December 2020 Nato & the Ceec Pg
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commemorating poland’s independence day Pg. 2 ■ commemoration of poland's independence in nj Pg. 3 ■ important info from pac – wisconsin division Pg. 4 ■ December 2020 nato & the ceec Pg. 5 ■ led by god’s providence Pg. 6 ■ polish news bytes Pg. 7 ■ polish american heritage month in erie county Pg. 8 ■ ignacy jan paderewski Pg. 9 ■ explore our polish heritage Pg. 10 ■ the breaking of the oplatek Pg. 13 ■ paaos virtual event Pg. 14 ■ from the bookshelf Pg. 15 Polish American Congress Volume 7, Number 6 Your in America!Voice DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSIONS Future PAC Newsletters will be sent out: Deadline for submission Publication date Friday, February 5, 2021 Friday, February 12, 2021 Friday, April 2, 2021 Friday, April 9, 2021 Friday, June 4, 2021 Friday, June 11, 2021 “Your Voice in America” is a bimonthly newsletter published by the Polish American Congress. The purpose of the newsletter is to offer PAC National Directors and PAC Executive Committee members the opportunity to share Dear Directors of the Polish American Congress, news and information about their state divisions and offices. The newsletter does not receive funds from any external I would like to wish you and your loved ones a Merry and source. The editor is Dr. Mark Pienkos. Healthy Christmas Holiday. This year has given us more challenges than we ever imagined. Let’s hope for a better 2021! Articles should be between 100 and 400 words. Some editing will be done to match our style guidelines and spatial constraints, As part of the New Year, I would like us all to bolster our as well as correcting grammatical errors. We do not send initiatives to increase and sustain political participation within proofs for approval. When sending photos, please include the Polish American Community. When reaching out to your communities, captions with names, official titles. All submitted materials become the property of the Polish American Congress and remind your members of the many ways they can participate in the political may be used to promote the mission of the PAC. Materials process in addition to voting. Things like participating in town hall meetings, will not be returned unless requested. keeping in touch with local representatives, attending community events, and even just having a conversation with your neighbors to build upon community All articles are due according to this schedule. Send your bonds, are just some of the many ways people can have their voices heard in submissions to PAC National VP for Public Relations, Mark government. Please be sure to encourage your members to run for office if Pienkos at [email protected]. they are interested in doing so! With the participation of a large and mobilized citizenry, Polish Americans will be able to have a much bigger impact on decisions made in domestic matters. I would like us to increase our focus on Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Polish-American-Congress legislation concerning domestic issues as well. Continued on next page... Your Voice in America ■ Polish American Congress Starting in January 2021, we will begin working with the Biden We work tirelessly on behalf of the Polish American communities Administration. As an organization, we need to establish at least that we live in. one political action committee in every state where we have a Polish American Congress Division. Please continue to advocate the need The legacy of this work will remain long after we leave this Earth. I to repeal the NATO-Russia Funding Act, which will permit NATO know that no words can describe how difficult this year has been. to establish permanent bases in Poland. Thank you for all of your hard work. I extend my deepest condolences to those of you who have lost loved ones to this pandemic. A note of appreciation to Mr. Mark Pienkos for his contributions to the Polish American Congress as the National Vice President Once again, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a healthy, Happy of Public Relations, and for publishing a total of 37 editions of the New Year. PAC Newsletter. Sincerely, I welcome your thoughts on all of the above, as well as any other concerns you have. When things get overwhelming, take a moment to remember why you work so hard. Our mission in the Polish Frank J. Spula, President American Congress is to serve something bigger than ourselves. COMMEMORATING POLAND’S INDEPENDENCE DAY Independence Day Written by Bozenna A. Buda, Director PAC – Washington Metropolitan Area Division Independence Day On November 8, 2020, we commemorated Poland’s Independence Day at Our Lady Queen of Poland (OLQP) Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland. The Polish American Congress Washington Metro IndependenceArea Day Division (PAC-WMAD) requested the Holy Mass which was celebrated by Fr. Jerzy Frydrych, S.Chr., Pastor of OLQP Parish.Independence The OLQP Knights Day of Columbus St. Maximilian Kolbe Council 16634 provided the honor guard. Attending Independence this special event were the DeputyDay Attaché from Independence Day the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and representatives of the Polish Legion of American Veterans (PLAV) and the Polish Scouting Organization ZHP USA, as well as PAC-WMAD. In his homily, Fr. Frydrych talked about Poland’s heritage and history. He noted the struggles and sacrifices of our predecessors. Faith and hope sustained them and now it is our turn to continue their legacy. He recalled Pope St. John Paul II’s first Apostolic visit to Poland in 1979, and quoted from his homilies in both Krakow and Warsaw, St. John Paull II stated: Some of the representatives who were in attendance at the Holy Mass “My fellow-countrymen, with the greatest warmth I again give thanks, commemorating Poland’s Independence Day on Nov. 8, 2020, at Our together with you, for the gift of having been baptized more than a Lady Queen of Poland Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland. thousand years ago…So, before going away, I beg you once again to (L-R): Thaddeus Mirecki (PAC-WMAD-President), Andy Michaels (K of accept the whole of the spiritual legacy which goes Someby the ofname the of representatives who attended the Holy Mass commemorating Poland’s Some of the representativesC Council 16634), who Dr. Edwardaattended Buda-Okreglak the Holy (PLAV; Mass PAC-WMAD), commemorating Poland’s ‘Poland’, with the faith, hope and charity that ChristIndependence poured into us Day on Nov. 8, 2020, at Our Lady Queen of Poland Parish in Silver Richard Okreglak (PLAV; K of C Council 16634; PAC-WMAD), Stefan at our Holy Baptism.” IndependenceSpring, Maryland Day (Lon-R) Nov.: Thaddeus 8, 2020, Mirecki at (PACOur- WMADLady -President),Queen of Andy Poland Michaels Parish (K in Silver Witczak (K of C Council 16634), OLQP Pastor Fr. 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