Anathema?

Outside Polka Mass Draws Hundreds to Ford City

by Sarah Steighner

The lively sound of part of Ford City’s ethnic background was heard Sunday afternoon during an untraditional outdoor Ukrainian mass - the sound of a polka band.

The mass was part of Ford City’s Summerfest’s last day. While the outdoor polka mass is a recent addition to Ford City in the past few years, it is even more unique for Ukrainian parishioners. In consideration that their weekly mass usually only features a capella singing, and no musical accompaniment.

Father Gribik began the celebration of mass by welcoming the crowd of near 150 people, as he stood at the front of the gazebo with the polka band behind him.

Jack Tady and his J.T.B (Jack Tady Bears) were the accompanying polka group playing music for the mass. Jack Tady, is locally from Cheswick and has been bringing a group of polka players to play in Ford City for numerous years.

Jack Tady’s Bears perform at various places all year round including picnics, church masses, clubs, fairs, and other polka fests.

“We travel all over the world. We have 12 or 15 different cruises that go around the world,” Tady said.

The size of his polka group varies depending on the size of the event they are playing. For their gig at Summerfest, Tady performed with three other musicians. With Tady on drums, his fellow band mates played the saxophone, bass guitar, and accordion.

“We play everything, but we’re known as a polka band; Western Pennsylvania polka band,” Tady said.

Old traditional hymns sung in a capella unison juxtaposed by the upbeat Christian polka music gave the mass a new air of vitality.

Leading mass participants in song, was Mary Ann Gribik. Mary Ann is Father Gribik’s mother and has been involved with St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church since 1958 when she got married in the Church. She is currently the cantor and choir director.

During mass, Father Gribik gave a sermon in which he quoted Pope John Paul II and discussed the differences and similarities between the Eastern Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

“It was Pope John Paul II that said our Church has to start breathing again with both lungs. What he meant by that was that we have to realize there are more than just Roman Catholics in the world that follow the pope. There are a lot from the East that follow the holy father and recognize him as our leader in faith and morals. See, the only thing is our customs and traditions that differ from the Western Church. The faith and morals..we all believe the same thing,” Gribik said.

Father Gribik continued to explain the differences in the Ukrainian Catholic churches vestments, musical traditions, direction in which they face the alter, and form in which communion is given. Afterwards he invited the crowd to tour St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, located at 514 9th St, Ford City, at 2 PM.

As mass progressed antique cars filled Fourth Avenue in preparation for the afternoon car show that Summerfest had planned. Meanwhile, some parishioners of Christ Prince of Peace Catholic Church, located across the street from the park, filtered out from the conclusion of 11 AM mass and lined parts of the sidewalk to participate in some of the mass in the park.

Around two dozen people made their way to 9th Street, for the tour of St. Mary Ukrainian Church following mass in the park. The Papal (flag of Vatican City) flag and the flag of Ukraine remained proudly in the front corner of the Church as parishioners gave a tour of various features along the walls.

Greeting people at the front of the Church was Mary Ann Kunkle. Kunkle and her family have been going to St. Mary’s Ukrainian Church for over 65 years, where she was even baptized.

Kunkle was stationed in front of three posters labeled “Two Different Traditions: One Catholic Church.” The posters outlined the differences between Catholic Churches that practice their faith through the Roman Rite (Western) or Byzantine Rite (Eastern). Kunkle explained that the faith is the same, but it is merely expressed differently.

Kunkle’s sister, Patty Hulse, was another parishioner there helping to give tours to interested participants. Hulse has also been involved with St. Mary’s Ukrainian Church throughout her life, and even grew up a block away. She showed people up and down the aisle while explaining the significance and symbolism of the stained glass windows and paintings in the church.

“Our windows are very much for the main parts of our Lord’s life, and in-between are our stations (of the Cross). These are all the old original windows. The same design is sort of incorporated in the alter,” Hulse said.

As the tour continued, it was explained that the church was originally built across the street from where it is today in 1904 under the name of St. Nicholas of Myra. However, the current standing church was built in its present location in 1913 and was eventually renamed as St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, in 1935.

Father Gribik pointed out specific features in the church and explained that much of the set up descends from Ukrainian tradition, while other features are indeed influenced by the Roman Rite.

“What we started to do was start to make ourselves (The Ukrainian Church) look a little bit more Roman. So people would come in and understand. So we put up the Papal flag, and the side alters like they have in the Roman churches. They (new parishioners to the Byzantine Rite tradition) were able to feel a bit more comfortable that this was a Catholic Church,” Gribik said.

Father Gribik has been the priest of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church for five years now. However, he grew up in St. Mary’s Church as a child where he was even an alter server. He just celebrated his 26 year anniversary as a priest, having been the head of parishes in West Virginia, Ohio, and the South Side of Pittsburgh before returning to his home parish.

Mass at St. Mary Ukrainian Church is held every Saturday at 4 PM and Sunday at 9 AM.

Source: http://www.kittanningpaper.com/2015/07/06/outside-polka-mass-draws-hundreds-to-ford-city/56329