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| Pope Benedict only gave Jesus on the tongue to kneelers. |
Listen to the VORTEX to hear the story of the bully priest, Fr. Ron Jozwiak, who denied Communion to a young woman, Rachel Madi, because she knelt to receive Our Lord. He loudly ordered her to "get up and receive Communion the Catholic way." When she replied, "This is the Catholic way," he walked around her and gave Communion to the next in line. If only she were a pro-abortion politician or a transgender in clown costurme she would have had no problem. But KNEELING AND ON THE TONGUE! Horrors.
Because the priest's actions were so loud and misled the congregation into believing kneeling is not allowed, Rachel wants the bishop to instruct Prince of Peace pastor, Fr. Ron Jozwiak, to make a public apology at all Masses and to instruct the congregation that kneeling is a legitimate, canonically approved, way to receive Holy Communion. Since he's a canon lawyer he probably knows that already, but apparently he believes his opinion trumps canon law.
The only thing that can rein in some of these priests is public correction. Pray for Rachel Madi and the parishioners of Prince of Peace. And you might consider sending a polite letter or e-mail to Archbishop Vigneron urging him to disseminate in the diocesan paper the fact that Catholics are within their rights to kneel for Communion and receive Communion on the tongue. A slap down to Fr. Ron would get the message across to other priests tempted to trampel the rights of their parishioners.
being there, I was not refused communion but was summoned in the narthex and was yelled out. Told to look around me and imitate the congregation. I felt bad for Fr. he lost it, and the feeling of being yelled out for receiving on my knees and the tongue was very humiliating.
ReplyDeleteI guess mercy and compassion doesn't apply to us.
You're right. I hope you gave Father a lesson in canon law. If I could be sure of being able to get up I would kneel for Communion. I genuflect at the front pew where I have something to hold on to. When I go to Mass at St. John in Front Royal I rejoice in being able to kneel at the Communion rail. Sad that orthodox Catholics are persecuted while heretics and those who commit sacrilege against the Lord are welcomed with open arms.
ReplyDeleteThis same priest, recently told its weekday mass-goers he wanted to see them on Sunday cas' they attend another Rite and they were not putting any money in the Sunday collection plate (Fr. Jozwiak)at Prince of Peace
ReplyDeleteThis problem simply will *not* go away because there are so many priests like Fr. Jozwiak who are modern day Pharisees.
ReplyDeleteAt our Cathedral, some three months ago, a woman knelt to receive Holy Communion. The priest, visibly upset and agitated, was admonishing her to stand and justified doing it because of the parenthetical in GIRM #160 said to do this (as the video by Mr. Voris shows).
The woman obeyed Fr. Pharisee because she was shaken and did not want to cause any more of a scene.
Just before final blessing the priest announced, "Please, out of respect *for me*, when you come to Holy Communion you are to receive standing and with your hands extended out so I can place the Eucharist in your hand."
The woman and her husband later approached this same priest to clarify his... stance. He became verbally abusive towards the couple and said that he had been studying the Liturgy for fifteen years and he knew what the GIRM said about the reception of Holy Communion. He placed emphasis on the *particular laws* ("laws"?) of the USCCB and told the couple they were in the wrong and *not* going with the mind of the Church.
The pride of this man is breathtaking. (incidentally, received much of his "training" at the modernist St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, Mn. - a Benedictine monastery)
Dear Mary,
ReplyDeleteHow blessed you are to be able to go to St John. We go there when our children are graduating from Seton. I love that Church! So many families, the frescoes are so beautiful.
I'd love to meet you. Your blog is heart lifting. Thanks you for your work.
I would love to meet you too. If you will be in the area let me know and we can get together for coffee. kreitzr1@shentel.net
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this type of behavior is not unusual for Fr. Jozwiak. He lives in Ron's World with all his other imaginary friends. The Fr. Pharisee tag seems quite appropriate. Explains why he was removed as pastor from his last parish and placed on a leave of absence. Too bad he was cleared to come back to active ministry.
