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Year: 2010

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Poland - Polish - Polonia

Polish humor on a snowy day

It’s different if you marry a Polish girl

The first man married a woman from ENGLAND. He told her that she was to do the dishes and house cleaning. It took a couple of days, but on the third day, he came home to see a clean house and dishes washed and put away.

The second man married a woman from GERMANY. He gave his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the cooking. The first day he didn’t see any results, but the next day he saw it was better. By the third day, he saw his house was clean, the dishes were done and there was a huge dinner on the table.

The third man married a girl from POLAND. He ordered her to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed, and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn’t see anything, the second day he didn’t see anything but, by the third day, some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye, and his arm was healed enough that he could fix himself a sandwich and load the dishwasher. He still has some difficulty peeing.

PNCC,

Sad commentary, Parish cemetery managers take note

Fr. Calvo of Holy Name Parish in Deerfield, MA has received an advisory from the Chief Michael J. Wozniakewicz of the Deerfield Police Department in relation to recent thefts of military flag holders from cemeteries in the Franklin/Hampshire County area. These thefts have taken place since the first of February. Your parishioners should take precaution to remove their flag holders and flags for the remainder of the winter, and report to the Police Department if any items are missing from a cemetery.

It is believed the bronze flag holders are being taken for the metal’s value and melted down for resale.

Parish cemetery managers should take note as it is likely that these unfortunate incidents are not limited to one area of Massachusetts.

Christian Witness, ,

Fr. Allen Jones, simple servant

An interesting article, Twenty years of Victoria Street Ministry for Father Allen Jones, concerning the above named priest, was forwarded to me by E-mail. Fr. Jones was ordained through the Apostolic Catholic Church in Brazil (De Costa line) and appears to do a lot of good work as a simple servant (no pretend-to-be-a-bishop here). I also like the fact that he’s not about ‘changing-the-church,’ but rather about doing good. May God bless his work, humility, and Christian witness.

Current Events, Media, Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , , , , , ,

From the Cosmopolitan Review (and exciting news)

From the December 2009 issue of the Cosmopolitan Review, published by the alumni of Poland in the Rockies, a biennial symposium in Polish studies held at Canmore, Alberta.

Cosmopolitan Review Turns One

Work on this issue was in full swing before we suddenly realized that this is actually an anniversary issue. Cosmopolitan Review has turned one year old. Thanks for joining us on this adventure and stick around. It’s going to be a fun ride.

EXCITING NEWS: Poland in the Rockies Announces 2010 Symposium

Poland in the Rockies, the 10-day Polish studies symposium in Canada’s Rocky Mountains, is set for July 21-31, 2010. The slate of speakers is already posted on the website and it guarantees the liveliest exchange of ideas to be found anywhere between the Rockies and the Tatras.

FEATURE Americans in Warsaw

What can I say about Poland, after one month in Warsaw? That the Poles have become more American than the Americans? If not entirely accurate, like other facile observations, there’s a grain of truth here. Part of the reason is that Poles are doing well these days. By Wanda Urbanska.

REVIEWS The Polish Review

Someone once joked that the best thing about reading Reviews is that you can discuss the books at dinner parties without actually having to read them. Well, if you read the very best of the Reviews there is an element of truth in that, though do bear in mind that not all Reviews are created equal…

CONVERSATIONS A few questions for…Prof. Marek Suszko

As we reflect on the 20 years since the fall of communism in Europe and ponder what the future may hold, CR recently had a chance to ask a few questions of Professor Marek Suszko, who teaches at the Department of History at Loyola University in Chicago. He shared some insight about the positive developments that have taken place in Poland since 1989, the country’s role in the EU and its relationship with the United States.

HISTORY The Noble and Compassionate Heart of the Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijay Sinhi

Between August 1942 and November 1946, close to 1,000 Polish children and their guardians lived in idyllic settlements on the Kathiawar Peninsula in India not far from the summer residence of the Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijay Sinhi. They had come at the Maharaja’s invitation from orphanages in Ashkabad, the capital of Turkmenistan, and Samarkand … by Irene Tomaszewski.

FOOD for thought Google, Poland, cultural projections

Artist Ian Wojtowicz, a 2008 PitR alumnus, has put together an interactive animation inviting reflection about identity. TRY it (This is really cool!)

