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Year: 2013

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Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , , ,

When did this happen?

The Mel Brooks show features Mr. Brooks and his wife Anne Bancroft performing Sweet Georgia Brown in Polish. They had performed this piece in their film “To Be or Not to Be,” a 1983 remake of the 1942 Jack Benny comedy by the same name. The story centers on a Polish theatrical company that goes underground and takes on Nazi Germany during World War II.

This performance took place in the early 1980’s after marshall law was declared in Poland to suppress the Solidarity free Labor Union movement.

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Art, Perspective, ,

Mobility – White Cane or Marching Band

The Grand Central Art Center a unit of California State University Fullerton’s College of the Arts in Santa Ana is featuring a performance art piece “Mobility Device: Carmen Papalia,” a short documentary film by Mickey Fisher.

Artist Carmen Papalia started using a white cane when he began to lose his vision nearly ten years ago. For one day, through his performance piece titled Mobility Device, he replaced his cane with The Great Centurion Marching Band of Century High School, Santa Ana.

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

5035

What!?!
…no pillow either?

As they were going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.”

For the very poor of the East, in ancient times as now, the “bed” was and is, as a rule, the bare ground; and the bedclothes, the gown or “outer garment,” worn during the day. When one was on a journey, or watching his flock by night as a shepherd, such a “bed” was the most natural, and often a stone would serve as a pillow. Over time the use of a mat on the floor as a bed, with or without covering, became more common. At first it was literally laid on the main floor of the home in some convenient place near the wall; but later it was put on an elevation, either a raised part of the floor, or a bedstead, which gave rise to the expression “going up to the bed.” With later development, “beds” came to be built on supports and constructed in different forms. This fact is reflected in the variety of names given the “bed” in Hebrew and related languages. The pillow was likely formed of sheep’s fleece or goat’s skin with a stuffing of cotton.

These beds and pillows are a far cry from what we have today. We can get adjustable beds, harder or softer beds, memory-foam beds and pillows – and beds of all sizes. We likely have a favorite pillow and hopefully we like our beds.

Jesus’ reference to no bed or pillow may have seemed odd to the person pledging to follow Jesus because he knew that preachers like Jesus had no bed. It seems equally odd to us. Do we have to sleep without a pillow for Jesus?

No. Jesus isn’t telling us to grab a rock for a pillow or sleep on the ground. What He is calling for is a life of total commitment. Jesus, who lived the life of an iterant preacher, had no place to lay His head. Rather, He lived and modeled the total commitment we are to have. He was the Shepherd, on His journey for us, following the Father’s will, showing us the way we must go, the life we must lead.

To follow Jesus requires that we make a conscious and consistent effort to live the life He calls us to live. Does it involve sacrifice in the present for His promised eternal reward? Certainly!

Jesus points out that thoughts of material things or present day rewards from following Him lead us “nowhere.” Instead we have to be people following His journey into eternity, life forever. We too must be shepherds, out in the fields and roads day and night living up to Jesus’ teaching, leading others to Him.

When we get in bed and grab our pillows let us commit again and again to Him.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, Poland - Polish - Polonia,

Holy Synod of the Polish Catholic Church in Poland

Synod2013_06_18_1aThe Holy Synod of the Polish Catholic Church (Kościoł Polskokatolicki) was held of June 18th in Konstancin near Warsaw, Poland. The Holy Synod is the highest legislative authority of the Church and is held every five years. Delegates to the Holy Synod, two priests and two lay people, are elected from all the deaneries in the dioceses of the Church. Outgoing members of the Synodal Council are also delegates.

The Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky, Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church in the United States and Canada attended the Holy Synod as a guest along with Rt. Rev. Paul Sobiechowski, Bishop Ordinary of the Eastern Diocese and the Very Rev. Gregory Młudzik.

