Thoughts and opinions from a Priest in the PNCC
A reader suggested this to me… and here for your enjoyment and edification:
More about the Beskid Range, and the wooden churches of the region from Wikipedia. Many of these churches have changed hands several times, going from Roman, to Greek Catholic, to Orthodox, and back again.
The Roman Catholic Primate of Poland, Archbishop Józef Kowalczyk, speaking at the Częstochowa Shrine on August 15th, called on his countryman to stop using the cross as a political symbol. Now if only the politicians, politicos, and the easily manipulated of all countries would heed the message. More information and background on this issue is available from Reuters in: Warsaw archbishop calls for memorial cross removal
From Wiadomosci: Prymas Polski: nie angażujcie się w tę manipulację krzyżem!
Blisko 100 tys. osób uczestniczyło w niedzielę na Jasnej Górze w uroczystościach święta Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Marii Panny. Prymas Polski, abp Józef Kowalczyk, apelował w homilii o zaprzestanie gorszącej manipulacji symbolem krzyża. Wzywał, by krzyż nie był narzędziem przetargu politycznego…
Roughly translated to: Polish Primate: do not join yourselves to this manipulation of the cross!
Nearly 100 thousand people attended the celebration of the [R.C.] Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sunday at the Marian Shrine of Jasna Gora in Poland. The Polish Primate, Archbishop Józef Kowalczyk, appealed in his homily to end the scandal of the manipulation of the cross. He urged that the cross was not a political tool up for bid.
Polish-American Baseball Night – ‘A Big Hit’ In Detroit by Raymond Rolak and courtesy of Polish Times/Czas Polski
DETROIT—“ Before the game, the players watched with amaze: both the A’s and the Tiger’s. They watched along with everyone else, the color and the authentic costumes. They watched the Polish folk dancing and listened. The show was spectacular and this all helped to make Polish-American Night at Comerica Park a giant hit.
Coordinated by the Polish American Congress-Michigan Division, the evening was a vision of color and the weather was perfect. For those in attendance, the Polish style music was a hit also. At game time, Comerica Park was standing room only.
The home team lost to the Oakland A’s, 5-4, but the post game fireworks presented by Pepsi got most in attendance in good spirits before they left the stadium. The accompanied Polka music during the fireworks show was a surprise and an added bonus.
It was the 40th Annual Polish-American Night with the Tigers and before the game General Manager, Dave Dombrowski was smiling, —We will have a full house and it will be a great pre-game show.— The Tigers and the Polish-American Night committee hit a home run with the presentation.—
At the Detroit event even —PAWS—, the Tiger’s mascot was dressed in Polish folk costume and the Press Box and staff commissary was serving Polish stuffed cabbage and kielbasa-n-kraut.
Early arrivals to Comerica were treated to the lively tunes of Big Daddy Lackowski & the La-De-Das, The Natural Tones and The Kielbasa Kings. Big crowds gathered outside of Comerica Park before the game and enjoyed the music. WDIV-TV weatherman, Chuck Gaidica highlighted Big Daddy Lackowski on the Channel-4 evening news.
Also, the first 10,000 people entering the stadium got vintage-style wool ‘Olde English D’ Tigers caps with the 1935 World Series highlighted. These were sponsored by the Detroit Medical Center. It is the 75th anniversary of that title. Furthermore, The Tigers and the Polish-American Night Committee presented tee-shirts to those that bought a pre-planned ticket package. Also, the Polish American Congress Foundation got $5 from every Polish Night pre-game ticket package sold.
There were 13 dance troupes and the Polish Scouts performing on the field. Representatives of sponsoring Polish fraternal groups were introduced before the game.
