On Thursday, Fr. Adam was dining at the table of Bishop Mack in his home. The bishop had drove this young priest to Scranton where the Prime Bishop received him as a priest in the PNCC. He was now being served the bishop’s signature dish, pork chops with mashed potatoes. Fr. Adam Kotas’ vocation to be a priest started in Chicago where he studied his theology at the Polish seminary, SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan founded in 1885. He shared that once he graduated he had to find a diocese who was willing to accept him to serve in parish ministry.
His first assignment found him serving in the Diocese of San Jose in California. In his seminary studies, he learned about Fr. Houdur and the struggle of the Polish people in their generation. As he continued to work in California, his suffered from a severe asthma condition due to the smug and unhealthy air in that state. He requested a transfer for his health and the diocese sent him to the Diocese in Las Vegas where his health improved due to the drier climate. It was here he met a parishioner from our cathedral in Lancaster who shared her love for the Polish National Church and once again Fr. Adam found him being drawn to inquire about the PNCC.
He contacted Bishop Mack who welcomed this young priest with open arms and invited him to serve in our diocese. But surprising, Fr. Adam had no church but he had this inspiration to start a Polish Catholic parish in Las Vegas. He had met many Polish National Catholics who were sheep without a shepherd. Only 36 years old, this enthusiastic young disciple was willing to start a new church from scratch. Like the disciples who wondered how would they be able to feed such a large crowd with so little food. Fr. Adam trusted Our Lord and with the help of his dad and some Polish people found an abandoned building that once served as a church. But it was empty building, no stain glass windows, no statues of saints, no holy water fonts, no altar or candles. Then the miracle occurred, Bishop Bernie in New Jersey had a church that had closed. Fr, Adam inquired if the church had anything he could take with him to fill his new church. Bishop Bernie agreed and a plan was set in motion.
The five loaves and two fish became a baptismal font, stations of the cross, statures of St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother, an Easter candle holder, a pulpit, holy water fonts, even a tabernacle that somehow, he would have to figure out how to pry out of the marble altar. So, our young priest changed his flight plans and instead of visiting his parents in Chicago, he rerouted his plane ticket to fly to New Jersey. A parishioner from Las Vegas would join him in New Jersey and the two men planned to rent a U-Haul truck and bring their new-found church supplies to the empty building and create a scared space where Fr. Adam would call his new church “Divine Mercy.”
Fr. Adam plans to start celebrating Mass in September when the building officially becomes church property. He will still need to search for an altar, a sound system, computer, copier, chairs for the congregations and what he would like is a painting in the image of Jesus as Divine Mercy.
Only God knows what the five loaves and tow fish two fish will become. From an abandoned church, this parish could become a campus for medicine and healing, a hospice or hospital, or a school for physically challenged children or a recovery center for people with various addictions. I shared with Fr. Adam that there are many hurting people in the world and his sacred space would be a sign of hope that God is in our midst to bring comfort and strength to his community in Las Vegas. He shared that he liked that vison. I encourage all of you to pray that the Lord will bless this young priest and his new community that from so little, many will come to join this faith community. Like the multitude who followed Jesus and grew hungry, people would be fed with the Bread of Life and find a home that will bring them closer to the heart of Christ.
You get my point. Jesus Christ lives in you. With you, he can do extraordinary things because all things are possible. Think like this. You and that U-Haul are travelling from New Jersey to Las Vegas with all those holy sacred vessels that just might change the world.
Lord I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are starting out on new adventures. Help us to realize that creativity is everywhere you look for it. And it is in you. Learn how to feed yourself a steady diet of inspiration and you will live and love more creatively.
