Each October since 1981, American Polonia celebrates Polish American Heritage Month. It was first organized by Michael Blichasz, President of the Polish American Cultural Center in Philadelphia. Originally it was celebrated in August at various gatherings, travel events, and culturally significant locations in Pennsylvania. In 1984, House Joint Resolution 577 passed, making August Polish American Heritage Month. The month was changed to October in 1986 in order to aid participating schools in organizing their celebrations during the school year, and to commemorate the month when the first Polish settlers came to Jamestown, Virginia in 1608.

Heritage represents the past history, culture, language, and religion of a nation. Those values influence how we approach living and create the invisible bond which ties people together – a sense of unity and belonging within a group, as well as support from the community to which one belongs. Polish Americans can be especially proud of all of their ancestors’ achievements, both in Poland and in the United States – the country with the largest Polish diaspora in the world.

This month, we celebrate the national heroes of two countries, like Pułaski and Kościuszko, founders of many Polish American churches, schools, and organizations such as the Polish American Congress, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary on November 14, 2019, and the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, which celebrates its 146th anniversary this year. We also honor the many generations of Polish immigrants and Polish Americans, who throughout their hard work, determination, deep commitment, and unaccountable contributions, helped shape America into a better, more prosperous, and stronger nation.

In celebration of Polish-American Heritage Month, PRCUA sponsors an annual coloring contest for children ages 3-18. Click here for more information.

For more information please contact Adult Culture Group of PRCUA on Facebook, adultculturagroup@gmail.com or Mr. Edward Muszalski at 708.937.3812

Congratulations to the Southwest Center of Polish Song and Dance on its 34th Annual Recital!

On Sunday, April 28, dancers from all age groups presented their talents on stage at Mother McAuley High School in Chicago. Wesoły Lud Polish Folk Dance Company performed as a special guest of the Center. In this long-standing tradition, young artists celebrated the end of the school year with this special performance, which gives them an opportunity to showcase their choreographic achievements and our beautiful Polish folklore. The audience greatly enjoyed and cheered on Mały Ludek, Wesoły Ludek, Ludziki, Krasnoludki, Młody Ludek, Wesoły Lud I and II. The program included dances and folk songs from Lublin, Nowy Sącz, Śląsk, Kaszuby, Górny Sląsk, Kurpie, Beskid, Kraków, Stara Warszawa as well as a performance of the American-style Polka. The big finale was the song “Niech Żyją Wakacje” (“Long Live Vacation!”) performed by all of the groups. During the recital, the Center also acknowledged its 5 and 10- year members.

Special thanks to: Anna Kraszewski-Winkler – Manager and School Director; Richard Jaminski – Artistic Director and Choreographer; all the dance instructors: Richard Jaminski, Michael Dziadkowiec, Danielle Kroplewski, Rene Kroplewski, Sylvia Kupiec and Camilla Steczek; and their assistants: Weronika Niedzielski, Kacper Kaczmarczyk and Ania Cieplucha.

Dancing in the Southwest Center of Polish Song and Dance is one of the many membership benefits offered by PRCUA. Call us to become a member and to request information about signing up to any of our dance groups.

Members of PRCUA Districts #7, #8 and #9 and their guests celebrated the annual PRCUA Święconka. The event took place on Sunday, March 31^st at the at Candle Light Banquets in Chicago Ridge, IL.

This year’s event was hosted by District #8. Guests were welcomed by District 8 Directors Elizabeth Dynowski and Mirek Cislo. The delicious Easter lunch included the traditional polish soup, “Żurek.” After the meal, Vice President Micheline Jamiński invited everyone to participate in a right-left game. As Mrs. Jaminski read the the Easter-themed text, everyone played the game by passing colored surprise eggs from left to right or right to left. At the end of the game, whoever was in possession of the egg with the Wesołego Alleluja greeting won the Polish basket full of Easter chocolates.

A delicious meal, friendly atmosphere and great companionship made this year’s Święconka a very relaxing and fun celebration of the Easter season and long-awaited spring. The 2019 Święconka was attended by PRCUA President James Robaczewski with his family, Vice President Micheline Jaminski and her husband, Richard, Secretary-Treasurer Agnieszka Bastrzyk with her family, National Directors Anna Krysinski and Joanna Ewa Cholewinski (D-7), Krystyna Lech and James Rustic  (past Directors of D-8), Elizabeth Sadus (D-9), guests from from the Polish Falcons of America, 2019 Cinderella Runner – up Katarzyna Burdzy and 2019 Prince Charming Aleksander Sacinski, members of the Adult Culture Group, Sales Director Robert Fattore, Marketing Director Elżbieta Sawczuk and Naród Polski Executive Editor Lidia Kowalewicz. Special thanks to the PRCUA Wesoły Lud and its artistic director, Richard Jaminski, for a great folk dance performance during the event. For more pictures from the event please visit PRCUA Photo Gallery.

