POLISH AMERICAN JOURNAL • MARCH 2011 • OUR 100th ANNIVERSARY YEAR www.polamjournal.com 1 MARCH 2011 • VOL. 100, NO. 3 $2.00 PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT BOSTON, NEW YORK NEW BOSTON, AT PAID PERIODICAL POSTAGE POLISH AMERICAN OFFICES AND ADDITIONAL ENTRY ESTABLISHED 1911 www.polamjournal.com JOURNAL IT’S ONLY ROCK AND ROLL — 1911 • 2011 DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION AND CONTINUANCE OF POLISH AMERICAN CULTURE Page 7 SO WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE NAME “POLISH MOUNTAIN?” • MEATLESS SOUPS FOR LENT WAŁĘSA GIVES ADVICE TO TO ST. MARY’S STUDENTS • KAYTŃ CONFERENCE HELD IN CLEVELAND SUPER GAME FOR PACKERS’ BULAGA • ASH WEDNESDAY A TIME FOR REFLECTION NEWSMARK Start the Ball Rolling PAHA’s Polish American GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS. First, the good news: The Vatican has ruled that three western Massachusetts Encyclopedia Has Arrived churches closed by the Springfield Diocese should reopen, NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — subjects, along with topical including St. Stanislaus Kostka in Adams, where parish- The Polish American His- entries that explain important ioners have been staging a peaceful sit-in for the past two torical Association is pleased subjects such as the histories years. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy ruled to announce the publication of various Polonia organiza- against Bishop Timothy McDonnell’s decision to close St. of The Polish American En- tions, Polish National Alli- Stan’s, and two churches in Chicopee: St. Patrick’s and St. cyclopedia, the definitive ref- ance, Polish American Sat- George’s. erence work on urday Schools, Laurie Haas, a leader of the vigil at St. Stan’s, said the Polish Ameri- the Lattimer ruling was “monumental.” can history and Massacre, the “Everyone here in Adams is rejoicing and full of joy!” culture. Its 585 Polish Army said Haas, whose church has been occupied by parishio- pages are jam- in France, the ners around the clock since December 2008. packed with Polish Ameri- With similar rulings on churches in the Allentown Dio- over 1,200 en- can Journal, cese in Pennsylvania, the Massachusetts decisions could tries richly il- and cultural signal a new Vatican policy that makes it tougher for local lustrated by elements such bishops to close and sell church buildings, said Peter Borre more than 350 as wigilia, the of the Council of Parishes, a group formed to fight church photographs. polka, and eth- closings. The product of nic foods. The But Borre warned “this is not mission accomplished,” the collabora- p u b l i c a t i o n meaning the churches will reopen for worship, but may see tive efforts of is further en- restricted use. 128 scholars, the encyclo- hanced with biographies of A diocesan spokesman refused to comment on the Vati- pedia is designed as a basic prominent Polish Americans can ruling. research tool for students, who made significant contri- The diocese can appeal the verdict. researchers and the general butions to the development And now, the bad news: public. “Every major eth- of American life and culture As reported in the January nic group has published an or the Polish American ethnic 2011 edition of the Polish encyclopedia detailing its community. To enhance its American Journal, Lacka- experiences and contribu- value, nearly all of the entries wanna, N.Y.’s St. Barbara’s tions to American society,” include one or more refer- church will come down explained editor James S. ences for readers seeking ad- later this month. The dio- Pula. “Now, for the first time, ditional information. THE DEBUTANTE PRESENTATION is a highlight of the cese offered the building for Polish Americans have their Founded in 1942, the Pol- Kosciuszko Foundation’s Annual Ball, a tradition going back $750,000, but there were no own encyclopedia to preserve ish American Historical As- more than 70 years. The young ladies are accompanied takers. It is the first church their heritage for their chil- sociation has as its goals, the by midshipmen from the Kings Point Merchant Marine to face the wrecking ball dren and grandchildren.” preservation, interpretation, Academy, as well as their personal escorts, and fathers as a result of the diocese’s Published by McFarland and dissemination of infor- This year’s Dinner and Ball will be on Saturday, April 30, “Journey in Faith & Grace,” Publishers, a commercial mation on the history and cul- 2011 in the Grand Ballroom of New York’s Waldorf Astoria. a multiyear effort that led to press specializing in refer- ture of the Polish experience Duke Basketball “Coach K,” Mike Krzyzewski, will receive the shutdown of more than ence and other historical in America. According to the this year’s medal of recognition at the cotillion. 