ReplyDeleteI haven't met his imaginary friends but I do agree with comments on another site calling him a bully priest. He walks away from parishionhers if he doesn't like the direction a conversation is moving in. He talks over people if they don't agree with him and then walks away. He's rendered the parish council a small group in name only. Requests to the Bishop Cepeda and Archbishop Vigneron for assistance have produced no results.
ReplyDeleteWe need to get about 30 people together to stand in line and kneel for communion. Then when he goes around that person the next person will kneel, and the next, and the next and the next-------.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous : I recognise your feelings, I've also been there. The only reason preventing us (a group of like-minded people at the particular church) doing this was we did not approve of a demonstration at the foot of the altar at such a special part of Holy Mass. We simply didn't go there any more.
ReplyDeleteApparently Fr. Jozwiak's imaginary rule list also includes not saying Mass on a Holy Day. Perhaps New Years Day would be a good day to try out another parish to call home, one where God rules, not a priest with a bad attitude.
ReplyDeleteRe getting a group to go up and kneel for Communion.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were going through this in the Arlington diocese, the child of a friend of mine who was about ten at the time was refused Communion for kneeling. A priest started telling people it was instigated by Les Femmes. An acquaintance wrote me a scathing letter about it and I told him the priest made that up. He never talked to me. I don't think he even talked to the mom who was, in fact, one of the Les Femmes founders. But the decision to kneel was her child's. I told my acquaintance we would not do that for much the same reason you say, Jeremiah.
My daughter, who went before me, had words from a "Eucharistic Minister" last summer in N.J./ I soon found out what those words were, because when I knelt to receive the Blood of Christ, she (EM) hesitated, said nothing (i.e.: "This is the Blood of Christ"), then finally said it, only to add the words: (paraphrasing) We stand now, don't kneel. - I was startled, didn't know what to say or do (not thinking t an appropriate time for anyone to say anything but "The Blood of Christ". I turned back briefly and said, "Every knee will bend" and left, only to have my daughter tell me she was also instructed by the E.M. not to kneel also. I explained after Mass that I can kneel. ANother parishioner stood up for us and agreed. The EU went on. I asked for the priest, who listened but tried to gently persuade me. I wrote to his boss and was ignored.
ReplyDeleteThese are the days of the church tyrants. I try to receive Communion from the priest because I think most LEMs are unnecessary. At a parish where we were visiting I crossed the aisle to get in the priest's line and the usher tried to get me back in the "right" line. I ignored her. Talk about officious busybodies! Frankly, I'm sick of it. Give me the old chaos when everybody got up at once and went wherever they pleased. Now, that's a "mess" I can really go for!
ReplyDeleteAs an active member of Prince of Peace parish for several years, I have to say I find these comments very disrespectful. I was not at this mass so I did not personally witness what happened but I do attend mass presided by Fr Ron every Sunday and I can say he is a holy and spirit filled man. I am encouraged and uplifted by his sermons. The comments on here are being made by people who don't even know this priest. That makes it gossip folks. You were not there you don't know what really happened. This is a priest. Learn some respect Catholics!!
ReplyDeleteYou are mistaken, Anonymous, to call the comments here "gossip." What happened was a public scandal being reported by the woman to whom it happened.
ReplyDelete"Holy and spirit filled" Fr. Ron violated canon law when he refused to give Communion to her because she knelt. She is correct in publicly addressing what was a public (very public!) scandal.
I don't have to know someone personally who injures another while driving drunk to say his actions are wrong.
As for Fr. Ron's "uplift[ing]" sermons, as my mom always said..."Actions speak louder than words!" and his actions were disgraceful and beneath his dignity as a priest.
Well I guess this young lady is getting what she wanted all along, calling attention to herself. She is getting all kind of attention now. What was wrong with going back to her pew to kneel? Why make a show of it in front of the congregation. Why are none of these "reporters" talking to Fr Ron rather than talking on the Internet about him behind his back, pretending to know what his intentions were and exactly what was said. In my opinion that is gossip.
ReplyDeleteUh...let me get this straight. You say the young lady didn't know Fr. Ron's intentions, buty you know the young lady's intentions which were to get attention and talk to reporters. Wow! Talk about rash judgment, which is, like gossip, a sin against the eighth commandment.
