Detroit, MI – On Saturday, November 7, 2015 members of PRCUA Father Al’s Society #1493 attended the Society’s 60th Anniversary Mass at St. Cunegunda Church located at 5900 St. Lawrence, Detroit Michigan 48210. Mass began at 3:30 p.m. and was attended by friends of the PRCUA and others.
In honor of the founder and first pastor of St. Cunegunda Parish, Rev. Alexander S. Wilczewski, Stanley Mardeusz organized Father Al’s Society in the Fall of 1955. After months of planning, this fraternal benefit society conducted its first meeting on December 11, 1955. The first elected officers were: Rev. Alexander S. Wilczewski (Chaplain), Roman Bochenek (President), Gregory Rosinski (Vice-President), Anthony R. Ozog (Recording Secretary), Mitchell H. Mazur (Financial Secretary) and Leonard Sienkowski (Treasurer).
The purpose of the Society was to honor the founder of St. Cunegunda Church and to promote sports, good fellowship and scholastic achievements. For many years the Society undertook the sponsorship of both boys’ and girls’ athletic teams for the students at St. Cunegunda School. The Society also sponsored the Fr. Al’s Softball League that started in 1956 with three teams and grew to twenty teams in the 1980 season. Educational grants were presented to members of Fr. Al’s Society and donations from various fund raising affairs assisted institutions such as the Polish Museum of America, located in Chicago Illinois, as well as St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake, Michigan.
Throughout the years, members in the Society participated in numerous National Tournaments of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (Golf, Softball, Bowling and Basketball), as well as performing in various Polish dance groups that are supported through monetary donations by Fr. Al’s Society. In December 1988, St. Francis Society #1077 merged with Fr. Al’s Society. This membership added to the Society’s growth.
Today, Fr. Al’s Society is still one of the active societies in Michigan. Members still participate in National PRCUA Tournaments and younger members still participate in Polish dancing. The Society still hosts National Tournaments and still provides assistance to Society college bound members through educational grants.
The present Officers of Fr. Al’s Society are: Joseph Ozog Jr. (President), Linda Mikus (Vice-President), Courtney Ozog (Recording Secretary) and Mary Ann Shelton (Treasurer/Financial Secretary).
Facts about Fr. Alexander S. Wilczewski: Born – August 25, 1896, Ordained – September 10, 1922, 1st Pastor of St. Cunegunda – August 3, 1927, Died – November 8, 1963.