Prime Bishop Mikovsky offered wishes for fruitful synodal discussions and reaffirmed the brotherly unity between the Polish National Catholic Church in the USA and Canada and the Polish Catholic Church in Poland. While each Church maintains independence of jurisdiction and a separate administration there is full communion between the Churches and a common understanding of faith and morals in complete fraternity. The Polish Catholic Church is the only Church in Poland recognized by and in union with the PNCC. Prime Bishop Mikovsky and Most Rev. Wiktor Wysoczański, head of the Polish Catholic Church, emphasized this unity in their speeches before the Holy Synod.

The Holy Synod elected new leadership for the Church for the term 2013-2018:

  1. Bp. prof. zw. dr. hab. Wiktor Wysoczański was unanimously elected to the office of President of the Church and Chairman of the Synodal Council;
  2. Members of the Synodal Council;
  3. The Audit Committee;
  4. The Bishop’s Court; and
  5. The Financial and Economic Commission.

godlo polskokatolickieThe Holy Synod failed to elect Bishops for the dioceses of Kraków-Częstochowa and Wrocław by the necessary two-thirds margin.

The Holy Synod adopted a policy paper on the pastoral and missionary nature of the Church presented by Very Rev. Antoni Norman as well as resolutions and provisions relating to the activities of Polish Catholic Church in Poland through June 2018.

Christian Witness, ,

Eternal Memory Ś+P Father Garen Gdanian

A good friend, and member of our local North Colonie Clergy Group, Father śp. Garen Gdanian who had served St. Peter Armenian Church in Watervliet, New York has reposed in the Lord. May his memory be eternal. May God enlighten Der Garen’s soul and bring peace and comfort to Yn. Zabel and family.

Latham – Father Garen Gdanian, 88, passed peacefully on Thursday, June 27, 2013, surrounded by his loving family. He was the second child of the late Kevork and Siranoosh (Tavookjian) Gdanian.

Fr. Garen GdanianFather Garen Gdanian was born on February 1, 1925 in Aleppo, Syria. His baptismal name was Sarkis. He attended local Armenian schools; first, the Nersessian School, then Zavarian, and later Gertaisratz School.

At the age of 13, he entered the Armenian Seminary of Jerusalem and studied there six full years. In 1944, he returned to Aleppo and taught in the Zavarian Armenian School for one year. From 1945 to 1947, he studied at the Armenian Theological Seminary of Antelias, Lebanon.

In the year 1947, Father Garen came to the United States as a student upon the invitation of then Primate, Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan. He studied at the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, MA, where he received a Master of Divinity degree in 1950. He continued his studies one more year by attending the Harvard Divinity School.

Father Garen was ordained a deacon in January of 1948 and was assigned to Lowell Armenian Church as Deacon-in-Charge. On December 19, 1948, Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan ordained him as a priest at St. Vartanantz Church of Lowell, MA, giving him the priestly name ‘Garen.’ Father Garen served this parish nine full years as its pastor.

It was at this parish that Father Garen met his soul mate, Zabelle. In 1952, Father Garen married the former Zabelle Kludjian and together they had three children.

In September of 1957, Father Garen became pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in New York City. Archbishop Mampre Calfaian, who was the Primate at that time, made the change in assignment. In 1964, he was given permission to wear a pectoral cross. Father Garen stayed in this second parish for 13 years, until 1970.

Father Garen was elected Pastor of St. Peter Armenian Church of Troy, NY and began serving this community in September 1970. The parish was building a new church sanctuary in Watervliet and in two months’ time the church community moved from Troy to Watervliet. Father Garen faithfully served this third parish for 19 years. Following his retirement in September 1989, Father Garen continued to serve the St. Peter parish and community as Pastor Emeritus up until the time of his death.

In 1977, Father Garen received his floral Pilonium and in 1984 he was elevated to the rank of Avak Kahana or Arch Priest. He served on the Diocesan Council from 1971-1975. The St. Peter Parish and Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America honored and celebrated his milestones of ordination to the priesthood in 1973 (twenty-five years), 1988 (forty years), 1998 (fifty years), and 2009 (sixty years).