Op-Ed The Pole Position: be like Dexter and tap into your inner glee for success

Young professionals face a tough climb. They’re full of ambition, talent and determination, but the climb is often a tough one. The competition is plentiful and opportunities sparse. How than do you stand out from among the crowd? A hard work ethic and wisdom is important; but people also like working with those that they find interesting. By Filip Terlecki.

…and more.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Political

Military Aid to Israel: Legal, Political, Economic, and Humanitarian Impact

Josh Ruebner, National Advocacy Director, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation will be presenting Thursday, February 25, 7PM at Albany Law School on “Military Aid to Israel: Legal, Political, Economic, and Humanitarian Impact.” The presentation is sponsored by the Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA)

Military Aid to Israel: Legal, Political, Economic, and Humanitarian Impact

Thursday, February 25
7:00pm – 9:00pm

Matthew Bender Room 425
Albany Law School
80 New Scotland Avenue,
Albany, New York 12208-3494

Between 2009-2018, the United States is scheduled to give Israel $30 billion in military aid. Through its illegal 42-year military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, Israel has misused U.S. weapons in violation of U.S. law to kill and injure Palestinian civilians, destroy Palestinian civilian infrastructure, blockade the Gaza Strip, and build illegal settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem. The average American taxpayer will pay $19.19 in military aid to Israel in 2010.

How much of this total will your community provide? Is this a good use of your tax dollars? What role do your taxes, here in Albany, play in perpetuating violence in the Middle East?

The U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is a national coalition of nearly 300 organizations working to change U.S. policy toward Israel/Palestine to support human rights, international law, and equality.

Poetry, , ,

Poetry Out Loud Regional and State-wide competitions

Poetry Out Loud is a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry as they memorize and recite notable poems in a series of competitions that begin in the classroom, and continue on to school-wide, regional, state-wide and national competitions.

During the month of February and March high school students from throughout New York State will compete in Poetry Out Loud Regional and State-wide competitions.

Please support Poetry Out Loud and those participating students by attending a competition! All events are FREE and open to the public.

Western NY Regional Competition
February 24, 2010
Amherst High School
Amherst, NY
6:00PM-9:00PM

Capital District Regional Competitions
February 25, 2010
The NYS Museum: The Huxley Theatre
Albany, NY
5:00PM-9:00PM

The Catskills-Area Regional Competition
February 26, 2010
SUNY Oneonta: The Hamblin Theatre
Oneonta, NY
5:00PM-9:00PM

Poetry Out Loud New York State Finals
March 6, 2010 I 1:00PM-5:00PM
The Linda Theatre, WAMC’S Performing Arts Studio
Albany, NY
Doors open 12:30PM

Poland - Polish - Polonia, ,

Polonian opportunities

Dr. John Guzlowski has posted two opportunities at his Writing The Polish Diaspora blog:

Polish-English, English-Polish Translator Needed

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Oral History Branch is looking for translation specialists for immediate consideration, in order to make their foreign-language collections accessible to researchers. The position is paid, and on the basis of a short-term consultant.

We are particularly looking for translators with excellent Polish skills. At this point, we are also accepting applications from candidates who exclusively work with the language combination English-Polish, Polish-English…

Writer’s and Artist’s Residency in Poland

Art Factory Bialystok is an international artist/writer’s residence program in the beautiful town of Bialystok, located in the northeast of Poland. The Art Factory Bialystok Writer’s Residence is open to all writers published and beginning writers seriously committed to their craft from any countries, writing in English. The residence will take place June 1-30, 2010.

The aim of the residence is to provide the time to develop a body of work, hone that work during workshop-style meetings with the other participants, as well as public readings. Moreover, the program will be enriched by several inspiring day trips to nearby towns, showcasing the cultural and gastronomical diversity of the region…

Poland - Polish - Polonia, , ,

California’s Polonia – Historical research library on-line

The Polish Club of San Francisco has published an archive of historic newspaper articles referencing the Polish community in California. These links to actual newspaper articles, some dating back to 1850, chronicle the immigration of Poles to California, major world events as experienced and interpreted by these immigrants, and the Polish art, music, and literary scene.

Good friend, M. Mroczek Morris, compiled this work. Thank you and God bless you for this contribution to our historical narrative.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Political

Unemployment, Jobs, and Justice

Two from Interfaith Worker Justice:

Extend Unemployment and COBRA Now!

