pennsylvania

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Bishop Hodur speaking to children prior to their departure to Spójnia Camp - July 1938

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Bishop Hodur instructs camp counselor, Bronisław Wysocki

Very Rev. Jan Misiaszek accompanying Bishop Hodur on the way to the rectory

W I T A J C U

YMS of R Convention, Buffalo, New York - 1934 - (L to R) Bishop J. Jasiński, Very Rev. J. Misiaszek, Bishop Hodur and Rev. J. Jakobsche

Seventh General Synod - 1946 - Scranton, Pennsylvania

Bishop Hodur before Main Altar

United Blessed Sacrament Society Convention, Scranton, Pennsylvania

In front o f St. Stanislaus Cathedral - United Blessed Sacrament Society Convention - (about 1945)

Bishop Hodur assisted by Bishop J. Misiaszek and Rev. W. Pietras on way to church to observe Jubilee of City of Scranton - 1941

At the grotto

United Maria Konopnicka Society Convention

Penitential Devotions for the youth of St. Stanislaus Cathedral

50th Anniversary Program of the Polish National Catholic Church

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Program participants following the dedication of the Yeterans’ Flag - 1942

Spójnia Convention, Sept. 28 - Oct. 2, 1931 - Scranton, Pennsylvania

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At the cemetery with Bishop Misiaszek and Rev. Jakobsche

Bishop Hodur at Central Falls, Rhode Bishop exiting from CathedralIsland with Bishop Misiaszek and Rev. J.Jakobsche

At World’s Fair, Long Island, New York - 1939

Religious Program for the day at the World’s Fair

Church interior during Yeterans’ Flag dedication

St. Stanislaus Cathedral Parish Committee -

1942

Greeting children at Spójnia Farm

Greeting children at Spójnia Farm

Prior to service of consecration of Very Rev. J. Padewski

Bishop, faculty and seminarians

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United Blessed Sacrament Society Convention

Blessed Yirgin Mary Sodality Convention

United Y.M.S. of R. Convendon

Recipients of Labor Day Awards - 1949

Grotto of Christ Benign - Cathedral Cemetery

Blessing of F lam e, Labor Day - 1950

Blessing of Flame - Labor Day.

Remodeling of Seminary building - 1951

In front of Cathedral

In front of Grotto

Labor Day - 1948

Bishop Franciszek Hodur

Portrait in Cathedral rectory, painted in Poland

FUNERAL - FEBRUARY 21, 1953

Monument of Gratitude

Transferral from Grotto to Monument of Gratitude - July 4, 1955

Annual Memoriał Service a t Sarcophagus

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