Before the game, Tiger radio broadcaster Jim Price hosted Wally Ozog, currently of Chicago and President of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, on his pre-game show. Price highlighted past Polish-American nights at Tiger Stadium. Throughout the Oakland-Detroit game broadcast, Price brought to light, anecdotes about former Major League Polish-American baseball players. He told humorous stories about Tom Paciorek, Frank Tanana, Ron Perranoski and Dick Tracewski. Price, who played for the Tigers said, —We always looked forward to Polish-American Night as we had Polish food in the clubhouse after the game and we always teased —Trixie— (Tracewski), for getting another plaque from the host committee. People forget he was on three World Series winners as a player and another as a coach. That’s four rings. Those are great memories.—
Price also mentioned that former Tiger Jim Northrup and his wife are sponsoring an orphanage in Poland.
On the field, right before the umpires declared, —Play Ball—, Barb Toboy, introduced Robert Szczublewski, who was dressed in traditional Polish costume. He had stirring renditions of the Polish National Anthem and the —Star Spangled Banner—. It transitioned to the honoring of a decorated U.S. Army veteran, Specialist Joe James, who was on leave from Iraq. They got standing ovations
Ceremonial first pitch throwers, Nicole Blaszcak and Jerry Lubiarz did commendable jobs and survived the tremendous applause. The PRCUA Zakopane Polish Folk Dance Group had the distinction of being the color guard.
The Tiger loss dampened a spectacular three home run night by Miguel Cabrera. It was the first time for the Tiger slugger that he had three in one game. Oakland reliever Andrew Bailey earned his 10th save of the year. The A’s are now 9-2, in the all-important, one-run games.
In the press-box, former Tiger great Willie Horton reminisced how honored he felt when presenting Paciorek into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. —I remember how great the mushroom soup was that evening. I love Polish food. Tom and I were teammates in Seattle. He had good years in Seattle. He always helped keep the clubhouse loose. He is a great baseball broadcaster, always prepared.—
Ray Fosse, former catcher for the Oakland A’s and now their flagship station broadcaster sent glowing reports of the evening to California during his call of the game. Mario Impemba of Fox Sports Detroit also painted the picture of Polish —“American Night with highlights on the Tigers TV-cast. Fox Sports Detroit had great camera work with their High Definition video of the pre-game show. The television camera’s highlighted all the color of the Polish-American Night extravaganza.
Most of the electronic media outlets mentioned the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony June 24, in Troy, Michigan which honored former Phillies Manager Danny Ozark. Ozark led the Phillies to NL-East titles in 76, 77 and 78. He was also a longtime coach for the L. A. Dodgers. Past Philadelphia slugger Greg Luzinski presented for the deceased Ozark (2009). Paciorek, the popular and veteran announcer, was the emcee. He was awarded a sports Emmy for his White Sox and Washington National’s baseball broadcasts.
NPASHF Chairman Jim Conrad said, We also inducted “swimming champion Kristy Kowal of Reading, Pennsylvania and Hamtramck, Michigan native and tennis great Peaches Barkowicz.— NPASHF board members manned an informational table near the right field foul corner.
During an after party (poprawiny) at the Coaches Corner Bar & Grill, in Harmonie Park, former University of Buffalo football player Gerry Ratkewitz over piwa (Polish beer), said, —I remember Al Kaline’s only three home run game, it was in 1955 against Kansas City. Steve Gromek was the winning pitcher.— Detroit native son, Gromek, pitched for the Tigers at the time and was inducted into the NPASHF in 1981.
Polish-American Night, the game and festivities, were dedicated to the memory of Poland’s President Lech Kaczynski and First Lady Maria Kaczynska and the 94 others who lost their lives in the tragic airplane crash of April, !0, 2010 in Smolensk, Russia. They were in route to the 70th anniversary memorial of the World War II, Katyn atrocity.
Polish-American Night in Buffalo was held at Coca-Cola Field on August 3rd, when the Bison’s AAA Team took on Lehigh Valley as part of Polish Fest. Polish American nights were also hosted by the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toledo Mud Hens AAA, Chicago White Sox, and from the first time on August 17th at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.
