The official part of the national celebration of the PRCUA 150th anniversary took place on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at the Drury Lane Banquet Hall in Oak Brook, just after the Holy Mass celebrated in the Holy Trinity Church in Westmont, IL. We gathered two days before the exact anniversary to celebrate a milestone event, to honor our founders, to cherish the uniqueness of our organization and to say thank you to thousands of fraternalists – faces of PRCUA, who wrote our beautiful history and who made this great achievement possible.
During the jubilee, we welcomed a wide range of our members, families, employees, leaders, representatives of the clergy, PRCUA schools and dance groups, as well as friends from Polish and American organizations. Among the 360 guests, we had the honor of welcoming the Consul General of the Republic of Poland Paweł Zyzak and Deputy Marshal of the Sejm Małgorzata Gosiewska, both of whom congratulated the PRCUA on its anniversary and achievements. Consul Zyzak presented PRCUA President James Robaczewski with Gloria Artis, a gold medal awarded to the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America by Poland’s Minister of Culture and Heritage, Piotr Gliński. Deputy Marshal Małgorzata Gosiewska bestowed the Polish Card to James Roobaczewski (more about this in a later post).
The Frank Spula, President of the Polish American Congress and the Polish National Alliance, presented the PRCUA Executive Committee with a symbolic, commemorative anniversary goblet. Unfortunately, none of the former presidents could join us on Sunday, so the current leader of the organization, James Robaczewski, read letters from former PRCUA presidents addressed to you on the occasion of the 150th anniversary.
Later in the program, guests watched a film presenting 150 years of the PRCUA in a nutshell and admired the performances by the Wesoły Lud Polish Folk Dance Company and Polonia Ensemble. The Anthem of the Republic of Poland was performed by Nina Romek, accompanied by Mieczysław Dziś, Musical Director of Polonia Ensemble.
The musical segment of the jubilee was prepared by The Trio, composed of Alan Królikowski (vocal), Nicole Kwaśny (violin) and Youseff El Yakime (piano). Bravo to our young musicians!
Past and present PRCUA officers and directors were also presented medals commemorating the 150th anniversary of the PRCUA. Elżbieta Sawczuk, PRCUA Marketing Director, was the Mistress of Ceremonies. No jubilee celebration would be complete without a cake, well-wishes and a toast by Vice President Micheline Jamiński, as well as celebratory photographs and much joy and happiness.
Photos by Lidia Kowalewicz
