PRCUA: Looking through the Window...

(Photos) Let me share with you many beautiful, interesting and informative events that took place in September and October. I should start with my birthday and extend my sincere THANK YOU to all employees, friends, and family and to all of you for your good wishes, cards, e-mails, phone calls, for the beautiful flowers and gifts. I am very touched by your good wishes and I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness. Thank you for joining me for my birthday party; I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did. You all made my birthday such a great day; I am so blessed and thankful for all of you! A very special Thank You to the PRCUA employees who are sending me for a spa retreat to take a stress-free break to renew and rejuvenate my mind, soul and body! I am looking forward to the relaxing spa treatments and unadulterated pampering.

On Sunday, September 13^th, the Polish Club of Lemont, IL celebrated its 30 Anniversary. The Polish Club helped to establish the John Paul II Polish Language School and it supports that school and the life and faith of the SS. Cyril and Methodius parish in Lemont. For that occasion the Polish Club invited Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki to preside at the bilingual Mass –English and Polish. Archbishop Mokrzycki once served in the Vatican as the personal secretary to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, and is currently the Archbishop to Lwow, Ukraine. On a personal note, together with my friend, Irena Gavaghan, we had the privilege to meet Msgr. Mokrzycki in 2004 during our Vatican visit and audience with the Holy Father, John Paul II. Also in 2008, together with the PRCUA Wesoly Lud Polish Folk Dance Ensemble, we met with him in Lwow, Ukraine during our concert tour. After Mass, a special devotion to Our Lady of Fatima was held. It was followed by a procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the nearby Grotto of Our Lady of Grace, where the Archbishop consecrated the outside altar for future liturgical use. Relics of Blessed Jacinta and Francisco Marto, two Portuguese children who witnessed the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima, were placed at the altar. Later that day, Archbishop Mokrzycki was an honored guest at the sixth annual benefit dinner for the Bishop Abramowicz Seminary. The Bishop Abramowicz Seminary Program, Since September of 1999, this seminary has been recruiting seminarians in Poland. With the approval of their respective bishops, these seminarians freely elect to leave their native Poland and complete their seminary training at Bishop Abramowicz Seminary in Chicago and then at the University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary, IL. After ordination, these priests serve in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago, including those with a significant number of Polish parishioners, as well as parishes that serve other ethnic groups.

On September 16-19 the Annual NFIC Meeting was held at San Antonio, Texas. The meeting was well organized with a diverse line-up of workshops on how to run our organizations more efficiently and effectively. We, the fraternal organizations, should be more actively engaged in our fraternal and volunteer activities. In the year ahead we should work toward a public awareness of fraternals. All the discussions were good and some of the speakers were excellent. This year, NFCA was able to offer two scholarships for young fraternal professionals to attend the 2009 NFCA Annual Meeting. I am happy to report that our employee, Jennifer Crissey, Executive Assistant/Legal Assistant for our organization, was one of the recipients of this year’s scholarship. Our sincere Congratulations to Jenny!

During our stay in San Antonio, in our free time my husband and I embarked and explored the famous San Antonio’s River Walk, tempted our buds with authentic Texas and Mexican cuisine and explored the famous Alamo. We also found time to have a quick run through the University Of Texas Institute Of Texan Culture where we were able to see an exhibition on Polish settlers in the state of Texas, including Panna Maria. I would like to thank our fraternal members – from PNA - Marian Grabowski and Charles Komosa and Steve Tokarski, who represented the PWAA, who took us under their wings and made sure that during our free time we explored the town together – thank you for your delightful companionship!

Fall is officially in full swing here in October. So is Polish American Heritage Month, which is recognized throughout the United States. Polish Americans and those of Polish descent, organizations, schools, churches, libraries and cultural groups around the country are recognizing, remembering, and celebrating Polish American Heritage Month through music, dance, programs and activities. Polish Americans have made strong contributions to American culture in virtually every field of endeavor, including literature, technology and music, of which we can be proud. Their faith and love of liberty has been cherished by Poles through the centuries.

Appropriately on the first Saturday of October in honor of Polish Heritage Month, our dance groups who attended the VII International Festival of Polish Children’s Ensembles in Iwonicz Zdroj, Poland this summer, put on a very beautiful Polish Folk Dance Concert “Na Ludowo z Iwonicza” with a special guest appearance of a representative group of the PRCUA “Wesoly Lud Polish Folk Dance Ensemble”. The program featured the dances that the dance ensembles – Wesole Ludki, Wesoly Ludek and Polanie performed in Iwonicz Zdroj and the Wesoly Lud performed suites from last year’s performance in Rzeszow, Poland.

The entire concert was very well done. The dancers were wonderful, they were precise and their smiles lit up the stage and everyone saw how much they enjoyed what they were doing. For a few hours we all thought that we were in Poland. At the end of the concert, the recent graduates from the choreographer’s studies that were held in Poland for the past four years were recognized and congratulated. They were – Renee Bober, Kalina Dziadkowiec, Natalia Grabowski and Andrew Lech. Also recognized were the dance instructors, dance group directors, chaperones and the choreographers – Misia and Richard Jaminski. Hats off to Misia and Richard, you are to be commended for your dedication, teaching and for preserving our rich traditions and cultural heritage for future generations! On an personal note, special thank you to all of you for your very kind words and bouquet of very beautiful flowers. Present at this concert were the PRCUA National Directors: from District #8 – Krysia Lech and Jim Rustik, District #9 – Elizabeth Grabowski, District # 10 – Barbara Toboy, District # 2- William Nowakowski and PRCUA Secretary Treasurer - Josephine Szarowicz.

