PRCUA was excited to have the Young Adult Committee present at the 62nd Quadrennial Convention. The committee included Nicole Romek, Kristin Mihalic, Lidia Ramotowski, Jennifer Yurosko, Courtney Ozog, Nina Romek, and Kevin Kucik. The committee presented a report at convention, detailing the ways in which PRCUA can improve and grow in order to attract younger members and meet their needs. The committee proved to be energetic and creative, sharing innovative  ideas and beautiful plans for our organization. You can review their official report HERE.

Thank you Young Adult Committee for your involvement, insight, and voice!

The 2nd National PRCUA Volleyball Tournament will be held on Friday, November 2, and Saturday, November 3, 2018 in Warren, MI, hosted by St. John Paul II Society #1593.
The Entry Form and Adult Waiver/Release of Liability must be completed and returned to the home office, together with the $50.00 entry fee per team.  All players must be PRCUA members in good standing.  Each player may only sign one roster.  Players must agree to abide by the PRCUA rules and regulations of good sportsmanship and fair play on and off the court. MHSAA Volleyball Rules apply, no Libero. Make your check payable to PRCUA or use the Online Payment option. All entries must be postmarked or submitted by October 19, 2018. Please note: no alcoholic beverages or tobacco products are allowed on the premises of the Sports Venues.

For more information, click HERE!

The Inaugural Mass & 145th Celebration of the PRCUA took place this past Sunday on September 9th. It was a beautiful event, the sun shone done on the bright costumes of the participating students in their Polish folk costumes and on the elegant attire of the incoming and outgoing Executive Officers and Directors. The smiles of those attending were just as bright and the day was filled with breathtaking music, delicious food, and colorful dancing.

Congratulations to the newly elected officers and directors of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America for the years 2018-2022:

Rev. Canon Walter J. Ptak – National Chaplain

James J. Robaczewski – National President
Micheline I. Jaminski – National Vice-President
Agnieszka J. Bastrzyk – National Secretary Treasurer

Louis Perfetto, Jr. – District 2 Director
Patrick Kosowski – District 4 Director
Mitchell Bienia – District 5 Director
Thomas Jesionowski – District 5 Director
Andrew Lech – District 6 Director
Anna Krysinski – District 7 Director
Myron Cislo – District 8 Director
Elizabeth Dynowski – District 8 Director
Elizabeth Sadus – District 9 Director
Colleen Bonkowski – District 10 Director
Courtney Ozog – District 10 Director

On August 9, the PRCUA will welcome delegates to the 62nd Polish Roman Catholic Union of America National Quadrennial Convention at the Edward Hotel and Convention Center in Dearborn, Michigan.

PRCUA Vice President Emeritus Robert Bielenda is the Pre-Convention Committee Chairman and St. Stan’s Society #718 of Detroit, Michigan is the Host Society of the 62nd PRCUA Quadrennial Convention.

The Convention provides a valuable opportunity for members to come together as delegates to continue the work of our fraternal organization and to learn about the important changes and plans that will affect the Union on both local and national levels. The election of a new governing body of the PRCUA will take place. These leaders will be tasked with guiding and planning for the future of the PRCUA. May our Patron, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, bless the delegates and their deliberations,

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9
12:00 – 8:00 p.m.         DELEGATE REGISTRATION, Lobby-Convention Registration,
Edward Hotel, 600 Town Center Drive, Dearborn, Michigan
7:00 – 10:00 p.m.         PRE-CONVENTION HOSPITALITY RECEPTION sponsored by
PRCUA, location TBA

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10   Watch Stream on YouTube
7:00 – 9:00 a.m.           CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, Great Lakes Room B & E, Edward Hotel
8:00 – 9:30 a.m.           DELEGATE REGISTRATION, Lobby-Convention Registration, Edward Hotel
10:00 a.m.                    BUSES LEAVE for St Sebastian Parish
11:00 a.m.                    OPENING MASS, St. Sebastian Parish, 20710 Colgate, Dearborn Heights, MI
Following Mass           LUNCHEON, St. Sebastian Parish
3:00 – 9:00 p.m.           1ST OFFICIAL BUSINESS SESSION of the 62nd PRCUA Quadrennial
Convention, Edward Hotel, Great Lakes Center Rooms C, D & F
TBA                                Break for Dinner