Father Garen continued his studies by joining various workshops and seminars and by attending courses at the University of New York at Albany and Siena College in Loudonville, NY. He has been a member of the Watervliet Clergy and Capital Area Clergy Support Group.

He has also published several inspirational books based on his sermons and life experiences.

Although retired, Father Garen always helped out by filling in as a priest when needed in the Diocese, including the nearby Springfield and Binghamton parishes. He also travelled to serve parish communities in Texas, Ohio and Florida, as well as two preaching missions in Armenia.

Father Garen was a well-loved, kind, gentle and intelligent man. His passion for his church and for the people he served never ceased to be a second priority. His family was always number one. As a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he filled his family’s lives with knowledge and joy that will stay with them for a lifetime. As an important figure in the Capital District community and throughout the Eastern Diocese, he will be dearly missed. His accomplishments not only lie within his priesthood, but within the friendships he developed and kept over the years.

Father Garen is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Zabelle (Kludjian) and his three children; daughter Arpy Gdanian Ernest, son Kyn (Maureen), daughter Garyn Ahearn (Brian), six grandchildren: Katrina Ernest Mayba (Christopher), Lucy Gdanian Stoyles (Gregory), Naomi Gdanian, Anna Gdanian, Josiah Gdanian (Chelsea) and Gregory Gdanian. He also has two great-grandchildren. Additionally, he leaves behind several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was pre-deceased by two brothers and one sister.

The funeral service, which includes the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the final anointing of Father Garen, will take place on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 11 o’clock AM in St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church, Watervliet. Interment will follow in Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, NY.

Relatives, friends, clergy and parishioners are invited and may also visit with Father Garen’s family on Monday from 3 until 7 PM in St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church, Watervliet. A wake service will take place, in the church, on Monday evening at 6:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church, Building Fund, P.O. Box 196, Watervliet, NY 12189.

Read more, including Dar Garen’s essay “What is Man” at the website of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

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

The Cosmopolitan Review – Summer Edition

The Cosmopolitan Review, A Transatlantic Review of Things Polish, in English has issued its Summer 2013 edition jam packed with books, art, poetry, events, and excellent information.

CR welcomes summer, as does Poland. And nowhere is the summer solstice more beautifully welcomed than in Poland, with the ancient festival of Wianki (wreaths), when barefoot girls in white dresses bring floral wreaths to a river’s edge, cast them in the water, and leave them to fate’s caprice.

The wianki, elaborate works of art involving branches, flowers and candles, float downriver to the delight of children and adults alike. More wreaths are fashioned into floral crowns embellished with figures of birds, butterflies and anything else the artistic imagination can come up with. Extravagance has no limits on this day; the hats of Ascot pale by comparison perhaps because wianki – as opposed to hats – is not a commercial enterprise. One can only hope that this festival will forever stay as it is, that Hallmark will never create Wianki greeting cards, and shopping malls will never have Wianki Day Specials. Though purveyors of food, drink and music are welcome. And we’ve just learned that there is a Wianki fest in Washington, D.C. Good to know in case you don’t make it to Kraków next year.

Luckily, “Poland” is wherever Polish people are, as is stated so eloquently in Hanka Ordonówna’s wonderful book about children when their Poland was just “two rooms.” For thousands of us, Poland has been, at one time or another, in India, Africa, New Zealand, Mexico and beyond.

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In this issue, we highlight India, mainly because of the marvelous book by Indian author Anuradha Bhattacharjee, The Second Homeland: Polish Refugees in India. That Polish landscape included elephants, exotic fruit, generous Maharajas and a superb cast of characters ranging from cabaret stars to theosophists.

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Books, as always. Michał Kasprzak weighs in on Marci Shore’s The Taste of Ashes; there’s a review of Magda Romanska’s new anthology of Bogusław Schaeffer’s works. And two writers have a problem with Agata Tuszyńska’s Vera Gran.

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On the light side, an Englishman’s adventures – misadventures? – begin with his future bride’s father saying “No.” He also notes that while English weddings are heavy on speeches, Polish weddings emphasize food and dancing. He indulges in the eternal rivalry between Kraków and Warsaw as well, so to cool that, CR puts the spotlight on enchanting Zamość.