Mr. Rolak reports that Polish Heritage Night at Wrigley benefited the Chicago based Polish American Association.
Prior to the event, Matthew Wszolek, Director of Special Events for the Chicago Cubs stated: —We’re proud to present this as one of our special premium nights at Wrigley Field,— and —With the help of the Pepsi, we hope everyone will enjoy an entertaining night at the ballpark while supporting several community programs in the process. We have some great musical and pregame surprises planned.—
When the Ricketts family bought the Cubs, they had a mission statement of getting more involved with the community. —This is our first heritage night and I expect we will expand the program,— added Wszolek.
Those attending Polish Heritage Night were eligible to receive a special commemorative Cub’s cap embroidered with the Polish flag on its side. The cap was given to each game attendee who contributed $5 to Chicago Cubs Charities when purchasing their ticket.
Chicago Cubs Charities donated 100% of the cap sales to support the Polish-American Association programs.
Larry Flood, Vice President of Chicagoland-Wisconsin Pepsi said. —Pepsi has a great tradition of aligning with the community. We’re happy to partner for such a positive event. This heritage night should welcome many new fans to Wrigley Field and Chicago Cubs baseball.— Pepsi is supplying the embroidered Cub’s hats.
The Polish American Association has been in operation since 1922 helping Chicago’s Polish community. The PAA provides a range of bilingual and cultural programs in the areas of social services, employment, education, and immigration services.
The event also celebrated all the Polish-Americans that excelled in Major League Baseball. Included is Cub’s coach Allan Trammell. He was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. The NPASHF Museum is in Troy, Michigan. Stan Musial was the first inductee in 1973.
Chicago Black Hawk broadcaster, Ed Olczyk sang —Take Me Out to the Ball Game— during the popular Cub’s tradition at the 7th inning stretch. Olczyk was a NPASHF inductee in 2004.
Minneapolis, MN: From the Twin Cities Daily Planet: Two Polish festivals for Minneapolis
For Polish families in Northeast Minneapolis there is the Twin Cities Polish Festival – and then there is THE Polish Fest. The latter, sponsored by Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish National Catholic Church, was Saturday, August 7, at the church at 420 22nd Ave NE. Parishioners at Sacred Heart of Jesus know that their fest long preceded the neophyte Twin Cities Polish Festival which is coming up August 14-15 at St. Anthony.
The bottom line: you just can’t have enough Polish festivity.
The Twin Cities Polish Festival, new on the festival scene, features a wide range of cultural, historical and educational displays, musical and dance entertainment and traditional foods and beverages. Attendees of whatever ethnic persuasion will enjoy “all things Polish,” presenting a kaleidoscope of unique cultural and educational displays, food and entertainment. Highlights include the Kresy-Syberia Exhibit, a literary display featuring Polish writer Joseph Conrad, a major Chopin performance, a whirlwind of polka, and a Polish Film Festival co-sponsored by Minnesota Film Arts.
Albany, NY: The Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Ave Ext, Albany is sponsoring a Polish-American buffet, Friday, August 13th from 4 to 8pm and a Polka dance – picnic with Rymanowski Brothers Band on Sunday, August 15th from 2:30 to 6:30pm. Call 518-456-3995 for more information.
Wilkes-Barre, PA: Takeouts-Only Chicken Barbecue on Saturday, August 14th from 1 to 4pm at Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church, Sheridan Street, Heights, Wilkes-Barre. Dinners are $8. Tickets sold at the door.
Buffalo, NY: Annual Dozynki Harvest Festival and the Third Buffalo’s Best Pierogi Contest at Corpus Christi Church, 199 Clark Street, Buffalo, NY on Saturday, August 21st from 12:30pm till 11:30pm and Sunday, August 22nd from 12:45pm until 5:30pm. The Pierogi Earting Contest will take place Saturday at 4:30pm.