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11   Watch Stream on YouTube
7:00 a.m.                       MASS Edward Hotel, Great Lakes Center Rooms C, D & F
7:00 – 9:00 a.m.            BREAKFAST BUFFET, Great Lakes Room B & E, Edward Hotel
8:00 – 5:30 p.m.            DELEGATE REGISTRATION, Lobby-Convention Registration, Edward Hotel
9:00 – 5:00 p.m.            2ND OFFICIAL BUSINESS SESSION, Edward Hotel, Great Lakes Center
Rooms C, D & F
TBA                                LUNCH, Great Lakes Room B & E, Edward Hotel
6:30 p.m.                      COCKTAILS, Edward Hotel, Grand Ballroom Foyer
7:30 p.m.                      BANQUET DINNER, Edward Hotel, Grand Ballroom

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12  Watch Stream on YouTube
7:00 – 9:00 a.m.            BREAKFAST BUFFET, Great Lakes Room B & E, Edward Hotel
9:00 a.m.                       FRATERNAL MASS, Edward Hotel, Great Lakes Center Rooms C, D & F
10:30 – 1:00 p.m.         3RD OFFICIAL BUSINESS SESSION, Edward Hotel, Great Lakes Center
Rooms C, D & F
1:00 p.m.                      FRATERNAL LUNCHEON, Great Lakes Room B & E, Edward Hotel
TBA                                ELECTIONS
TBA                                BREAK FOR DINNER

MONDAY, AUGUST 13
7:00 a.m.                      MASS, Edward Hotel, Great Lakes Center Rooms C, D & F
7:00 – 9:00 a.m.           CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, Great Lakes Room B & E, Edward Hotel
TBA                               4TH OFFICIAL BUSINESS SESSION, Edward Hotel, Great Lakes Center
Rooms C, D & F

Thank you LOT Polish Airlines and Midwest Regional Sales Director Magdalena Pantelis for all your assistance in getting PRCUA WESOŁY LUDEK from Chicago to Rzeszów! PRCUA WESOŁY LUDEK is attending the 10. Polonian Festival of Children’s Folk Ensembles in Iwonicz Zdrój for the 5th time!!!

Announcing a PRCUA Youth & Young Adult Essay Contest!

Every organization, including the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, needs to focus on reaching the next generation. If we do not, it is likely we will not, and even more likely that we will eventually cease to exist.

It is the youth and young adults who will lead us into the future.

It is necessary for the health of the PRCUA and society as a whole for us to reach out to younger members, to teach them about our organization and to get them actively involved in the life of the PRCUA.  We must involve them in our plans for the future.

At each PRCUA Convention, the Youth Committee presents a report to the delegates, offering advice on how this can be accomplished. In the past, many of their ideas have been adopted.

One of the recommendations of the 61st PRCUA Quadrennial Convention Youth/Young Adult Committee was to have an essay contest on the subject before the 62nd Convention.

The Youth Committee, headed by the PRCUA’s National Director, Elizabeth Sadus of District #9, is inviting all PRCUA members between the ages of 16 to 35 years to participate in the 62nd PRCUA Quadrennial Convention Essay Contest.

We want to hear your opinions, new ideas, and new ways by which the PRCUA can get our young people more involved in our organization.

• 500 words or less.
• The contest is open to all PRCUA members, ages 16 to 35 years.
• Applicants must provide well developed ideas or events that will encourage themselves or their peers to want to become more involved in the PRCUA.
• Two age categories: 16 to 25 years & 26 to 35 years.
• One winner will be chosen in each age category.
• The winning essay will be judged by the Young Adult

Committee and winners will be announced at the Convention.

