HAPPY 250TH BIRTHDAY, USA! As we celebrate this magnificent occasion across the country, may it be both safe and memorable. Continuing on the nation’s path toward “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America is incredibly proud of its contribution over the past 153 years. Since its founding in 1873, the PRCUA has remained steadfast in its mission to “financial security to its members through life insurance and annuity products, and offering opportunities for cultural, educational and spiritual growth.” Wishing everyone a safe and joyful July!
The Fourth of July does not solely belong to the USA, it is also the birthday of many, but closer to home, we will be celebrating that of our Secretary-Treasurer Julie Prado and it is a milestone as well. A bicentennial baby, she was adorned with red, white and blue decorations at birth and her PRCUA family will join in the festivities at her birthday luncheon. It is customary for the PRCUA officers to host a birthday luncheon at the Home Office. Happy Golden Birthday, Julie! Sto lat!
The celebrations continue for July 2026 as three of PRCUA Polish folk dance groups will attend the XX International Festival of Polonian Folk Ensembles in Rzeszów, Poland: Wesoły Lud from Chicago (#14), Echoes of Poland from Ohio (#11), and Polonia from Chicago (#7). The numbers following each dance ensemble reflect the number of Rzeszów Festivals attended and not a total of Iwonicz or other festivals attended. Rzeszów is considered the “Olympics” of the International Polish Folk Dance World. I will do my best to capture the happenings of the festival and report back to you upon my return from Europe. Wishing our PRCUA dancers all the best for successful performances and many happy memories!
The PRCUA 64th Quadrennial Convention is fast approaching, as August 8th is just around the corner. Marking a historic first, this fully virtual event ensures broader accessibility while empowering hundreds of delegates to chart the future of the PRCUA amid an unpredictable economic landscape. May God bless the PRCUA and keep it vital for many years to come!
As I reflect upon the past month of June, I am in awe of all the wonderful memories it produced. I do hope that the start of June – International Children’s Day (6/1) – made a positive mark on all the children in your family as well as the inner child within us all. Many of the PRCUA events – Polish Night at UWM field in Utica, Michigan, where four PRCUA dance schools participated: Zajączek, Polskie Maki, Halka and Gwiazda (6/6); the 40th Anniversary Concert of the Polonia Song & Dance Ensemble (Anna Krysinski, Manager; Jaclyn Krysinski, Artistic Director & Choreographer) on June 7th; followed by the Polish Museum of America Gala (6/12); the PRCUA Sacred Heart Mass (6/14); Flag Day at the PRCUA (6/15); and the Polish Heritage Night with the White Sox (6/23) – will all have separate articles in this or subsequent issues together with beautiful photos. Special thanks to PRCUA Director from District 10, Colleen Bonkowski, for reporting on the happenings of the PRCUA Michigan dance family. Congratulations to the Polonia Ensemble – staff, dancers and parents – on its anniversary; to the Polish Museum of America for another successful gala (special thanks to PRCUA President/PMA Chair Agnieszka Bastrzyk and PRCUA Secretary-Treasurer/PMA Treasurer Julie Prado for the special Spirit award they presented me for my last Gala as PRCUA VP/PMA Vice Chair); to PRCUA Director from District 9, Elizabeth Sadus, and PRCUA Chaplain, Very Rev. Canon Walter J. Ptak for the lovely Sacred Heart Mass; to Conrad Wiecek for a wonderful program honoring the United States flag for PRCUA and PMA staff, and for coordinating the PHN with the White Sox (special thanks to the Wesoły Lud Polish Folk Dance Company (Richard Jaminski, Artistic Director and Choreographer; Danielle Kroplewski, Assistant) for performing, Dominica Zyskowska for her beautiful rendition of the U.S. national anthem, and to PRCUA Director from District 8 (and a Wesoły Lud alum) Myron Cislo for pitching the first ball, as well as to all 430+ fans from PRCUA).
The PRCUA had a massive presence at Milwaukee’s annual Polish Fest, America’s largest Polish festival. From stunning traditional showcases to leadership involvement, PRCUA members from Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin championed Polish heritage. Two PRCUA Polish folk dance ensembles – Wesoły Lud from Illinois and Zakopane from Michigan (Colleen Bonkowski, Manager; Tom Lisiecki, Artistic Director/Choreographer) together with a number of other dance groups, including our dear friends from the Wawel Folk Ensemble – also from Michigan, headed by Donna and Tom Skurski, performed throughout the weekend at this Polish American festival honoring the traditions, the music and the food of Poland and the Polish American community. Zakopane took the stage earlier in the afternoon on Saturday. Wesoły Lud teamed up with the Wawel Folk Ensemble for an hour-long concert thereafter. President Agnieszka Bastrzyk, who also serves as president of the Holy Trinity Polish School, emceed the performance by the Lajkonik Song and Dance Ensemble (which features her own children) and graphic designer Elizabeth Dziadulewicz performed with the Syrena Dancers from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The day of dance was capped off by the Polish Folk Dance Association of the Americas (PFDAA) Gala, featuring dynamic encores from all participating groups.
In addition to all these glorious June happenings, there were personal celebrations of birthdays, wedding anniversaries, bridal and baby showers, graduations, etc. and Father’s Day. I came upon this photo from 1964 of my Father, Mieczysław Binkowski, together with my sister, Jeanine Leonhard (age 2), and me (age 11) when we visited Poland. A little touch of sentimentality is good for the soul. Happy July!