So come watch or particpate!!! The Church’s Pierogi contest has grown to become a big hit. This year they will have three categories… traditional, non traditional, and for the first time commercial (restaurant, businesses, etc.). The judges…Steve Watson (Buffalo News), Greg Witul (Local Historian), Tom Kerr (Executive Director of the Broadway Market), Alan Bedenko (The Buffalo Pundit and restaurant reviewer for Buffalo Spree), Marc Poloncarz (Erie County Comptroller), Marty Biniasz (Dyngus Day Buffalo/Forgotten Buffalo), Christina Abt (Local Author and host of Buffalo Style On WECK), Mark Lewandowski (President, Central Terminal Restoration Corporation), And Josh Boose (WGRZ-TV)…
Local favorite, Tony’s Polka Band, performing at the St. Stanislaus Youth Center in Scranton in 2007. Enjoy!
Why PNCC members should use care when referring to themselves as the “National Catholic Church” without the PNCC qualifier:
From the Florida Times Union: St. Anthony’s celebrates priest’s 10th anniversary
St. Anthony’s National Catholic Church in Jacksonville will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its priest’s ordination during the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Aug. 15.
The Rev. Marsha McKinlay Brandt is pastor of the parish, part of the National Catholic Church of North America. The denomination ordains women to the priesthood and permits clergy to marry. Formerly known as the Free Catholic Church, it is not part of the Roman Catholic Church…
Noting oneself as the “National Catholic Church” confuses us with a lot of vagante communities out there. If you visit their website, note the stress on “Apostolic succession,” a common feature of vagante type churches.
When the gods get angry
A sad story, but reading the Polish struck me as funny. From Wirtualna Polska: Piorun śmiertelnie poraził mężczyznę
Ok. 50-letni mężczyzna nie żyje, a drugi został ranny w wyniku porażenia piorunem w Mokrej koło Jarosławia (Podkarpackie) – poinformował rzecznik podkarpackiej policji, Paweł Międlar.
– Obaj pracujący przy budowie autostrady mężczyźni przed deszczem schronili się pod drzewem. Jednego z nich piorun poraził śmiertelnie. Jego kolega trafił do szpitala, nie pamięta jednak zdarzenia – powiedział Międlar.
Na Podkarpaciu gwałtowne burze w pojawiły się głównie w okolicach Przemyśla, Lubaczowa, Jarosławia, Przeworska i Leska. Uszkodziły m.in. most w Majdanie Sieniawskim koło Przeworska
In short, lighting struck and killed a 50 year old man in Jarosław. Another man was injured. If you don’t know, Piorun was the name of the god of thunder and lightning in Slavic mythology. Reading the article’s title overly literally, Piorun fatally struck a man.
Eternal rest grant onto the man who was killed, O Lord.
From the Abington Journal: Overflowing with family fun: Relatives from 17 states attend Borek-Pendrak reunion
RANSOM TWP. – A downpour of rain did not put a damper on one family reunion Sunday, July 25. At 10 a.m., the Borek-Pendrak Biennial Reunion commenced with registration. But by 1 p.m., heavy rain had already begun to fall as more guests arrived to find a soggy parking area behind the home of Edward Edwin Borek in the Milwaukee section of Ransom Township. Some guests brought food and desserts to share and other kin such as Paul and Dorothy Kwiatkowski of Old Forge prepared favorites such as sausage and peppers and rigatoni with homemade meat sauce
—Another thing I like about our reunion is that we never, ever, ask anybody coming to the reunion for money. It’s all free will. If they want to give, fine, and if they don’t want to give, that’s fine. But we don’t request anyone to make a contribution. Since 1945, we never ran short of money. I use the two —G— words: the family is very generous and gracious,— said Roman Borek,— a native of Milwaukee who resides in Pasadena, Ca.
This year, relatives made the trek from states such as California, Indiana, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Colorado and Virginia.