On Saturday, February 23^rd, attendees joined together in Troy, Michigan, for the 2019 PRCUA Shirley Ann Galanty Michigan State Ball, which honors the graduates of PRCUA Polish dance schools based in Michigan. This year saw the celebration of twelve talented young people: Alexis Assenmacher, Kennedy Babicz, Faith Brandt, Maximilian Chabowski, Benjamin Czarnota, Michael Federico, Grace Gutierrez, Brendan Lubiarz, Tapanga Makowski, Alexandria Middleton, Zachary Palencik, and Katie Sigler. One of the highlights of the evening was the drawing of winners for the State Ball Scholarship, which was presented to Kennedy Babicz, Grace Gutierrez, Brendan Lubiarz, Alexandria Middleton, and Tapanga Makowski.

The Ball was attended by PRCUA National President James Robaczewski, National Vice President Micheline Jaminski, and National Secretary-Treasurer Agnieszka Bastrzyk. Many thanks to the organizers for a beautiful evening and congratulations to all of the graduates!

On Sunday, December 2, 2018,  PRCUA members from District 9 met at the traditional Opłatek. The event was held at Casa Maria in Dyer, Indiana by District Director Elizabeth Sadus and St.Raphael Kalinowski School. Over 200 guests along with the new National Officers James Robaczewski, Micheline Jaminski and Agnes Bastrzyk, gathered to celebrate the Polish tradition which is to share the Opłatek called “Bread of Love” and exchange well wishes for Christmas and the coming year. After lunch, the parents and dancers from “Mała Polska,” students of Kalinowski Polish language school dressed in traditional folk costumes and invited the guests for their Christmas Performance picturing the Birth of Jesus in the Stajenka. The choreography to the beautiful Christmas story, songs and carols was prepared by Agata Wilgocki. At the end of the Opłatek gathering, there was an unexpected Santa visit which included gifts. The afternoon was full of joy and excitement. Thank you to District 9 for hosting this event and all participants! For more pictures from the event please visit our website Gallery and social media.

The year 2019 has been declared the “Year of Moniuszko,” celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Stanisław Moniuszko, the outstanding 19^th century Polish composer, conductor, and teacher. He is considered the “father of Polish national opera,” and was the author of over 268 songs, as well as many operas, operettas, and ballets. Moniuszko’s most famous works are the operas “Halka” and “Straszny Dwór” (The Haunted Manor). His music is representative of 19th century Romanticism, but is characterized by the use of traditional Polish folk melodies and rhythms while incorporating the texts of prominent Polish poets such as Jan Kochanowski and Adam Mickiewicz.

Stanisław Moniuszko was born on May 5, 1819, in Ubiel, modern-day Belorus. This year’s Polish-American Heritage Month Coloring Contest image is modeled on the illustration of Moniuszko Manor, the birthplace and family home of this remarkable Polish composer.

W roku 2019, nazwanym Rokiem Moniuszki, obchodzimy 200. rocznicę urodzin Stanisława Moniuszki, najwybitniejszego polskiego kompozytora okresu romantyzmu, dyrygenta i pedagoga. Moniuszko był autorem ponad 268 pieśni (najbardziej popularna jest Prząśniczka) oraz wielu oper, operetek i baletów. Nazywany jest ojcem polskiej opery narodowej. Jego najsłynniejsze dzieła to opery Halka i Straszny Dwór. Tworzył muzykę o charakterze narodowym, wplatając w swoje kompozycje elementy polskiego folkloru (melodie i tańce ludowe) oraz wykorzystując utwory polskich poetów (m.in. Jana Kochanowskiego czy Adama Mickiewicza).

Stanisław Moniuszko urodził się 5 maja 1819 roku w Ubielu, na Białorusi. Rycina autorstwa Napoleona Ordy, wybrana do dorocznego Konkursu Rysunkowego ZPRKA z okazji Miesiąca Dziedzictwa Polsko-Amerykańskiego, przedstawia rodzinny Dwór Moniuszków, w którym urodził się ten wybitny polski kompozytor.

CONTEST RULES

This coloring contest, the annual PRCUA tradition celebrating October as Polish American Heritage Month, is open to all PRCUA members from 3 to 18 years. Use crayons, pencils, markers or paint (no fabric, sequins, or glitter, etc.). The first, simpler picture is designed for children ages 3-9 and the more detailed image for ages 10-18. First and second place prizes will be awarded in multiple age categories and winning submissions featured in the December edition of the Naród Polski. All prizes will be age-appropriate and include a certificate of achievement. DEADLINE: Entries must be received by the Home Office no later than Friday, November 1, 2019. Mail to: PRCUA Coloring Contest, 984 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60642-4101.

Picture for contestants 3-9 can be found HERE.
Picture for contestants 10-18 can be found HERE.

Please include contestant’s name, full address, grade, age, school name and society number. Also please indicate any association to a PRCUA language or dance school.