Struggling parish discerns shrine of patron

By Tanya Connor
 The Catholic Free Press

A struggling parish is praying and discerning the establishment of a shrine in honor of its patron, in an effort to survive, grow and promote Christian unity and perseverance.
St. Andrew Bobola, a 17th century Polish Jesuit, fought division among Christians. After torture and martyrdom, at times he was forgotten, but now he is a patron of Poland.  
The local parish named for him – St. Andrew Bobola in Dudley – struggles with decreasing membership and financial need, according to the pastor, Father Krzysztof Korcz. However, he has found that when he needs help, it arrives.  
Now he’s wondering whether God and St. Andrew want a national shrine at the church. To discern this, Father Korcz started a daily litany and monthly devotions and Masses in honor of St. Andrew, and is planning a retreat, novena and feast day Mass next spring.  
“We are also praying for some miracles, through the intercession of St. Andrew Bobola,” hoping to reveal God’s will, the pastor said.
Bishop McManus said Father Korcz asked his permission to cultivate people’s devotion to St. Andrew in hopes of establishing a sanctuary, or shrine.
“I think it’s a very admirable endeavor,” the bishop said; it would help Polish people in the diocese and beyond celebrate their heritage.
“We know that as a smaller parish ... we have to look beyond our parish walls,” said Paula Niksa, parish council chairwoman. “Having it be a shrine sounds fantastic” to parishioners. “What that will entail and how it will impact parish life ... remains to be seen.” The ideal is to continue to function as a parish and also have a shrine, she said.
“If the bishop would see that this devotion is spreading around,” it might help him make a decision about whether to establish a shrine, Father Korcz said.
Last week the pastor sent a letter to priests of the diocese seeking their support. He wants them to pray and publicize the new devotional practices.
The April 21-24 retreat in Polish is to be given by Msgr. Józef Niznik, rector of the St. Andrew Bobola shrine in Strachocina, the saint’s childhood home in Poland. Father Korcz said St. Andrew appeared to Msgr. Niznik, as he had to others, sometimes making requests or promising help. But priests in Strachocina, to whom he didn’t speak, feared he was a ghost.
“Who are you and what do you want?” Msgr. Niznik finally asked.
“I am St. Andrew Bobola; please start to honor me in this parish,” was the reply.
Msgr. Niznik started devotions to him and obtained a relic from the shrine in Warsaw where the saint’s incorrupt body lies, Father Korcz said. He said devotion grew and more than 1,000 miracles have been reported at the Strachocina shrine.  
Father Korcz called some of his own experiences miraculous and shared the following.  
After he arrived at the parish in 2014 he told parishioners he needed $11,000 to replace rectory windows, “and the next day somebody brought the check for $11,000.”   
Soon afterwards he announced a need for $40,000 for the rectory heating system, and a few days later someone donated that amount to thank God for saving his life after a fall.  
“This parish struggles because we have no (new) immigrants from Poland,” Father Korcz said. Members of the 100 households are mostly elderly. He does the work himself instead of having staff members and pays bills by selling Polish food.     
“Last year I decided to go to the bishop,” he said. “I was very discouraged. ... I did not see the sense of ... keeping the parish open.”
But his June meeting with Bishop McManus was postponed for scheduling reasons, he said. Before it was held, a man in Chicago, who is devoted to St. Andrew, requested a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Dudley church.  
That led Father Korcz to read more about the saint.  
“I got the idea that St. Andrew Bobola is calling me to start the devotion in our parish,” and “he will help this parish survive,” the pastor said.  
“He’s the patron of Christian unity,” having been martyred while trying to unite Catholics and Orthodox, Father Korcz said. “Maybe he wants to have the shrine to unite all Catholics, and other Christians too ... and help people to persevere in serving God.”  
Meeting with Bishop McManus last August, Father Korcz proposed a shrine – instead of exploring a merger.
In September, the pastor visited St. Andrew Bobola’s shrines in Strachocina and Warsaw.
“Both rectors ... were very happy with the idea of having a shrine in the U.S.,” he said.  
Father Korcz said that he sought estimates for renovating the church hall (thanks to a large donation from the estate of deceased parishioner Nancy Vajcovec). A parishioner offered to install a drop ceiling for free.
For some other renovations, a parishioner suggested Ernest Kostrzewa, of Wall Done LLC in Farmington, Connecticut. Father Korcz told Mr. Kostrzewa about St. Andrew and blessed him with the relic.
“The next day he called me and said, ‘Father Kris, I decided to do this job as a donation,’” the pastor said.
Mr. Kostrzewa said he’d desired to help the Catholic Church, like his family did in Poland. Then the opportunity came when Father Korcz called him.
After looking at what was needed to redo the floor and paint the walls in the church hall, so the parish can make money renting it out, Mr. Kostrzewa read about the saint.
Despite a busy schedule, “we have to work for free,” he decided; “this is like a ‘thank you’ for God.” One worker needs to be paid; the others will give two weeks of their time, starting in February, he said. After they finish, Father Korcz is to bless them with the relic.
“This is like a prize for us,” Mr. Kostrzewa said. “We don’t need anything more.”
What Father Korcz needs is clarification about establishing a shrine.  
“I think I will know better what God wants,” after holding the retreat, novena and feast day Mass, he said. He figures that, if God wants a shrine, he will bring new parishioners and visitors, and perhaps miracles. Bishop McManus is the one who will ultimately decide what God’s will is, Father Korcz said.

St. Andrew Bobola devotions
Where: St. Andrew Bobola Parish, 54 West Main St., Dudley
 
What and When:
Litany
At all Lord’s Day and weekday Masses
 
Devotions in English
the 15th day of each month 
5:30 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, rosary, petitions to St. Andrew Bobola
6 p.m. Mass for unity and peace, veneration of the relic
(Petition box available)
 
Devotions in Polish 
the 16th day of each month
5:30 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, rosary, petitions to St. Andrew Bobola
6 p.m. Mass for unity and peace, veneration of the relic
(Petition box available)
 
Retreat in Polish
April 21-24
 
Bilingual novena Masses
May 7-15, 6 p.m.
 
Feast Day Mass with Bishop McManus in English 
May 16, 6 p.m.