Polish National Catholic Church Reports Steady Growth Beyond Traditional Roots

The Polish National Catholic Church ordained a new cleric, Robert Grizzell, Saturday morning at Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral in Lancaster. Grizzell traveled from San Antonio, Texas, for the religious ceremony to receive the title.

The Polish National Catholic Church has seen steady growth in recent years, particularly the last decade, extending their presence westerly from their Pennsylvania and Western New York roots into the Midwest and southwest portion of the country.

Bishop John Mack, who oversees the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church, in addition to the newer churches in Texas, explained that the church is structured similarly to the Roman Catholic Church, with dioceses in Western New York, Western Pennsylvania, and Scranton. Missions were established 20 to 30 years ago, leading to the church’s expansion. Mack noted he has three parishes in San Antonio and serves as their bishop.

Mack attributed some of the growth to the church’s ability to adapt to local communities, especially the growing Spanish-speaking population. The church has also partnered with struggling independent parishes, providing them with stability and a sense of Catholicity. “You try to serve the needs of the local community. That’s what the church is supposed to do,” he said.

The Polish National Catholic Church was founded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to serve newly immigrated Polish citizens in the United States who wished to maintain their native language and customs during Mass. Over time, the church transitioned from Polish to English language services and now aims to accommodate Spanish-speaking parishioners as needed.

Another core reason for the church’s separation from Rome, according to Mack, was to democratize the church, including the ability for members to have a say in the selection of pastors. Despite this, Mack emphasized that the Polish National Catholic Church retains all the trappings of traditional Catholicism.

Source: Read the original report