Hello April. Hello Friends. Welcome to the start of a new month and another fresh start to those New Year resolutions! Here is a little spark of wisdom from OurMidfulLife.com: Always keep moving forward, pushing your limits, and remember, each obstacle is a chance to grow, to learn from the past and thrive.
The most significant holy day of our Christian faith is just around the corner, bringing with it a refreshed sense of hope. Over the past 40 days, we have engaged in prayer and abstinence, preparing our hearts and minds for the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Easter, the foundation of Christianity, highlights God’s triumph over death and offers believers the promise of forgiveness, grace, and everlasting life. As we come together with family and friends at this year’s Święconka table, let us take a moment to contemplate the love and sacrifices of those who have made our lives possible. Our holidays are filled with nostalgia as we look back on past Easter celebrations and observe how traditions adjust ever-so-slightly with each new generation. Wishing you all a peaceful, joyful, and unforgettable Easter.
The myriad of PRCUA Dance School recitals continues in April, beginning with the Rogalin Dance Troupe (4/19) at Lincoln High School, Lincoln Park, Michigan – this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dance Instructor Janet Vilag (Lisa Brandt, director; Basia Toboy, dance instructor) and the 70th anniversary of the Wieliczka Dance Group (Director and dance instructor Kristi Mihalic at St. Robert Bellermine, Redford, Michigan). The Southwest Center of Polish Song & Dance Recital (Anna Winkler, manager; Richard Jaminski, artistic director and choreographer and teaching staff) will complete the month (4/26) with a two-hour concert and special performance by the Wesoły Lud Polish Folk Dance Company (Richard Jaminski, artistic director and choreographer; Danielle Kroplewski, assistant).
April will also bring the PRCUA National Bowling Tournament to the Chicagoland area! District 8 is most excited to host our PRCUA bowlers with some southwest side “Chicagoland” hospitality. April 17 and 18 are the dates.
Looking a little further ahead to the coming months – you might want to jot these upcoming events down:
The PRCUA will once again march in the May 3rd Constitution Day parade, to be held in downtown Chicago on May 2. Details regarding the order of the march will be available a few days before the parade. We hope you can join us at the parade!
For many years, PRCUA members have attended the Polish Heritage Night with the Chicago White Sox. This year’s event will be held on June 23rd. Once again, the PRCUA Wesoły Lud Polish Folk Dance Company will present a pregame performance. Tickets are available through the PRCUA and can be purchased by contacting fraternal-events@prcua.org. Included in this year’s ticket price of $30 is a commemorative jersey – supplies are limited, so get your tickets asap.
Hosted by Society 162, this year’s PRCUA National Golf Tournament will be held in New Boston, Michigan on July 25. Details can be found online: 73rd PRCUA National Golf Tournament 2026 – PRCUALife or on p.14.
How exciting that the upcoming 2026 PRCUA Convention (August 8-9) will be VIRTUAL – making it possible for over 400 delegates to participate! The updates will be forthcoming, so stay connected to the PRCUA.
April 2026 will mark a very special birthday of our PRCUA president – Agnieszka Bastrzyk – on April 13th! Make sure you wish her a very happy RUBY birthday! Our first woman president is an inspiration to all, possessing the knowledge, motivation, resolution, and perseverance to lead the PRCUA into the future. Happy birthday, Madam President, and Sto Lat!
Other April birthday babies include former President Edward G. Dykla, who will celebrate his 93rd birthday (4/13), IT Director Kevin Ryba (4/29) and on a personal note, Benjamin Pearson (4/2), Maggie Panozzo (4/14), daughter Alina (4/15), Marcia Pilkiewicz (4/17) and best friend Teresa Pazdziora (4/27) and her daughter Monica Reiser (4/30). STO LAT TO ALL! (My Mom would have been 95 on 4/4 and Tata 100 on 4/27). Where did the time go?
Speaking of time, let us recap the events of March, starting with the Pulaski Day Celebration at the Polish Museum of America at the headquarters of the PRCUA (3/2). PMA President Richard Owsiany and PRCUA/PMA Chairman of the Board Agnieszka Bastrzyk welcomed those in attendance and emceed the annual event. Among the attendees were state and local dignitaries including Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs, State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Mayor of the City of Chicago Brandon Johnson, as well as leaders of Polish American organizations including PAC President Hubert Cioromski and PNA President Frank Spula. Polish national dances the Polonaise and the Oberek with Kujawiak were performed by the Wesoly Lud Polish Folk Dance Company. Bravo to PMA Managing Director Malgorzata Kot and her amazing staff for a job well done. An article with details and photos is found on p. 12-13.
