…And just like that, it’s November! Greetings and salutations! The months fly by like pages from a calendar! But it is true – time passes incredibly fast almost unnoticed. As we get older, we find that time passes even faster than when we were children. We are in constant motion moving from one thing to the next and events begin to blur together. These quickly-moving months serve as a reminder that there is a limited amount of time to accomplish a goal. And so, the countdown begins for me to complete what I want to do before I leave my position as the PRCUA National Vice President in September of 2026. How exciting it is for the PRCUA and its members as we prepare for the next four years and as I continue the next chapter of my life’s journey.
Did you know that All Saints’ Day was first celebrated on May 13, 609 A.D.? Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to St. Mary and All Martyrs. The date was officially moved to November 1 by Pope Gregory IV in 837 A.D., who also made the feast a holy day of obligation for the entire Church. All Souls’ Day was first celebrated at the Cluny Abbey in Cluny, Saône-et-Loire, France around 998 A.D., when Abbot Odilo instructed his monks to commemorate all the faithful departed on November 2nd. This tradition spread from the Cluniac order throughout the Western Church, becoming widely celebrated in the 14th century. Then there is the Mexican “Day of the Dead,” not to be confused with Halloween. Both holidays are within days of each other, but they are not the same. While both may be deemed “spooky,” Halloween revolves around darkness, death, ghosts, witches, candy, and costumes. On the other hand, the Day of the Dead is explicitly about the afterlife and remembrance. Although it is with great sadness, we mourn our departed loved ones and the ache in our hearts is inconsolable at times, I would rather celebrate their lives – their joy – their contribution to our existence. Richard Rynkowski wrote, “Those who leave are still with us and live beside us. They look at our days with love and sometimes laugh through tears… Those who leave are still with us, you feel their help when things are bad, so when you talk to the darkness, they see you, they are there.” Let us celebrate the lives of our beloved departed with happy memories – there is enough sadness in the world.
November 11 marks the end of World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. In the United States, it is celebrated as Veterans Day to honor all those who have served in the U.S. military. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth: it is referred to as Remembrance Day, often symbolized by the red poppy. In Europe and other countries: it is known as Armistice Day, a somber commemoration of the war dead. Poland celebrates its National Independence Day on November 11, marking the restoration of its sovereignty in 1918. This November 11th, keep Poland and the military in your prayers.
Now that I have addressed some of the events on the regular calendar, what is in store for the PRCUA in this 11th month of the year? The highlights include: a Polish Independence Day Veterans Day Luncheon at the Polish Center of Wisconsin (Franklin, WI) hosted by the Polish American Congress Wisconsin Division on Sunday, November 9. PRCUA President James Robaczewski will be in attendance; November 15 will find the Jaminskis at the District 10 Folklore Harvest Luncheon hosted by the Malbork Dancers (Natalia Szczygiel, Director; Michelle Marcinowski, Choreographer) in Grand Rapids, MI and, in the evening, at the 20th Anniversary Banquet of the Holy Cross Catholic Polish School (Barbara Szuba, Principal) in Lemont, IL; Secretary-Treasurer Agnieszka Bastrzyk will attend the Holy Trinity Polish School Autumn Dance in Chicago, IL (11/15); the Jaminskis are also excited to attend the 25th Anniversary of the Polanie Dancers of the St. John Paul II Polish School (Halina Szyrzyna, Principal; Michael Dziadkowiec, Artistic Director and Choreographer; Patricia Szyrzyna and Dominika Gornikowska, Teachers) in Hickory Hills, IL on Sunday, November 16. Meanwhile, on the same date, the Polonia Ensemble (Anna Krysinski, Manager; Jaclyn Krysinski, Artistic Director and Choreographer) will present, “The Beginnings of the Polish State and Kingdom” – a multimedia dance, word, and music spectacle at St. John Brebeuf Ministry Center in Niles, IL. On November 22, the Adult Culture Group of PRCUA will host its 53rd Cinderella-Prince Charming Ball in Palos Hills, IL featuring 27 candidates: Gianna Cislo, Grace Friery, Liliana Gal, Anna Harbut, Cassandra Kołtas, Roxanne Kołtas, Ruby Konopacki, Pola Kozikowski, Aleksandra Kroplewski, Karolina Kroplewski, Zofia Kuzmiuk, Mia Little, Natalia Makuch, Allie Panozzo, Amilia Szwajnos, Olympia Witek, Lena Zyskowska, Dominica Zyskowska, Christopher Abramowicz, Joseph Bartoszek, Aleksander Bastrzyk, Jan Klepacki, Steven Skowyra, Krystian Szwajnos, Piotr Tumiel, Kevin Wenc, and Maksim Zakrzewski. All three executive officers and their spouses will be in attendance. Meanwhile in Sterling Heights, MI, the Zajączek Ensemble (Colleen Bonkowski, Director; Rachael Kasperek and Tricia Dennis, Choreographers) will host their Graduate Ball starring Amanda Jane Hess and Jenna Ella Jablonski.