Let us know your thoughts on how PRCUA can best serve you and future generations!

• Two prizes of $250.00 each will be awarded, one prize for each category.
• The Committee reserves the right to reject essays that do not meet the criteria. The winning essay will be chosen from essays that are accepted; however, if none meet the criteria, the Committee will not pick a winner solely for the sake of the contest.
• Name, address, contact information, and PRCUA Society number must be provided.
• Deadline is August 1, 2018.

Submit your essays to: PRCUA Essay Contest, Dir. Elizabeth Sadus, 847 Marion Way, Chicago Hts., IL 60411 or by email to marketing@prcua.org.

Let Your Voice and Opinions Be Heard!Let Your Voice and Opinions Be Heard!

The Polish Roman Catholic Union of America and The Polish Museum of America had the distinct honor of hosting the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, along with First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda during a momentous visit to our historic building on Friday, May 18, 2018. During their visit, President Joseph Drobot, Vice President Micheline Jaminski, and Secretary Treasurer James Robaczewski were proud to show them through the boardroom and offices while giving them a short history of our organization. The PMA President Richard Owsiany and Managing Director Malgorzata Kot then led them through the beautiful museum, where they enjoyed themselves viewing artifacts and artwork that punctuates important moments for the Polish and Polish American communities. Both organizations were immensely pleased with their visit; it was a great honor to have such distinguished guests walk our halls.

The 81st National PRCUA Bowling Tournament took place over the weekend of April 13-15 in Warren, MI and was a striking success! Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to everyone who participated. Thank you also to Society #1593 and all the workers and volunteers that made this such a great event!

For photos, visit our Facebook.

Poland’s culture is rich in traditions that celebrate the coming of spring and the Easter season. While some of these customs are still practiced, they have morphed over time to reflect the present along with the past.

Marzanna

The drowning of Marzanna occurs on the first day of spring. It is an old pagan ritual in which an effigy of a woman, often made of straw, is first burned, then thrown into the river. The word marzanna comes from the word marznąć and the ritual symbolizes the end of the cold, harsh months of winter and the beginning of the spring season. Today, kids or scouts usually continue the tradition in Poland.

Śmigus Dyngus

Śmigus Dyngus is celebrated on Easter Monday in Poland, which both a religious and national holiday in the country. On this day, young people throw water at others, which symbolizes a renewed baptism. Long ago, it was also one of the ways men would court women.

Kogucik

Celebrated on Easter Monday, teenage boys would tie a rooster to a two-wheeled cart and parade from house to house through the village with it. As the rooster crowed, the boys poked girls with specially-made skewers and sang songs. The rooster symbolized male vitality and the way men courted women. It also was thought to bring health to the family. As time passed, a rooster made of clay or dough replaced a live one. A rooster is called kogut in Polish and the word kogucik is a diminutive form of the word.

Gaik

The gaik is an old Slavic tradition dating back to pagan times, whereby people would make a large decoration of greenery and walk through the village to greet spring. It is still practiced in some villages in Poland and other Slavic countries today. Gaik derives from the word gaj, or grove, that was oftentimes enclosed so that intruders would not enter.

The Feast Day of St. Joseph

Joseph is a popular name in Poland. Because the feast day falls during Lent, Poles celebrating St. Joseph’s names day (imieniny) would prepare a feast of meatless dishes and decorate their houses with white and red, as well as with holy cards and candles around the food. Church hymns on this day include: Duszo moja, O Jozefie Ukochany, and Szczesliwy, Kto Sobie Patrona. As early as the 10th Century, March 19 was dedicated as St. Joseph’s Feast Day in many calendars.

PRCUA staff celebrating St. Joseph’s Day with a traditional St. Joseph’s Table luncheon.

Enjoy your Spring and remember your roots by celebrating one of these age old customs!

-Written by Conrad Wiecek