What’s in a name?

A parish by any other name would still smell as sweet. NOT!

Especially not, if that parish happens to be Blessed Mary Angela in Dunkirk, named after Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, the foundress of the Felician Sisters. This order of nuns staffed the Polish schools in the Diocese of Buffalo for well over a century, often working for as little as $2 a day.

Furthermore, BMA is the miracle parish, boasting the only Vatican-certified miracle in the Diocese of Buffalo. The miracle recipient was Lillian Halasinski, who was forced to leave the Felician convent prior to the profession of her final vows in order to care for her infirmed parents. Lillian’s left leg, which she begged to be amputated because of excruciating pain brought on by diabetic neuropathy, was instantaneously healed by God through the intercession of Mother Angela with no medical intervention.

In 2006, I traveled to Krakow, Poland, and was given a tour of Blessed Mary Angela’s motherhouse by the Felicians in residence. These same sisters were later overjoyed to hear that Lillian’s parish was being renamed in honor of their foundress. It is the only parish in the world named after Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska.

And now the powers-that-be in the Diocese of Buffalo have their sights set on destroying it, all in the name of … whatever.

Obviously, surreptitious negotiations between a certain element of the diocese and Holy Trinity Parish in Dunkirk are responsible for this impending nefarious act. But I believe that once again, divine intervention will prevail, St. Hedwig Church will be spared and Blessed Mary Angela Parish will continue to exist and promote the cause for a second miracle and the resulting sainthood of Blessed Mary Angela.

It will be like deja vu all over again. On Nov. 4, 2007, a picture of the stunningly beautiful little church on the hill that is St. Hedwig’s, appeared on the front page of the OBSERVER with a headline noting its impending closing. That did not happen.

Thanks to the intercession of the church’s late pastor, the Rev. John L. Hrycyna, and a key informant who had attended Christ the King Seminary back in the day, Bishop Edward Kmiec had an 11th-hour change of heart and spared St. Hedwig Church. It is still going strong, along with its landmark social center, 17 years later.

It only makes good sense to keep St. Hedwig’s open. The well-maintained traditional church boasts more-than-ample parking, central air conditioning and an impeccable sound system along with beautiful grounds. In addition, the recently renovated social center, if more aggressively advertised, could serve as a perpetual source of income for the upkeep of the buildings.

Most importantly, the legacy of Blessed Mary Angela Parish would be kept intact as St. Hedwig is one of two Polish churches comprising BMA Parish.

It’s a win-win for Blessed Mary Angela and the Felician sisters as well as the Dunkirk Polonia, members of which built St. Hedwig Church back in 1973 with money earned by the sweat of their brow.

Mary Ann Herrington, a former Dunkirk resident, lives in Cortland, Ohio.