Are you unemployed? Do you know someone who is? Urgent action is needed to make sure that Congress extends the lifeline for workers by extending unemployment and COBRA coverage before the end of the month. Your response will help someone put food on the table, keep their lights on and of course, enable them to live with some dignity during this harsh economic climate. Click Here to take action!

This isn’t an issue of slackers who sit around enjoying a check. There are too few jobs for too many unemployed workers, approx. 1 job for every 4 persons unemployed. Further, the skill sets of many unemployed workers will not transfer forward. They will need significant retraining to be prepared for the time when jobs once again become available. Also remember that unemployment assistance, which is temporary help for people who are ready, willing, and able to work, makes an immediate economic impact. Those dollars are spent, returning $1.67 to the economy for every dollar in assistance.

Principles on Jobs

It is time for people of faith to act and bring their moral vision to the national conversation on jobs.

Interfaith Worker Justice has stood with workers in times of economic prosperity and stands with them now in this time of economic crisis. Yet we are continually confronted by stories of workers who want to work but can’t find jobs, workers whose hours have been cut from full time to part time and workers who have been victimized by employers who will not pay them for the work they have done.

Our religious traditions teach us that work is a sacred act, that when we labor we are —God’s hands— on earth. Those who work and those who cannot work must be treated fairly. —Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbors work for nothing, and does not give them their wages.— (Jeremiah 22:13)

As people of faith, we call for an economy that provides a good job for everyone who wants and needs one. While it is good and right to pass measures that can put some people back to work, it is not enough. All jobs should be good jobs, paying living wages and benefits, allowing workers dignity and a voice at the workplace, ensuring worker’s health and safety, and guaranteeing their right to organize unions.

IWJ has developed a “Statement of Principles” on Jobs that I have signed. Please join me in signing that principle statement.

Christian Witness, Perspective, PNCC, , ,

PNCC members – Planning a Wedding?

If you are planning a wedding there are certain cautions you should take as a member of the PNCC. If your intended is a member of the R.C. Church, and you plan to marry in the PNCC, your intended may face difficulties with their pastor or bishop.

The core problem is that the R.C. Church requires that your intended obtain a “dispensation from canonical form“This from the R.C. Archdiocese of Chicago. It gives the general principals etc. Your intended’s diocese may have different requirements. from their bishop. If they do not, your marriage will not be recognized by the R.C. Church. Note that if your intended does not do so, the Roman Church may consider you to be “living in sin.”

For years, the dialog between the PNCC and RC Churches has tried to resolve this issue (as well as the ability of PNCC members to stand as godparents in the RC Church). The PNCC has repeatedly requested that the Roman Church do away with this requirement. The main difference between the Apostolic Churches is that the sacrament in both the PNCC and Orthodox ChurchesA dispensation from canonical form is required for validity in PNCC marriages while it is only required for liceity in Orthodox marriages. The requirements should, at-a-minimum, be the same since the theological argument is the same. are based on one sacramental theology while that theology differs in the Roman Church. In the PNCC and Orthodox Churches the priest is the minister of the sacrament. In the Roman Church the couple is said to be the minister of the sacrament.

Also of note, if you plan to marry in the R.C. Church, some priests therein may deny the Eucharist to your intended and their family. You do need to cover this issue with them in advance. If they insist that they cannot give your intended’s parents or family communion, grab the nearest pew missal and point to the section in the back regarding admittance to the Eucharist. If that doesn’t help — well that priest (or deacon) isn’t following the rules, so you may want to seek marriage in your PNCC parish.

Both of these problems are roadblocks placed in the way of PNCC members who attempt to practice and hold true to their faith. It has also been noted that some R.C. pastors and bishops have made the process of obtaining a dispensation extremely cumbersome for those intending to marry a member of the PNCC. Of course this is an attempt to coerce members of the PNCC.

While we may not like something, we should respect the theology of the R.C. ChurchOf course it is inconsistent in relation to validity versus liceity.. We do expect them to respect ours in turn. So it comes down to politics and certain Roman bishops and priests who wish to “drive the point home” in opposition to the Roman Church’s own teaching on admission to Eucharist and avoidance of coercion.

So, take note and plan ahead. Talk to your intended’s pastor and attempt to obtain the “paperwork.” If you are marrying in his parish do cover the issue of Eucharistic reception because there have been well noted cases of grandma getting up to go to communion and being told to go away. That’s not the sort of sadness you need on your wedding day.

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