The LuLac Edition #2108, June 30th, 2012
This is the house of worship the Diocese destroyed.
St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church. That's it there, in that pile of sludge.
4 YEARS AGO TODAY
Four years ago today, the doors of St. John the Baptist Slovak Church on William Street in Pittston closed its doors by order of the Scranton Diocese. The ethnic parish was shut down after more than 100 years of service. A few years later, the church was demolished. It is now a parking lot. For many who aren't aware of its history, the vacant lot is just a place to park cars. There is no sign, no recognition of what it once was. The blood and sweat of Slovak immigrants built the church. But that mattered little to a heartless diocese that just wanted this little church out of the way. The schooling of children, the very sacraments administered in this church now are forgotten. Just like the people who built the church on the faith that it would be there for worship in years to come. So much for faith.
posted by David Yonki @ 1:22 AM
15 comments
15 Comments:
Students,
Nothing he has previously done in this classroom could have prepared me today for Mr. Yonki's eloquence in his paper regarding St. John the Baptist Church. Churches are disappearing all around us lately--as is a deference towards faith in God. This proves that the liberal agenda to take God out of America is moving forward and fast.....
The business of this classroom goes forward...
Students,
Today I wish to take issue with the myth of the relevance of the Electoral College. Some of you ingrates who have delivered retort to my arguments about Gov. Romney's ultimate election have used the Electoral count to prove some sort of point.
IN reality, the EC plays a very small part in the process. Granted, a candidate need the 270 magic number but there have been few times when the Electoral Winner was not also the winner of the Popular vote. So the argument is pointless.
Let me demonstrate what is going to occur in the next few months....
The June job numbers are going to be disasterous...July will be same/or worse. At that time it will be too late for the President to recover even if August and September numbers improve.
Michigan, Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin are all close at this time in polling. The bad numbers, coupled with the public outrage over Obamacare's new life, will tip these states to Romneys favour thereby winning him the Presidency.
If you slackers have a better scenario please speak up....
I congratulate President Elect Romney and his wonderful family...a family any American can be proud of....
Something to think about this morning.....
Class dismissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IN RESPONSE
9:57AM
PROFESSOR, YOU ARE CORRECT IN YOUR DEDUCTIONS. WISCONSIN IS VERY SHAKY BECAUSE OF THE RECALL VOTE. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF TARGET/BULLET POLITICS. MANY PEOPLE FORGET THAT IN 2004, JOHN KERRY MIGHT HAVE LOST THE POPULAR VOTE BUT COULD HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT. AS THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT TIGHTENS UP, THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WILL BOIL DOWN TO ABOUT 10 SENATE RACES WITH ROMNEY AND OBAMA BEING THE CANDIDATES AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET. YOU WILL SEE MORE TIME AND MONEY SPENT IN THOSE STATES AS OPPOSED TO NEARLY NOTHING IN SMALLER, SAFE STATES. IT WILL BE IRONIC THAT CALIFORNIA WILL BE VIRTUALLY IGNORED BECAUSE OF ITS STRING OF VOTING FOR DEMOCRATS WHILE SMALLER STATES WILL BE IN PLAY.
Dave:
One of the Slovak Immigrants was my grandfather who work in the mines and lad brick in the evening after work and on the weekend.On the last day of Saint John the Baptist Slovak Church, The big Msgr. Bendik said the Church was only a building so come across the street to a building to go to church. That was the last time I was in church. God is in my building call my home. Not a penny goes to the building across the street. I was one of the 400 people that came to bid farewell the a parish that has been an important part of my life.
Thanks for the story I see some people still care,
Al
Dave, Dave, Dave!!!!!!!
St. Mark's, Sacred Heart, too many gone, too many destroyed.
I applaud David for bringing this up every year. A church is a living thing. And yes even a building is. The Scranton Diocese by its actions have reduced sacred churches built by hard working people to the level of a movie theatre or a fast food place. It's not the building, it's the burger. It's not the church, it's the Holy Eucharist. Yeah, I went to Holy Communion but am far away from the church. Give me a burger.
Yonki, I'll give you two song titles to choose from ... Obla Di Obla Da, OR Get Over It! Enough already, it's gone, get over it already. Geeze, comon get a friggin' life already. You've been grousing about this for a damn long time, and probably a lot more. You probably weren't even in that building for God knows how long before it's demise anyhoo.
You're not a Christian you say but a Roman Catholic? Maybe you better do a reverse on that one big boy. Seems to me the Catholic church are the bad guys here my man.
IN RESPONSE
You probably weren't even in that building for God knows how long before it's demise anyhoo.
WENT TO MASS THERE EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT AS LATE AS 2004, 05, AND 06 WHEN MY WORK SHIFT PROHIBITED ME FROM GOING TO MY PARISH IN PLAINS. WAS NOT A STRANGER.
I love how everyone blames the dioses, how about blaming the folks who no longer attended the church and no longer supported it.. O shit, sorry, personal reponsiblity is something doesn't exist in the heyna nepa mind.
Dave in regards to the destruction of the church and school.
There should be at least some sort of marker like the state has along road ways to let folks now what had been at this location or what had happened there. This might be of some consolation to the families who originally built the church.
And the beat goes on with the closing of St. Rocco's. I read in the TL they just remodeled the place in 2002. Screw the immigrants, screw the old people. That's the new Catholic way.
9:21 AM has it right. It may be a shame, but the diocese is closing churches because the flock in shrinking.
Well now the two churches in Pittston that were the most challenging if you ever were a pallbearer are gone. SJB and St. Rocco's steps were crazy trying to negotiate a casket up and down. Loved them both though because they demonstrated the true ethnic heritage of a little town.
Hi, I believe my great-grandparents belonged to this church. Does anyone know where the records are now kept? Also, do you have any names to go with the pictures you had shown? It looks as though it was one of the more beautiful churches in the area. Such a shame. Mine is still open, but I wonder for how long. Thanks! kelsa@epix.net
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