70 worship sites in the dio- ENCLOSURE FILM, placed works, the book brings to- United States national census Young women aged 16 to 25, with a background of cese’s eight counties. over the windows on St. gether in a single volume, the- in 2000, nearly 9,000,000 scholastic achievement and community service, are in- St. Barbara’s, which Barbara’s interior during matic essays detailing Polish Americans traced their roots vited to participate. To order your application, or to pro- could seat over 1,000, was pre-demolition asbestos American participation in or- to Poland, a figure many pose a candidate, please call the Kosciuszko Foundation erected in 1930 to serve the removal, flaps in the wind ganized labor, education, eth- historians believe to be un- Development Office at (212) 734-2130 x 222, or, contact Buffalo suburb’s large Pol- around the cross over the nic organizational life, poli- derstated due to the intermar- [email protected]. ish American population. It church’s entrance. tics, religious life, and other See “PAHA,” page 4 was one of four Polish par- ishes in the city. Today, only Queen of Angels, the former St. Michael’s, is the last of those four. Nine Days That Changed the World PIASA Board “I can’t believe we got to this point. It was a beautiful Appoints New church. There will be a lot of unhappy, old-time Poles,” by Richard Poremski said Lackawanna Mayor Norman Polanski, Jr. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Executive Director Lackawanna examined the possibility of moving City For the late arrivals it was standing-room-only in the NEW YORK — At its De- Hall into the structure, but said retrofitting the building for cember meeting, the Board the city’s needs simply was too expensive. Grand Ballroom of the Em- bassy of the Republic of Po- of Directors of the Polish St. Adalbert’s Basilica on Buffalo’s East Side has been Institute of Arts & Sciences land, January 14, 2011. The PHOTO: RICHARD POREMSKI named an oratory by the Diocese of Buffalo in response to of America, appointed Dr. the Vatican Congregation of the Clergy’s decision to keep overflow of attendees were present to view the documen- Bozena Leven, Executive Di- the church open. That designation means the building can rector of the New York based be used for special events, such as baptisms, funerals, and tary “Nine Days that Changed the World,” released on April Institute to a three-year term weddings, but will no longer be allowed to hold regularly effective June 30, 2011. Dr. scheduled masses. The Buffalo Diocese paired the Basilica 5, 2010 during the year- long “30th Anniversary of Leven, is Professor of Eco- with sister East Side parishes St. John Kanty, and St. Stan- nomics, at the School of Busi- islaus (the city’s Polonian mother church), and placed them the Founding of Solidarity” celebrations and events. It ness of the College of New under the direction of Rev. Thaddeus Bocianowski, who Jersey in Ewing, N.J. She has been doing a yeoman’s job of maintaining all three. was produced by the former Speaker of the U.S. House of will succeed Dr. Thaddeus V. The Diocese also announced the consolidation of three Gromada, Professor Emeritus Representatives Newt Gin- DOCUMENTARY PRESENTED AT POLISH EMBASSY. Pic- parishes in Cheektowaga and Buffalo’s Kaisertown neigh- of European History at New grich, and his wife Callista. tured above (l. to r.) are the Honorable Newt and Mrs. Callista borhood. St. Bernard’s church on Clinton Street will close, Jersey City University, who Ambassador Robert Ku- Gingrich with Ambassador Robert Kupiecki at the Polish Em- while St. Casmir church on Cable Street will become an will be retiring at the end of piecki welcomed the guests bassy after the presentation of the documentary “Nine Days oratory, open for one weekly Mass and special occasions. June 2011. Dr. Gromada has and the paid homage to “Po- That Changed The World,” produced by the Gingrichs. The film Those two parishes will become part of Our Lady of Cze- held this position since 1991 land’s great son, Karol Woj- chronicles the closely related rise of Pope John Paul II and the stochowa parish, which is further down Clinton Street on and earlier served as PIASA’s tyla,” who later became Pope liberating Solidarity movement, which eventually resulted in the Cheektowaga side of the city line. See “PIASA ...” Page 4 See “Nine Days ...” Page 4 the fall of communism in Poland, and then in Eastern Europe. POLISH AMERICAN JOURNAL • MARCH 2011 • OUR 100th ANNIVERSARY YEAR www.polamjournal.com 2 VIEWPOINTS Maryland State Senator Insults Polish Americans Congratulations to the Sisters Here’s something for those of Mountain doesn’t fit.” of how those mountains got named you who say this country is going to Yet lawmakers from the state’s but I think if they were in my dis- of the Holy Family of Nazareth hell in a hand basket (although after mountainous western panhandle trict, I would like to have a name Founded in Rome in 1875 by England, France, Israel, Russia, Be- reading this Associated Press arti- said the bill reflects political cor- that was perhaps more scenic,” she Blessed Frances Siedliska, the Sis- larus, Ukraine, Australia, the Philip- cle, we are starting to wonder, too): rectness taken to an extreme by told AP.