On the first Sunday of October, the PAC- Illinois Division held its annual celebration and appreciation banquet of Polish American cultural heritage by giving recognition to individuals and organizations for their outstanding work. These special awards were presented to both Polish Americans and Americans who are involved in Polonia’s activities. The honorees for 2009 were:

Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America - Dr. Thaddeus Gromada, President – Polish Heritage Award;

Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America - Mr. Stanislaw Zagata, President -Award for Excellence in the Propagation of Polish Highlander Culture, Traditions and Ideals;

Polish American Chamber of Commerce - Mr. Henry Kazmierczak, President -Award for Excellence in Business;

Reverend Thaddeus Dzieszko, Pastor - Excellence in Community Leadership Award

and Mrs. Eva Betka -President’s Award. Congratulations to all of the recipients.

Each October “Employee Appreciation Day” is held for our employees and a festive luncheon is served. The PRCUA employees make an important contribution to the success of our organization. The Executive Officers of our organization applaud and appreciate their loyalty, commitment, dedication and hard work. Our employees are an integral part of our business running smoothly and efficiently. Sometimes we get busy and forget to say “thank you” at the end of that busy day. The day like Employee Appreciation Day, reminds us that a simple thank you really can make a difference. We are truly privileged to have dedicated, caring employees at the PRCUA offices. A very special thank you to Julie Prado and Madia Robles, who after work hours and on their own time, repainted the ladies bathroom and lounge and they did a great job!

With Thanksgiving around the corner, we wish our readers a Happy Thanksgiving. Hug all your friends and family during this time of year, and remember that the people closest to you are the main reason to give thanks on this day. May God Bless you at Thanksgiving and always.

Happy Birthday to our PRCUA employees who are celebrating birthdays in November: Dorothy Bialek (receptionist) Danuta Czajkowski(auditing), Lidia Kowalewicz and Kasia Rosypal (Narod Polski editors), Sylvia Rucinski (Ohio office), Sabina Logisz (retired PMA librarian), Lisa Terlecki (PMA), Robert Bielenda (PRCUA Vice President), William Nowakowski (PRCUA National Director District #2), Rev. Msgr. Stanley Milewski (PRCUA Vice Chaplain), Jerry Kucharski (past PRCUA Res.VP), Rosemary Lackey (Tatry Dance Director), Cecylia Roznowska (NW Ctr. – POLONIA Choreographer), also Happy Birthday to Sally Klamerus, Bernice Hyatt, Frank Ocwieja, Joann Ozog, Michelin Drust, Marysia Bogun and Basia Foran and my “younger sister” Eva Maze.

Happy Birthday to all who are celebrating Birthdays in December, especially the PRCUA employees: Diane Saczynski (membership), Jenny Crissey (an executive assistant), PRCUA National Directors - Kasimier Zabek (District #1), Joanne Zajac (District # 3), Richard Turkiewicz (District #4) Let us not forget Dolores Spejewski (past PRCUA Res.VP), Paulina Ortyl (Echo of Poland Artistic Director), Victoria Kushel and Irene Raczynski. Very special Happy Birthday to our daughter Basia, who will be celebrating her birthday on Christmas Day. Dearest Basia- we wish you a year filled with the same joy you bring to others. May your special day be filled with sunshine and smiles, laughter and love and may your wishes come true year after year. We love you very much!

Sto Lat and many happy returns to all! Hope that all of you have a great birthday filled with family, friends and lots of LOVE!

Best Wishes for a Happy Wedding Anniversary to a very special couple – Maria and Richard Ciesla who will be celebrating their Anniversary during the Christmas Season. May all the happiness you’ve known through the years that now have passed, continue through the years ahead, each happier than the last!

Get well wishes are extended to PRCUA employee, our receptionist Dorothy Bialek. We are thinking of you, praying and hoping you will feel better soon! We miss you!

Dear Readers – Since my next article in English will be in January, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas from our home to yours! May the miracle of Christmas fill your heart with warmth, peace, hope, happiness and love. As you prepare to celebrate Christmas, I hope that you can look back on a year of good things. I hope you can experience the joy of sharing with friends, family and with strangers in need. True happiness is attained only by sharing with others. We wish you good health surrounded by laughter, family and friends, and a warm fire. Hope that you will enjoy the simple pleasures, not just during Christmas season but throughout the whole of next year.

One of the greatest joys of Christmas is spending time with family and friends. It is such a blessing as all of us gather by the table and enjoy the traditional Christmas meal together. To make that day and the meal memorable I recommend the PRCUA cookbook “Sharing our Best”. All the recipes are clearly written, using everyday common ingredients found in your local supermarket, easy to follow and suitable for many different occasions. The easy recipes make “Sharing our Best” great as a gift even for a cook who has everything!

To order this book, just send us a check for $15.00 for each book (shipping and handling included) payable to PRCUA Cookbook and send it to us at: PRCUA, 984 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL. 60642

I look forward to receiving your comments, suggestions and ideas. Take care until next time. Let me know what’s going on in your corner of the world -write fraternal.department@prcua.org or call 1-800-772-8632 or send letters to 984 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Il.60642

PHOTOS