Now, let us review the events of October. We began with the 152nd anniversary celebration of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America on October 3rd with the PRCUA staff in the prestigious PRCUA Boardroom. Calumet Region (Gerald Tarka, Chair) commenced its Polish American Heritage Month festivities with wreath-laying ceremonies at Pulaski Park in Hammond, IN (10/4) and at Pulaski Park in Calumet City, IL (10/5). PRCUA was represented by the Wesoły Lud Polish Folk Dance Company (Richard Jaminski, Director and Choreographer), District 9 Director Elizabeth Sadus, PAC-IL Vice President (and District 7 Director) Ewa Cholewinski, and yours truly at the Sunday (10/5) festivities which also included Holy Mass at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Calumet City and a luncheon and dance performance at the town’s VFW Hall. Congratulations to Gerry Tarka and his team on a lovely event!
The following weekend (10/10-10/13) found Wesoły Lud in Buffalo, New York celebrating General Casimir Pulaski with the Pulaski Association (Joseph M. Rej, President). The two-day event was quite energizing with a wreath laying ceremony at the Pulaski monument and visit to the World War II memorial in downtown Buffalo, television tapings, interviews, a parade and then live performances woven between sets played by top bands in the region. We did the usual tourist stops such as Niagara Falls and Letchworth Park, in addition to attending Mass at Queen of Martyrs RC Church in Cheektowaga, NY. Meanwhile, back in Chicago, the Polish Museum of America celebrated its 90th anniversary with a “Toast in Time” and a few hundred friends in the PMA Great Hall, including the PRCUA president and secretary-treasurer.
A Polish Mass was held at St. Albertus Church in Detroit, Michigan, on October 12th. The PRCUA schools that participated were: Gwiazda Dancers, Halka Dancers, Opole Dancers, Polskie Maki Dancers, Tatry Dancers, Wieliczka Dancers, Zajączek Dancers, and Zakopane Dancers. Thank you, National Director from District 10, Colleen Bonkowski, for your continued attention to the PRCUA schools.
October 16 and 17 found the PRCUA Executive Officers at the Polish American Congress Council of National Directors Meeting and Elections hosted by Frank Spula, PNA President and now former PAC President at the Polish National Alliance Headquarters in Chicago. Yours truly has served as PAC National Treasurer for the last nine years and was extremely proud to pass the torch to PRCUA Secretary-Treasurer Agnieszka Bastrzyk. PRCUA President Robaczewski was elected PAC First Vice President. In addition to Ms. Bastrzyk and Mr. Robaczewski, the following will serve the PAC for the next two years: Hubert Cioromski, President; Stephen Flor, Secretary; VP of American Affairs – Tomasz Kołodziej; VP of Polish Affairs – Andrzej Tomasz Niemyjski; VP of Financial Development – Sylvia Gładkowska; VP of Membership – Joseph Mikołaj Rej; VP of Education and Learning – Alicja Kuklińska; VP of Cultural Affairs – Bożena Kaminski; and VP of Public Relations – Łukasz Dudka. Congratulations to all the winners! Thank you to the outgoing officers with whom I served, especially Frank Spula and Mary Anselmo.
The weekend of October 18-19 was equally busy with the Generation NEXT Youth Conference at DePaul University co-hosted by Stowarzyszenie Wspólnota Polska and Polish American Congress; the PMA Open House Chicago; and the Polish American Congress Illinois Division 55th Polish Heritage Banquet in Schiller Park, IL at which the PMA was honored with the Heritage Award and the incoming and outgoing PAC National Officers were recognized.
The Michigan Cultural Workshop was also held on October 19. At the workshop, dance school teachers and directors hold classes on a variety of topics having to do with Poland and its culture, including dance, arts and crafts, folklore and cooking, to name a few. The event is an excellent way to allow Polish Americans to gain more knowledge in all things Polish. Thank you to District 10 Director Collen Bonkowski and Thomas Lisiecki for spearheading the workshop.