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And now to food! As noted in The Guardian: No processed cheeses, no tinned fish, no just-add-water packets… think Provence, with beetroot. Which brings us to two new Polish cookbooks, Polish Classic Desserts and From a Polish Country Kitchen, both reviewed in this issue.

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Finally, as noted above, Poland is wherever Polish people are and for several summers they were in Canmore, Alberta, at Poland in the Rockies. There were fond hopes that a new cycle of this lively symposium would begin again in 2014 but fate decided otherwise. In this issue, CR bids a formal Farewell to Poland in the Rockies.

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

11776-2

The road
…taken or untaken.

On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

Zechariah prophesies about Jesus’ suffering and death, not as a prophecy for the purpose of sadness and regret, but for the purpose of motivating people to understand what that suffering and death would purchase.

In his time the people could choose to confront the mourning to come by wallowing in that mourning without seeing a way out, or they could choose to see the hope to come, the salvation that was around the corner – only 500 years away.

Thus says the LORD: I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace.

Jesus gave His all, His life to pour out God’s graces on us, in fact on everyone. It is, as the catechism describes:

Grace is God’s help. Grace is a gift God gives us through all that Jesus Christ did for our salvation.

God doesn’t just want to offer us grace; He freely does offer us His grace – and we are free to choose it.

Zechariah is talking about two options. Since we live after Jesus’ coming and His opening of grace, we can accept and take advantage on all Jesus did, of what the Father offers us. We can choose to accept and bathe away our weakness, mourning and sin in the fountain of those graces poured out. Graces open to us:

On that day there shall be open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness.

We can choose to be cleansed of sin and live His way, or we can simply choose not to accept, relish, and be changed by His gift of grace. We can choose to live as we are in mourning and sadness.

Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken comes to mind. But, it really isn’t a choice between two equally decent possibilities. Living a life that accepts God’s grace, the life Jesus laid out for us, is the better choice. It is the choice that frees us from sin that makes us clean, that is full and that has endless – eternal – possibility.

The disciples were confronted with a question. “Who do the crowds say that I am?” and “…who do you say that I am?” They had an opportunity to stick with the road the crowds had taken or they could accept the other road, the untaken road of grace that would give them new insight. They chose the untaken road and recognized God. Then they went and shared that grace. It is up to us, the road chosen, and the road we lead others to choose. Choose to see and to share the hope we have in Jesus.

Art, Events, , , ,

California-Pacific Triennial

With the flow of ideas and images crisscrossing the Pacific Ocean becoming a crucial component of contemporary art on the West Coast, the 2013 California-Pacific Triennial at the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) now offers an international dialogue, highlighting artwork by 32 artists from 15 countries. The presentation includes three off-site exhibitions giving greater access to individuals interested in this international survey. The California-Pacific Triennial is being curated by Dan Cameron of OCMA.

On Thursday, June 27th, from 7-9pm the OCMA will hold the 2013 California-Pacific Triennial, Artists Panel at the Yost Theater, Santa Ana. The evening will provide an early glimpse of the Triennial with a panel discussion in Spanish, moderated by MoCA Curator Alma Ruiz featuring artists from Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Colombia. Artists scheduled to participate include: Darío Escobar, Adriana Salazar, Adán Vallecillo, Sebastián Preece, Yoshua Okón, Hugo Crosthwaite.

On Sunday, June 30th, from 11am-5pm the OCMA will host the 2013 California-Pacific Triennial, Public Opening at the Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach.

The Gallery is closed Mondays and holidays. Hours are Tuesdays – Sundays 11.00 am – 4.00 pm. Extended hours: Friday & Saturday 11.00am – 7.00 pm. The first Saturday of the month galleries are open until 10.00 pm.

Grand Central Art Center programs are made possible with the generous support provided by: Metabolic Studio, the Efroymson Family Fund, the William Gillespie Foundation, the Fainbarg-Chase Families, an anonymous donor, The Yost Theatre, and Community Collaborative Partners.

