Naród Polski Bi-lingual Publication of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America A Fraternal Benefit Society Safeguarding Your Future with Life Insurance & Annuities April 2016 - Kwiecień 2016 No. 4 - Vol. CXXXI www.PRCUA.org Zapraszamy PULASKI DAY CELEBRATION do czytania “I came here where freedom is being defended, to serve it and live or die for it.” stron 15-20 w j`zyku polskim. Have you recently reviewed PRCUA's competitive product portfolio? Mirosława Sojka-Topor singing the National Anthems Wreath-laying (l-r) Geraldine Balut Coleman, R. P. Consul Robert Rusiecki, PRCUA Pres. Joseph A. Drobot, Jr., Rosalie Lindberg Chicago, IL - When writing the famous words, cited above, -Traditional Whole Life to George Washington, Pulaski didn’t know that at the age of Drobot, Jr. took turns introducing the speakers. Among the 34, he would pay for his beliefs with his life and that he would speakers were: Hon. Robert Rusiecki, Consul of the Republic - Single Pay Whole Life be named the “Father of the American Cavalry.” of Poland in Chicago; Hon. Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of the City Once again the memory and the heroism of General of Chicago; Hon. Bob Dold, U.S. Representative, 10 Dist. (IL); Michael Frerichs, State of Illinois Treasurer, Hon. Maria - 5, 10, 15 and 20 Pay Casimir Pulaski was honored at the official Pulaski Day Celebration and wreath-laying ceremony on Monday, March 7, Pappas, Cook Country Treasurer; Hon. Leslie Geisler Munger, Whole Life 2016. The event was hosted by the Polish Museum of America State of Illinois Comptroller; Hon. Toni Preckwinkle, President and the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America at the PMA’s of the Cook County Board; Hon. Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the - 10, 15, 20 and 30 Year Sabina P. Logisz Great Hall in Chicago, IL, which was filled to Circuit Court of Cook County; Hon. Kurt Summers, City of Renewable Level Term capacity with patriotic Polish Americans and guests. Chicago Treasurer; Hon. Susana Mendoza, City Clerk of The program began with PMA Managing Director Chicago; Hon. Timothy Evans, Chief Judge of the Circuit - Non-Qualified and Malgorzata Kot welcoming representatives of all levels of Court of Cook County; Hon. Aurelia Pucinski, Illinois Qualified Annuities national, state, county and city government, as well as other Appellate Court Judge; Frank Spula, President of the Polish with 2.0% APY distinguished guests. The Polish and American National American Congress and Polish National Alliance; and Hon. Anthems were led by Mirosława Sojka-Topor, accompanied on Ariel Reboyras, Alderman, 30th Ward Chicago. the piano by Luciano Laurentiu. This was followed by an Although State of Illinois Governor Hon. Bruce Rauner Invocation given by His Excellency Andrew P. Wypych, was unable to attend, he sent a Proclamation which was read Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago. by PRCUA Vice President Micheline Jaminski. Also unable to PMA Historian Jan Lorys gave a brief introduction on the attend were U.S. Senator Mark Kirk and U.S. Representative, history of Polish and American military cooperation and the 5th Dist. (IL) Michael Quigley, who both sent letters that were Partnership for Peace Program aimed at creating a bilateral read by representatives from their offices. relationship between NATO and the European countries. All guest speakers emphasized Pulaski’s courage, heroism Masters of Ceremonies PMA President Richard Owsiany and dedication to the ideals of freedom. and PRCUA President and PMA Board Chairman Joseph A. Consul Robert Rusiecki contemplated (Continued on pg. 8) 1,050th Anniversary of Christianization of Poland PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT CHICAGO, IL The year 2016 marks the 1050th anniversary of the Baptism of the East who adopted Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Subsequently, Poland (Chrzest Polski), the personal Baptism of Mieszko I - the first by adopting Catholicism from the West, through Czech mediation, historical ruler of Poland - followed by the baptism of the Polish Poland also adopted Latin liturgical traditions and the Latin people and the Christianization of the land. According to the early alphabet. It also brought to Poland Latin church architecture, Medieval chronicle (Rocznik Kapituły Krakowskiej), the ceremony Roman law, education and the internal reforms such as the took place on Holy Saturday, April 14, 966. The location of this organization of the Church, an administrative system and significant event is disputed by historians who suggest that the diplomacy. most likely sites would have been: Gniezno, Poznań, Ostrów At the time of Mieszko’s Baptism, the Piasts ruled over the Lednicki in Poland, Regensburg or Cologne in Germany, and Rome regions of Wielkopolska (West Central Poland), Kuyavia (North in Italy. Central Poland) and parts of Mazovia (Mid-Northeastern