The days that followed were surreal for the family and friends of Christopher Bartoszek, who at the age of fifty-four passed away unexpectedly. I knew Chris, his mother Maryla, and sister Agnieszka, since both were children. Mom was a teacher and both children were students at the Maria Konopnicka Polish Language School at Five Holy Martyrs Parish in the old Polish southwestern neighborhood in Chicago. The children also danced with the Southwest Center of Polish Song and Dance, and Chris in Wesoły Lud. His best friend since childhood was Mirek Cisło, PRCUA National Director from District 8. It would have been 10 years this coming January since Chris was in an automobile accident that paralyzed him from the waist down. Chris was looking forward to attending Mirek’s eldest daughter’s wedding on October 25, as well as presenting his eldest son Joey at the upcoming Cinderella-Prince Charming Ball. God had other plans and called Chris home, alleviating the pain and suffering he endured. There is no silver lining to this story, Chris is no longer with us on earth, but how do you bounce back quickly from the heartbreak of death to a celebration of the marriage of two lives? Chris, who had a profound sense of humor and mischief, gave a sign. At the conclusion of his gravesite service, on the opposite side of the cemetery at the gravesite service of another soul, a Mariachi band began to play. The mourners looked at one another, some were surprised, others smiled. Chris gave his blessing to celebrate the impending nuptials and his youngest son, Johnny, will stand by his mother’s side and present Joey at the Cinderella Ball. Rest in peace, Chris.
On October 25, Olivia Cislo, daughter of Mirek and Elizabeth Cislo, married Thomas Łyżbicki, son of Lucy Łyżbicki, in the beautiful Polish cathedral-style Church of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Lemont, Illinois. The newlyweds and their siblings, as well as the Cislos were dancers in Wesoły Lud. In fact, the new Mr. and Mrs. met in Wesoły Lud while preparing for the Rzeszów Festival in 2019. The dance company performed its Rzeszów suite at the reception and was joined by the alumni for a good old-fashioned Chicago Polka. Wishing Oli and Tom a lifetime of love and happiness!
Also on October 25, Secretary-Treasurer Agnieszka Bastrzyk together with her husband, Daniel, represented the PRCUA at the 75th Anniversary Gala Celebration of the Polish Scouting Organization of Illinois – Obwód ZHP Chicago. PRCUALife was recognized as a distinguished sponsor of the Polish scouts and their programs, reinforcing our mission to support Polish culture and heritage throughout the United States. Marketing Manager Anne Moschopoulos and Fraternal Coordinator Conrad Wiecek are lifelong Polish scouts and scoutmasters. Congratulations to the Polish Scouting Organization of Illinois and continued success!
Meanwhile in Michigan (10/25), the Tatry Dancers (Mary Skurnit, Director; Karen Lubiarz, Choreographer) hosted its Presentation Ball featuring Elena Grace Delcotto, Ava Lackey, Dane Lackey, and Camden Rose Walters. Ava and Dane’s grandmother, Rose Ann Lackey is looking down on them and is surely proud of their achievement. Congratulations to the graduates and to those who organized the event and program!
The weekend ended with the 10K Run, 5K Run, and 5K Walk Polish Independence Run 2025 at Montrose Harbor in Chicago, and for the eighth consecutive year, the Bastrzyk Family and Friends participated on behalf of the PRCUA. The event commemorates Poland’s return to independence on November 11, 1918. Participants receive a medal, event shirt and a post-race lunch. Bravo to all who participated on this absolutely gorgeous autumn day, especially our Secretary-Treasurer, Agnieszka Bastrzyk, and her family.
October ended with the PRCUA Employee Appreciation luncheon. The hat-themed Halloween event was organized by Anna Grabowski, Executive Assistant to the President; ably assisted by Conrad Wiecek, Anne Moschopoulos, Agnieszka Dobrzycki, and Julie Prado. The following employees celebrated their milestones with the PRCUA: Mark Sorbi – Member Services Representative – 25 years; Mary Jane Czypura – Life Insurance Claims Specialist – 20 years; Madia Robles – IT Level 2 – Service Engineer – 20 years; Anna Grabowski – Executive Assistant to the President – 20 years; Michael Perzynski – Maintenance – 15 years; Carlos Escobar – IT Level 3 – Service Architect – 10 years; and Marge Grzeszczuk – Sales Coordinator – 5 years. On behalf of the PRCUA, the Executive Officers extend their congratulations and gratitude to all our employees for a job well done!
I would like to extend sincere birthday wishes to our Narod Polski Editor Lidia Kowalewicz (11/16), former PRCUA First Lady Joann Ozog (11/17), and former Naród Polski editor Kathryn Romani (11/22). Sto lat!
My gift to you on this American of all American holidays, Thanksgiving Day, is a prayer: “Dear God, we thank you for this special meal, for all the love and joy we feel. Bless our family, bless our friends, with your love that never ends. All our blessings, big and small, we give thanks for one and all. Amen.” Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