According to Ed Borek, Borek-Pendrak family reunions started at the end of World War II in 1945. He said, —The reunions started in 1945 to honor WWII Veterans from both the European and Pacific theaters. My mother and father had the desire to honor the veterans and it was a very, very memorable event. Throughout the years, we’ve had periodic reunions, but in 1990, we re-established the Borek-Pendrak reunion committee. For the last 10 years, we’ve had the reunions at my house because it was the perfect location in the country.—
As guests trickled in under the huge tent erected to the rear of the family homestead, Roman Borek gave each family member a nametag. The twin brothers, Ed and Roman Borek, along with a reunion committee, have been planning since February 2010 when Roman sent invitations to 246 head-of-household families scattered throughout the United States.
Every two years for as long as Roman Borek remembers, on the last Sunday in July on even-numbered years, rain or shine, the Borek-Pendrak family has gathered.
In the program booklet that each guest received are words that summarize perhaps why family from 17 states made their way to this reunion:
—What it means to be Family? Being Family means sharing celebrations when good times abound, and having arms to hold you when tears fall.
Being Family means you belong somewhere special, where you are known and loved just as you are, and where you are encouraged to become the person you still hope to be.
Being Family means that every season of the year you have a place to call home, a place of your own, where they hold you forever close to their hearts…—
What family is all about. Also, check out the pic of Fr. Jason, assistant priest at St. Stanislaus cathedral.
Utica Monday Night Polish Heritage Celebration: Holy Spirit PNCC will be at the Utica Monday Night Polish Heritage Celebration on Monday, August 2nd, selling homemade Polish food at Chancellor Park, Bleecker & Kent St., Utica. The Utica Monday Night Polish Heritage Celebration will feature a performance by Jasiu Klocek and the Salt City Brass Polka Band from 6:30 —“ 9:00.
Ychtis Polish Girls’ Group: To perform at Corpus Christi Church, 199 Clark St., Buffalo, NY on Friday, August 6th at 7:00 p.m.
Ychtis, the award-winning girls’ song and dance group from Poland, will visit Buffalo August 6 with a performance at Corpus Christi Church. The name of the ensemble is taken from the Greek word for fish. The group specializes in religious songs. Among their repertoire is music based on the poetry of the late Fr. Jan Twardowski, one of Poland’s beloved poets. They also sing songs about the former Polish city of Lwów, which has a warm place in the hearts of many Poles even though it is now in Ukraine.
The five member group of 10-15 year old girls will sing in Polish and in English as well as tap dance. The group has been in existence for 15 years and is based in the city of Katowice in the industrial region of Silesia.
Ychtis’ mission is to give young people with difficult family situations the opportunity to develop their inner and outer talents through song and dance. Ychtis has appeared on Television and toured Europe where they have won first place in a number of contests. This is their second visit to Buffalo and other cities in North America, where, in addition to Buffalo they will perform in Chicago, Cleveland, Yonkers, Newark as well as a number of cities in Canada.
The group’s performance in the beautiful sanctuary of Corpus Christi Church promises to provide an uplifting experience for all. Admission is free, but a free will donation will be requested at the end of the show to help offset the group’s expenses.
For further information, please call 716-896-1050.
Canal Days Celebration in Little Falls, NY: Enjoy a fun day at Little Falls’ 23rd annual Canal Days, August 13th to 15th. Holy Spirit PNCC will be serving Polish food prepared by its members. Polish dishes will be available as follows:
Mystery Dinner Theater at the Albany PCC: The Albany PCC will host “Home on the Mystery Range” on Saturday, August 14th at 6:30pm. A cocktail hour will be followed by a Polish-American buffer dinner at 7:30pm. Tickets are $35 per person. For tickets please call 518-456-3995
From the Niles Herald Spectator: Library exhibit shows U.S. history through pages of Polish records
As the number of Polish-Americans in Chicagoland attests, Poland and the United States have always had a special relationship. Those interested in another perspective, from the pages of Polish periodicals, can now view a large, colorful display of panels at Eisenhower Public Library in Harwood Heights.