ReplyDeleteI suspect her intention was to follow the Gospel admonition that at the name of Jesus every knee must bend. And certainly at the REAL PRESENCE of Jesus every knee must bend.
Here's my question for you. What don't you understand about CANON LAW? The priest has no authority to deny Communion to a person for kneeling. It is the Communicant who has the right to decide, UNDER CANON LAW, how to receive Our Blessed Savior.
As for Father's intention, it was obvious. He intended the young woman to receive Communion standing and in the hand and if he had to violate Canon Law to force her to do it he obviously had no problem.
You ask what was wrong with her going back to her pew to kneel? I ask you what was wrong with Fr. Ron giving her Communion on her knees which was her right UNDER CANON LAW.
By the way, you can buy a copy of Canon Law on the internet.
I have been a member of POP for many years. My family and I attended faithfully every Sunday. Although Fr. Ron did not have the guts to ever verbally admonish me for anything, he has certainly done so to another family member. That along with the sad stories I have heard from my Chaldean friends, ex Church employees, and other Parish members, have left me so disillusioned with the Catholic Church in general. We have stopped going and I am so sad about that but I just cannot worship at a Church where people of all colors and cultures are not welcome. Msgr Bass, we miss you!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your problems at POP and with Fr. Ron. But he is not the Catholic Church. Even Jesus had a Judas among His closest friends.
ReplyDeleteAnn Roche Muggeridge (RIP) was a Canadian Catholic who wrote a book about the sad situation in the Canadian Church. She was so angry she thought about leaving. A friend said to her, "Don't let the bastards drive you out." We are children of the King. I hope you will look for a faithful parish. But please don't commit spiritual suicide by starvation. We all need the bread of life we receive in the Eucharist! I hope you will search for a new home and let me know when you find it. I will be praying for you!
Kneeling for the reception of Communion ( God Himself )is perfectly appropriate. The 3 kings knelt before him in the manger. Bishops kneel before The Pope ( God's vicar on earth ) when being elevated to Cardinal. Be sure that Satan trembles upon such adoration of Our Lord. Have no fear of temporarily blind clerics.
ReplyDeleteWho are you people? Fr. Ron was pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton for years. He is a loving, caring, christian man who represents my God. Where is your forgiveness as Catholics? Isn't that what our faith is based on. Fr. Ron went through a very hard emotional time when he left SEAS. Shame on you for misrepresenting what God has asked of all of us.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure if Fr. Ron asked for forgiveness for violating the rights of Catholics who kneel, they would happily give it. Unfortunately, like many liberal Catholics it seems to be his way or the highway. He certainly did not act like a "loving, caring, christian man who represents God" to several people commenting here. And when he publicly humiliates those who are simply doing what the Church allows, he deserves to be publicly rebuked. (Even St. Thomas Aquinas agrees.) I'm sorry he went through a hard emotional time. That doesn't excuse his behavior. Let's all pray for him and for those he has hurt by his actions.
ReplyDeleteI take it then that no public apology has ever been given, and no public explanation has come forth on what the instruction was to the United States diocese directly from Rome?
ReplyDeleteIf no, then I guess the only ones expected to be obedient are the faithful pew sitters?
I just want to tell everyone what a wonderful priest Rev. Ronald Jozwiak is. He truly represents the Catholic faith and is a good Christian man. I became a Catholic under his guidance. He is an intelligent and kind man and no doubt has a strong personality. These are good qualities in a leader. He was chosen to lead your church. He deserves your respect!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone here respects the priesthood. That does not mean we must respect the actions of a man just because he wears a Roman collar. That is the attitude that allowed the abuse of children to go on when bishops promised they would handle situations and just passed abusive priests to other parishes where they were unknown. They were free to continue their abuse in the new places. Blind acceptance of wrong behavior because the perpetrator happens to be a priest can seriously damage the faith. When my children were attending Catholic high school and getting scandalized in the classroom, I told them, "Just because a man is wearing a Roman collar doesn't mean he's telling the truth." We need to be critical thinkers and admonish those who violate justice as Fr. Jozwiak did to that young woman. In many cases, the only way to stop scandalous behavior is to shine light on it. Fr. Jozwiak is less likely in the future to repeat what he did, not because he's changed his mind, but because so many people found out and publicly called him out for his scandalous public behavior.
