St. Adalbert’s Polish National Catholic Parish Marks 125th Anniversary with Anniversary Events and Historical Reflection

St. Adalbert’s Polish National Catholic Parish, located in Dickson City, is commemorating its 125th anniversary this summer. The celebrations will begin on Saturday, June 24, with an open house, church and grounds tours, and activities for both adults and children. Plans are also in motion for a parish celebration dinner later in the fall.

Parish president David Humphreys described the community as a close-knit church family. “Whether we are making pierogi on Saturdays or hosting a chicken barbecue, or just having cake and coffee on a Sunday after Mass, we are ultimately one church family that strives for a common goal—and that is to serve God and help one another,” he said.

The Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) was established in Scranton in 1897 amid religious tensions. Polish American immigrants grew dissatisfied with the Roman Catholic Church, seeking greater involvement in decision-making and other important matters. These parishioners, along with supporters from the nearby Roman Catholic Church in Scranton, purchased land and began constructing the first church of the PNCC, St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Cathedral.

In March 1897, Rev. Franciszek Hodur, a Polish-born priest in the Roman Catholic Church in Nanticoke, accepted the invitation to become pastor of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Cathedral. A month later, he proposed forming a National Church, envisioning it as part of the Roman Catholic Church. When he presented his ideas to Rome, they were rejected, and he was excommunicated.

Despite this setback, the PNCC continued to grow, establishing new parishes across the United States and Canada. Rev. Hodur was elected the first bishop and later became the prime bishop during subsequent church synods. St. Adalbert’s PNCC, the second parish in the PNCC, was formed when people of Polish descent from Dickson City and surrounding towns invited Rev. Hodur to a meeting on August 25, 1897, to discuss forming a parish in Dickson City.

On September 13, 1897, Rev. Hodur approved the construction of a new church. The land was purchased from the Roman Catholic church on September 19, and St. Adalbert’s church was built. Rev. Hodur blessed and consecrated the church on April 24, 1898.

In August 1920, a fire destroyed the beloved church. The parishioners were determined to rebuild, and on October 30, 1921, Prime Bishop Hodur blessed the new church.

Today, Rev. Dr. Anthony Mikovsky of Scranton serves as the prime bishop of the PNCC. The PNCC and the Roman Catholic Church have been engaged in dialogue for over 25 years, meeting regularly to discuss their similarities and differences.

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