International Women’s Day (3/8) was celebrated in style – at the 50th Anniversary Fashion Show hosted by the Adult Culture Group of PRCUA. Bravo to the entire committee headed by Chair Nathalie Skowyra and ACG President/Choreographer Liz Dynowski. The 2026 Royal Couple – Ruby Konopacki and Piotr Tumiel, together with the runners-up, candidates, parents, siblings and even our own PRCUA President Agnieszka Bastrzyk (as Aleksander’s mother) participated in this parade of fashions from many local boutiques. Looking forward to the full scoop on who wore what at this very well attended nod to couture. Congratulations Adult Culture Group on another successful event!
The PRCUA Polish folk dance recital season was (pardon the pun) in full bloom from March 14th, beginning with the dance extravaganza by the ZAJACZEK Dancers under the direction of Colleen Bonkowski and instructors Tricia Dennis and Rachael Kasperek. On the 15th, the HALKA Dancers with Laura Hejza at the helm took center stage to celebrate their choreographer/instructor of 35 years, Tom Lisiecki. Congratulations, Tom – what better gift than a great recital from your dancers could there be! Saturday, March 21st was buzzing with “Polish Dance Fever” as GWIAZDA, MALBORK, OPOLE and TATRY all presented their recitals in different areas of Michigan and celebrated a few different anniversaries. Jessica Urban celebrated her 15th year as director of the GWIAZDA Dancers; Basia Nowakowski is the instructor. The MALBORK Dancers, together with their instructor, Michelle Marcinowski, celebrated their 10th anniversary; Natalia Szczygiel is the director. Donna Skurski has been a mainstay in the Michigan Polish folk dance community for 55 years – in addition to the Wawel Folk Ensemble and others, she has been the choreographer with the PRCUA first for five years with the Gwiazda Dancers, but then for the last 50 years with the Opole Dancers (Golden blessings Donna), Beth Thacker is the Director. The TATRY Dancers celebrated their 55th Anniversary at this year’s recital – Mary Skurnit is the Director and Karen Lubiarz, Instructor. The month ended with the Golden Anniversary Recital of the POLSKIE MAKI Dancers – Maria Jalkiewicz is the Director and Kelly Malinowski, instructor. My deepest and sincerest congratulations to each and every one of you for your love of Polish folk dancing, your commitment to your passion, and for all the successes you and your dancers have achieved and will continue to achieve! On behalf of the Officers, Directors, and members of the PRCUA – thank you for what you do for the Polish American Community, for the dance culture of our forefathers, and for the PRCUA!
On March 15th, the 23rd Anniversary Blessing of the Polish Dance Schools was held at the St. Hyacinth Church in Detroit, Michigan, officiated by Rev. Edward Traczyk, SCHR. Over 100 dancers from 10 Polish Dance ensembles across Metro Detroit participated, adorned in the beautiful traditional costumes of Poland. PRCUA Director D10 Colleen Bonkowski was proud to report that seven of these Polish Dance ensembles were our PRCUA dance schools: Zakopane, Zajaczek, Tatry, Rogalin, Polskie Maki, Opole and Gwiazda. In the midst of the chaos of recital season, you were blessed with this special event. The PRCUA is proud of all the participants and thank you for your attendance.
As we come together with our loved ones on Easter Sunday, let us keep in our hearts the families of two remarkable PRCUA fraternalists who have recently departed. PRCUA President Emeritus Wallace M. Ozog, who exemplified the essence of fraternalism through dance, sports, and community. A passionate advocate for these activities he served as a life-time leader for PRCUA and Polonia in America. Walter J. Szarowicz who was not only the president of PRCUA District 7 for over 25 years but was also the initiator of the District’s Annual PRCUA Fishing Derby and Corned Beef and Cabbage Luncheon. Both of these men were married for over 60 years to their soulmates – Joann Ozog and the former PRCUA Secretary-Treasurer, Josephine Szarowicz – and left a legacy to be modeled. Eternal rest grant unto them, Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
“Dear Lord, Help me to tell of Your wondrous power and mighty acts to those generations that come after me. May I not let the season pass by without pondering the real meaning of Easter. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Karen Ehman