ReplyDeleteI was a member at POP for over 20 years. I can no longer call Catholicism my home because of Fr. Ron. I personally witnessed his demeaning attitude with many, and heard about many other episodes. Archbishop Vigneron does not reply to any correspondence. I sat in the pew for a long time listening to his sermons, yet knowing he was a hypocrite with what he said. I just couldn't do it anymore.
ReplyDeleteYou were wise to recognize Fr. Ron's errors, Anonymous; but it grieves my heart to read that you "can no longer" find a "home" in the Church. I understand your frustration because I pray not to lose my faith every day. I take comfort in several things. First, the doctrine is there as the rock despite wolves in sheep's clothing distorting it. Cling to the faith of the saints and the Fathers of the Church.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I remember the advice given by a friend to Anne Roche Muggeridge (daughter-in-law of Malcolm Muggeridge) who was so upset over the state of the Canadian Church she threatened to leave. "Don't let the bastards drive you out!" he said. And indeed, those who preach another faith than that of Christ are not true sons of Holy Mother Church. They are, indeed, bastards.
Third, ask the intercession of St. Francis de Sales who once said that those who damage the faith of others by scandal commit spiritual murder, but those who let scandal destroy their faith commit spiritual suicide. Don't do it, Catholics! Somewhere in your area, Anonymous, there are faithful priests, faithful laity, and a faithful Mass. Please look for them and come back. Your true home is in the heart of the Church of the ages. Let Fr. Ron leave it if he prefers pottage, but don't let the bastards steal your birthright.
Readers, I beg you to join me in praying for Anonymous and for all those whose faith is being damaged by the current confusion and evil taking place in the Church. Pray too for those creating the scandals because they are in the pocket of the devil doing his wicked work and will have to answer for it. I would dread to be them on Judgment Day!
December 15, 2016 at 2:00 PM Delete
Dear Readers,
ReplyDeleteI too was a member of Prince of Peace Parish for over 20 years and left there due to all the abuses that I have witnessed first hand by Ron Jozwiak. forgive me for not calling him father but I do not and will not give him the authority or respect of being called father. I too filed several complaints with the Archdiocese and the Michigan Civil Rights commission, including the Knights of Columbus in our parish which wrote off the complaints. Ron Jozwiak went further to make sure the company that administered the advertising in our weekly bulletin refund my advertising monies for my Real Estate ad. The archdiocese did nothing and I did also speak to Bishop Cepeda but the civil rights commission continues to monitor the situation. I attended a funeral today and was approached by the funeral director who asked me for my help once again as Ron verbally attacked several Chaldeans in the parish and asked them to go to their own church if they did not like what he had to say. well now I'm in a position of authority with the Township of West Bloomfield as their Township Trustee. stay tuned.......Jim Manna 02/27/2018
Liberal priests always seem to get a pass. They can abuse their parishioners, engage in financial irregularities, and spout heresy from the pulpit and most of their bishops will do nothing. Let a priest say something challenging from the pulpit and he's called into the bishops office. No wonder so many clerics are silent. We need to pray hard for good priests and offer them our encouragement. They sure don't get much of it from most chanceries!
ReplyDeleteI think that, in the USA at least, there are actually quite a few wonderful priests who are bullied by the more powerful/prosperous/influential clerics in their own ranks. They all need prayers: fortitude for the oppressed ones and wisdom and temperance for the bullies.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, what we really need are more nuns. Their prayers will help foster priests, and protect the ones we already have. The powerful intercession of wonderful holy women is like the solution which is hidden in plain sight. 5 Our Fathers and 53 Hail Marys.....
So, now how do all of you feel about receiving Holy Communion on your tongue ( post pandemic)? Father Ron knew best, after all!
ReplyDelete