New Britain herald., 1929-08-03
South Deerfield, Mass. Aug.

South Deerfeld. Mass, Aug. S. A parish corporation will control the affairs of St. Stanislaus' Roman Catholic (Poish) church at South Decrficld in the future, according to an announcement today from Rev. John Langaw, newly appointed pas tor. This step is taken to "restore peace and order" within the parish the pastor added.
 This parish, reputed to be the wealthiest Polish parish in the Springfield diocese. has been dis rupted ever since Rev. Joseph Lek- ston, who had been pastor there for more than 16 years, was transferred to West Warren.
 When his successor Rev. A. T. r. ,Nowak. formerly of Greenfield, ap- peared on the scene the parishioners roted and only the intercession of the state police and the local fire men enabled the new pastor to enter the church. Rev. Father Nowak was later withdrawn from the parish.
 Members of the special committee representing the parishioners met with Rev. Father Langod last night and reached an agreement relative to the future control of the churchs S material affairs.
 At meeting last night the par ishioners had voted not to return to S11p h hnI been given over to board of trus- tees or some similar group.
 Rev. Father Langod, following consultation with Bishop Thomas M. OLeary of Springfield, granted this i concession in the interest of har- mony.
 | A sharp line of demarcation will be drawn between purely spiritual and material affairs. In the former the pastor will be supreme, as here tofore, but in the latter the cor ! poration will function. The cor | poration is to be made mp of the bishop, as president. the vicar gen cral. the pastor Of the church, and probably three laymen.
 The parishioners demand that | three laymen be named for the con- trolling board and both the bishop and Rev. Father Langow are agree able to this.
 The only question has to do with the state laws governing such a cor poration, Rev Father Langod said It has been customary to have two laymen on such committete, but il 1t is possible 10 name three, the church officials will not object, he said. On the other hand. if it is not possible, he is confident that the parishioners will accept the only al, tcrnative, which is a board witt only two lay members.
 In any event the church official: group, and so there is little danger of transfer of the actual contro of affairs to the parishioners them selves although they will be givcr a direct voice in the regulation o the church's finances and simila problems,
 A committee of this nature is nt innovation so far as Polish Catholi, churches are concerned, Rev. Fathe Langod said. Hatfield. Greenfiel, and other towns have had similarl, constituted bodies, he said.
 The papers for incorporation ar
 being prepared b yAttorney Thoma J. O'Connor of Holyoke. The cor
 poration will be known as the St
 StanisIaus Roman Catholic Churc1
 corporation and will be recorded a ; such at the state house in Boston
 Rev. Father Langow declare , that the great majority of in narishioncrs will accent this pre- | ferred settlement. Some few sti 7 persist in demanding the return c ; Rev. Father Lekston. but he is con
 fident that they are in the small mi l nority, he said.
 l Rev. Father Langow stated tha :. tho meeting to form the corporatio l and name the laymen to be repre- ? eented on the board would be hel
 Sunday.