Dear Editor:
I am a member of the Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in downtown Jersey City. I have noted with concern the criticism of Father Tom by certain parishioners and non-parishioners. I have declined to become involved with this dispute up to this point, but a recent letter written by Daniel Cassidy, a non-parishioner with an obvious personal agenda of ultra-conservative and largely outmoded views, prompts this letter.
First, let me state that I have the highest respect for my Polish co-parishioners, and I empathize with their loss of the weekly Polish Mass. Perhaps this signals to them the end of one more visible, tangible connection between them as Polish Americans and their native culture. But, notwithstanding my respect for their position, I strongly disapprove of those who seem to have seized this charge as an opportunity to levy unfair criticism on Pastor Father Tom and to disparage his work in the Parish. This is particularly disconcerting when it comes from certain non-parishioners who appear to be leading a charge to vent their own disruptive and bias purpose and who are willing to utilize deceptive methods, half-truths and outright false statements to achieve their goal. As a citizen and lawyer, I firmly believe in free speech, but I detest and condemn the methods of those few dissenters who would distort and disrupt the progress made by Father Tom to date and to damage the good will and peace that has defined a great Parish and its members.
While many might disagree with the abruptness of the decision made by Father Tom and the Parish Committee to eliminate the weekly Polish Mass, sometimes a swift transition is the best and kindest way to implement a necessary but unpleasant change. Even though I am not Polish, I was very proud of that part of our Parish’s heritage. I have even traveled to Our Lady of Czestochowa National Shrine to learn more about this Polish tradition. I believe I am a better person for making the pilgrimage. Unfortunately, all ethnic groups have gone through similar transition, and the Polish of OLC will not be the last. My father and grandfather left the Catholic Church for a time because they were not allowed to say their prayers in their native language, German. Hopefully time will prove that wounds do heal and that spiritual concerns such as love for each other and faith in God are more important than temporal cultural traditions. Hopefully, they will return to our Church Family as did my father and grandfather many years ago.
However, much unwarranted criticism has been visited on Father Tom with frequent use of references to half-truths and outright falsehoods. These charges are unwarranted and disruptive, and more importantly are not made in a spirit of love and tolerance through which disagreements can be overcome.
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of this dispute is that the detractors (as usual) forget to tell the whole story. More worthy of public attention are the many wonderful things Father Tom has helped to inspire at our Parish since becoming Pastor six years ago. When I joined the Parish some 12 years ago about 15 to 20 attended Mass. Now there are usually 75 to 100 that attend service. A warm and enriching music ministry was created with beautiful singers and musicians. Even more importantly, there is now active participation in music by all in the congregation, including two choirs. Father Tom has also encouraged many parishioners to become involved in the Mass as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Greeters. Father Tom has initiated annual events such as Spring on Sussex Street, a street fair for the entire neighborhood, and The Festival of Christmas Song, at which hundreds of people meet in front of the Church to sing seasonal favorites, and the Lights of Paulus Hook lecture series bringing distinguished lay speakers to our community who exposed the neighborhood to new culture and history. Father Tom’s solicitations to parishioners for donations are met every holiday with record-breaking generosity resulting in wonderful gifts to improve the Church including a new sound system, refurbished pews and even a bathroom for the elderly. Further, the Parish School building, which has been neglected for so many years, has undergone significant repairs and improvements since Father Tom joined us, not to mention the expanded curriculum and new playground. None of these important improvements were accomplished in the period of 60 years prior to Father Tom’s leadership. I have been involved in many Catholic parishes over the years, and I am personal witness to the fact that a spirit of inclusion reins at OLC Parish seldom if ever seen elsewhere.
If certain individuals wish to criticize Father Tom for his recent decisions that is certainly their right and privilege, but it is incumbent upon them to do so fairly and to refrain from resorting to slanderous misstatements, as some have done. Signs of “ethnic cleansing” are ridiculous and wrong and such narrow and disruptive accusations hurt the Parish as a whole, as well as each individual member, Polish and non-Polish. We, the non-Polish members of the Parish who sympathize with the Polish members, are appalled and deeply troubled that a very few overzealous people could incite some of our members for their own personal motives, and be so insensitive to the majority of Parishioner, not to mention Father Tom. I personally make a plea to all my fellow parishioners to act in a charitable way by presenting their views in a responsible, sensible and honest manner.
John B. M. Frohling