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.

To celebrate October Polish Heritage Month, PRCUA is hosting its annual coloring contest! This contest  is open to PRCUA members from 3 to 18 years old. Use crayons, pencils, markers or paint (no fabric, sequins, or glitter, etc.). The simpler picture is designed for children ages 3-12 and the more difficult image for ages 13-18. 1st & 2nd place prizes will be awarded in each age category and the 1^st place artwork will be featured on the PRCUA Christmas card. All other prizes are age-appropriate and include a certificate of achievement. DEADLINE: Entries must be received at the Home Office by Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

Picture for contestants 3-12 can be found HERE.
Picture for contestants 13-18 can be found HERE.

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

August 10-12              Festival Polonaise – Golf Mill Parking Lot, Niles, IL

August 26                    Polvision and 1030 AM Picnic – Stone Park, IL

August 31-
September 3                Taste of Polonia – Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL

September 16              Polish Fest, Michigan City, IN

Mid July 2018, PRCUA Vice President Micheline Jaminski will be traveling to Iwonicz Zdrój, Poland, as the guest of the Rzeszów Branch of Stowarzyszenie Wspólnota Polska, the organizers of the 10th International Festival of Children’s Folk Ensembles. She will be joined by Richard Jaminski, and the two children’s groups of which he is the Artistic Director and Choreographer – Wesoły Ludek of the PRCUA Southwest Center of Polish Song and Dance and PRCUA Polanie Dancers of the St. John Paul II Polish School – for both of which this will be the 5th such festival.

Joining these groups for this adventure are: Polonia Ensemble of Chicago (participating for the 3rd time) and – for the FIRST TIME – from Michigan: Halka-Zajączek Dancers (Detroit), Gwiazda (Hamtramck) and Opole (Warren). Total dancers and staff (not including parents): 145 – reminiscent of PRCUA’s 145th Anniversary! Upcoming issues of the Naród Polski, posts on our website and social media will include the reflections of many who will be experiencing the Iwonicz Zdrój Festival or even Poland for the first time! BON VOYAGE!

The 4th Annual PRCUA Family Picnic and Outdoor Mass will take place Sunday, June 24, 2018, hosted by D-7-8-9. Join us at PACF Grove, 18600 E. Glenwood-Thornton Rd., Glenwood, IL. The Mass will take place at noon and the picnic will run until 6 p.m.

Join us for music, refreshments, games, and more! Bring your own food or purchase food on site!

Call the Fraternal Department for more information at 773-782-2636.

May 3rd marks the adoption of the Constitution of May 3, 1791 by the parliament of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This document served as a monumental milestone for the growth of democracy and equality of classes.

According to British historian, Norman Davies, it “was the first constitution of its type in Europe.” It sought to replace a growing anarchy with a democratic constitutional monarchy, which would remove the disproportionate rights between nobility and townspeople.

Though May 3rd was declared a national holiday in 1791, it was not always possible to celebrate the occasion due to partitions and wars. The holiday was reinstated in 1919 following Poland’s independence. When WWII broke out, it was outlawed again. In 1945, it was spontaneously celebrated again just once before it was removed from the communist approved list of holidays. From then until the holidays restoration, May 3rd was often an occasion for anti-government and anti-communist protests. The holiday was finally reinstated as an official Polish holiday in 1990 after the fall of communism.

Today, Polonia in Chicago joins Poland in celebration with the May 3rd Constitution Day Parade. This year, the parade took place on May 5th, beginning at the northwest corner of Grant Park. A sea of red and white moved down Columbus Dr. as hundreds of Polish Americans came out to celebrate their heritage and independence. The weather was beautiful and it was the perfect day to enjoy a parade and celebrate freedom.

The American Polish Cultural Society would like to invite you to attend the 11th Annual Polish Folk Dance Festival on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at the center. Ten dance ensembles will be performing national and regional dances and songs. Numerous PRCUA ensembles will be performing.

For more information, call the American Polish Cultural Center at (248) 689-3636 or check out their Facebook page HERE.

Congratulations to all our coloring contest participants! This year saw 185 participants, each with a lively, colorful interpretation of Lech and the White Eagle. The entries were judged anonymously by the PRCUA Home Office Staff.

This years winners were:
Katarzyna Lucas (1st Place for ages 3-5)
Mia Prusaczyk (2nd Place for ages 3-5)
Helena Lucas (Tied for 1st Place for ages 6-8)
Jan Klepacki (Tied for 1st Place for ages 6-8)
Izabela Jankech ( 2nd Place for ages 6-8)
Aleksandra Wozniak (1st Place for ages 9-12)
Evelyn Matson (2nd Place for ages 9-12)
Brendan Lubiarz (1st Place for ages 13-15)
Elise Lubiarz (2nd Place for ages 13-15)
Laurain Matson (1st Place for ages 15-18)
Joey Smigiel ( 2nd Place for ages 15-18)

Thank you to all our talented artists! We look forward to seeing your entries next year.

1st Place for the 3-5 Category – Katarzyna Lucas

2nd Place for the 3-5 Category – Mia Prusaczyk

Tied for 1st Place for the 6-8 Category – Helena Lucas

Tied for 1st Place for the 6-8 Category – Jan Klepacki

2nd Place for the 6-8 Category  – Izabela Janech

1st Place for the 9-12 Category – Aleksandra Wozniak

2nd Place for the 9-12 Category – Evelyn Matson

1st Place for the 13-15 Category – Brandon Lubiarz

2nd Place for the 13-15 Category  –  Elise Lubiarz

1st Place for the 15-18 Category  –  Laurain Matson

2nd Place for the 15-18 Category  –  Joey Smigiel

Congratulations again to our artists on a job well done!