Off-Site Exhibitions

Grand Central Art Center

The Grand Central Art Center (GCAC) a unit of Cal State University Fullerton’s College of the Arts in Santa Ana is hosting Colombian artist Adriana Salazar for a two-month studio residency, early May through June. During her residency, Salazar is reinterpreting a preexisting work for the California-Pacific Triennial, as well as developing a new site-specific sculptural installation for the main gallery at GCAC.

Coastline Art Gallery

Coastline Art Gallery in Newport Beach will present a three-person exhibition including Triennial artists Brice Bischoff and Dario Escobar, along with artist Stella Lai from June 30 – September 22. The exhibition includes a new floor-based sculptural work by Escobar that relates to the suspended mobile piece that he has created for OCMA. More details here.

The Guggenheim Gallery at Chapman University

York Chang’s and Mitchell Syrop’s two person exhibition at the Guggenheim Gallery at Chapman University presents the artists interest in the fabrication of supposed truths through the authority of text and context from June 30 – September 14. The pairing of their different methods of investigation, provides exciting, new constellations and timbres of their respective work, while showing the continuation of conceptual approaches in L.A.’s most recent art history.

Christian Witness, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , , , ,

‘My Mother’s Secret’ Bestseller Covers Heroic Acts to Safeguard Jews During WWII

From Christian Newswire: My Mother’s Secret, by J.L. Witterick, has been recognized by The Globe and Mail of Canada as a bestselling non-fiction book.

My Mother’s Secret honors two women who saved many Polish Jews from certain death. The book is based on the true story of Franciszka Halamajowa and her daughter Helena, who are honored as The Righteous Among the Nations, non-Jewish heroes who risked their lives to save the lives of Jewish citizens.

After 1939 when the Nazis invaded Poland and started the persecution of the Jewish population, Franciszka and her daughter provided shelter to Jewish individuals and families, as well as a German soldier, all acts punishable by death. With courage and cleverness, they outsmart the Nazi commander and their collaborating neighbors.

My Mother’s Secret is a powerfully written story and has been chosen to be used as curriculum in studies by Middle East exchange students. The book has also been awarded Rising Star stature by iUniverse.

Rabbi Chaim Boyarsky said, “In My Mother’s Secret, a new level of heroism is revealed … heroism where no ‘wow’ or admiration was given. True heroism is when no one sees or knows! A truly inspiring and breathtaking book.”

“My Mother’s Secret is heroism defined. It is just so much more cherishable because it is a story based on fact. We are indebted to Jenny Witterick for sharing this book with us,” says Grady Harp a Top 50 Amazon Reviewer.

“My Mother’s Secret has a strong message about finding good in the midst of the most unbelievable evil,” adds one reviewer.

The author, J.L. Witterick, encountered the true story of heroism during the Holocaust because of a chance viewing of a documentary about the Holocaust. Witterick is not the usual author; she is the President of Sky Investment Counsel, one of the largest international money managers in Canada, was President of the Toronto Society of Financial Analysts in 1995/1996 and is a Certified Financial Advisor Charterholder.

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Art, Events, , , , , ,

Friends Union String Band at the Shaker Heritage Site in Albany

Please consider joining the Friends Union String Band for an epic Music At The Meeting House Concert with some Shaker Wit and Wisdom at the Historic 1848 Shaker Meeting House, 25 Meeting House Road (next to Albany International Airport), Albany on Saturday, June 22nd, 7:30 P.M. The suggested donation is $15. Please call (518) 456-7890 for more information.

The Friends Union String Band features renowned Adirondack hammer dulcimer, 6 and 12 string guitar and vocalist, Rod Driscoll, along with Melbourne, Florida based master guitarist and bhodran player, Norma Rodham and fiddle master Steve Iachetta. Friends Union String Band will perform innovative and traditional dance music in a coffee-house setting at the Shaker first settlement special performance place.

The Shaker Heritage Society is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

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