The exhibit, “The United States in Polish Historiography and Periodicals from 1764-1919,” is presented by the Warsaw Public Library, with the special support of the Speaker of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Bogdan Borusewicz.
On the 90th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the two nations, the display shows how Poles viewed the United States, from before the American Revolution to the restoration of a Polish nation after World War I.
One early panel includes a letter from Poland. When the Americans were still divided into colonies, on March 20, 1768, Polish King Stanislaw August Poniatowski wrote to American Gen. Charles Lee: “Why do they deny your colonies the right to representation in the English Parliament?”
Two famous Polish military figures, Kazimierz Pulaski and Tadeusz Kosciuszko, contributed to the American cause during the Revolutionary War. On display panels, one can see Pulaski felled by a bullet at Savannah in 1779, the stronghold Kosciuszko designed at West Point, and Kosciuszko winning the title of brigadier general from Gen. George Washington.
Later, panels portray Polish life during the 1890s and early-1900s, when massive numbers of immigrants came to America. Photographs and documents show paramilitary organizations like the Chicago Polish Falcons, the Polish press, the Polish Catholic Church, the Polish schools, the Polish Roman Catholic Union, and the Polish National Alliance.
Other highlights include Poles participating on both sides of the Civil War and American relief efforts for Poland during World War I led by future President Herbert Hoover, just before Poland finally regained its status as a recognized nation.
Library Director Ron Stoch said that he particularly enjoyed information about Poles across the country, not just in Chicago but in Buffalo and Detroit, and about Poles living in America in the late 19th century who organized to create a nation of Poland modeled on the image of the United States.
An interesting observation which closely ties to the history of the PNCC – a Church organized by Poles in the United States, and exported back to Poland, that is both Catholic and democratic.
Bishop Hodur and the founders sought to meld Catholicism with their experience of the ideals of American democracy. Remember that they looked to the ideals, not the actual implementation of democracy in the United States since, for the most part, their immigrant experience had been one of exclusion more than inclusion. In large measure, Polish immigrants were excluded from the upper echelons of the R.C. Church, politics, and business. Many of my friend’s families were still changing their last names right through the 1960’s so as to provide for job advancement.
The founders of the PNCC saw that in freedom they could best strive after their yearnings for God. True freedom, which respects the rights of all, not just the elite or the “I know what’s best for you” government and chattering classes, is best provided for in a society that is truly free and democratic. It is one of the things that Poles had always admired about the United States.
The display is at the Eisenhower Public Library, 4613 N. Oketo Ave., Harwood Heights, IL. and can be reached by phone at (708) 867-7827. The exhibit opened July 6th and will be in place until October 31st.
Dr. John Guzlowski reflects on freedom in Bob Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues and tries to find the best cover in “Subterranean Homesick Blues” Covers.
His hot weather experience as seen through the eyes of old Polish wisdom is found in Shchav Soup: Recipe for a Hot Day
Back in the old days before anybody had air-conditioning, my mother, a Polish woman from the old country, felt that the surest cure for hot weather was szczawiowa zupa, shchav, swiss chard soup.
She’d get up early on a day that promised to be in the high 90s, and she’d fix schav. It wouldn’t take long and it didn’t require a lot of cooking, so it didn’t heat up our apartment. When she had it prepared, she’d stick it into the refrigerator to cool off. In the evening, she’d serve it for dinner when it was in the 90s both outside and inside.
Believe me, it always took the temperature down 10 degrees.
Here’s my recipe…
Here’s another take on sorrel soup, with a recipe, from the Straight from the Farm blog.
I received the same bits of wisdom from my Busha… Hot day? Hot drinks and hot soup… and yes, it does work.
From Kotlet TV: Jak zrobić zupę szczawiową (preparing sorrel soup)
Smacznego!