Poland). Before the adoption of Christianity, Poland was a pagan Their rulership later spread to other areas, and by the year 992 it country, inhabited by several Slavic tribes, most of whom included Silesia (Southwestern Poland), Malopolska (South Central worshiped the pagan god Svetovid. Poland) and Pomerania (Northwestern Poland). Mieszko I was the son of Siemomysł, a ruler of the Piast In 1966, Poland celebrated its 1,000th Anniversary of dynasty, a family belonging to the Slavic tribe of Polans (aka Christianity with large festivities - both religious, celebrated by the Polanie). Polans occupied most of Wielkopolska (Greater Poland), Church, and secular, celebrated by the State - under the slogan “A and the town of Gniezno was probably their family seat. Thousand Years of the Polish Nation” (Tysiąclecie Państwa Polskiego.) Mieszko’s Baptism was influenced by his wife, Dobrava of The millenium of Polish Christianity was also celebrated in Bohemia, a Czech princess and zealous Christian. Through the many cities in the United States. In Chicago, numerous events were Christianization of Poland, Mieszko hoped to unite the tribes of organized, including the main celebration of a solemn Mass, Poland, strenghten his authority as a ruler, and protect Poland’s celebrated by Most Rev. John P. Cody, Archbishop of Chicago at western border from the German Holy Roman Empire, which could Soldiers Field Stadium on August 28, 1966. no longer use Christianization as a motive for attacking the Poles. This year, Chicagoland Polish-Americans will commemorate PERIODICAL POSTAGE The Christianization of Poland enabled Poland to become part the 1,050th Anniversary of the Christianization of Poland with the PAID AT CHICAGO, IL of the Western Latin civilization, as compared with the Russians to main events organized on August 28, 2016 in Merrillville, Indiana. Page 2 Naród Polski April, 2016 8 WYANDOTTE, MI – SOC. #162 MOTHER’S DAY BREAKFAST BUFFET on Sun., May 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at PRCUA Hall, 1430 Oak St., Wyandotte, CalendarCalendar ofof MI. (See details on pg. 13.) 14 DETROIT, MI – JOIN HANDS DAY on Sat., PRCUA Events May 14 at St. Albertus Church, 4231 St. Aubin St., Detroit, PRCUA Events MI. For information, call Dir. Tom Lisiecki 586-795-8901. 14 WILLOW SPRINGS, IL – MARIA KONOPNICKA POLISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL GRADUATION MASS FOR SENIORS AND 8th ______________________APRIL GRADERS on Sat., May 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Cistercian Father’s Our Lady Mother of the Church, 8191 Archer Ave., 1 WYANDOTTE, MI – SOC. #162 TRIBUTE ARTIST DINNER SHOW (Neil Diamond, Roy Willow Spring, IL. Orbison, Johnny Cash) on Fri., April 1 at PRCUA Banquet Hall, 1430 Oak Street Wyandotte, Ml. Doors Open at 6:30 p.m, Buffet Dinner at 7:00 p.m., Show Time 8:15-10:45 p.m. (See details on page 4.) 15 LEMONT, IL – JOHN PAUL II POLISH SCHOOL 8th GRADE GRADUATION BANQUET 3 DARIEN, IL – PRCUA ŚWIĘCONKA Hosted by PRCUA District #8 on Sun., April 3 at Alpine on Sun., May 15 at Crystal Banquets, 12416 Archer Ave, Banquets, Darien, IL. (See details on page 4.) Lemont, IL. 3 LEMONT, IL – JOHN PAUL II POLISH SCHOOL AND POLANIE DANCERS ŚWIĘCONKA 20 DETROIT, MI – 46th ANNUAL POLISH on Sun., April 3 at 8:30 a.m. Mass at SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, 608 Sobieski St., Lemont, IL. Program and AMERICAN NIGHT AT COMERICA PARK on Fri., refreshments to follow in School Gym. May 20 at Comerica Park Stadium, Detroit, MI. Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays. (See details on page 14.) 8-10 WYANDOTTE, MI – NATIONAL PRCUA BOWLING TOURNAMENT, Fri.-Sun. April 8-10 at Taylor Lanes, Taylor, MI. (See details on page 11.) 20 LEMONT, IL – JOHN PAUL II POLISH SCHOOL AND POLANIE DANCERS END-OF- 10 DETROIT, MI – BLESSING OF THE PRCUA DANCE SCHOOLS on Sun., April 10 at St. SCHOOL PROGRAM on Fri., May 20 at SS. Cyril and Hyacinth Church, 3151 Farnsworth St., Detroit, MI. Methodius Gym, 608 Sobieski St, Lemont, IL. 10 CHICAGO, IL – CELEBRATE POLAND AT NAVY PIER (See details on page 3.) 21 MUNSTER, IN – KALINOWSKI POLISH SCHOOL MASS on Sun., May 21, at 9:15 a.m. at 16 ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI – PRCUA OPOLE DANCE RECITAL on Sat., April 16 at 3:00 p.m. at Carmelite Fathers Monastery, 1628 Ridge Rd., Munster, IN. South Lake High School, 21100 E. 9 Mile Road, St. Clair Shores, MI. Tickets available at the door. 21 DEARBORN HTS., MI – SOCIETY #718 16 DEARBORN HTS., MI – PRCUA SYRENA DANCE RECITAL on Sat. April 16, at 2016 Carl E. VERSUS SOCIETY #162 RYDER CUP GOLF on Sat., Stitt Post #232, 23850 Military Rd,. Dearborn Heights, MI; doors open at 2:30 p.m. show starts at 3:00 p.m. May 21 at Warren Valley Golf Course, Dearborn Hts., MI. Tickets: Adults $20.00 includes dinner and show; Children age 6-20 $15.00 includes dinner and show; Children Afterglow at Randy’s Bar & Grille, Hosted by St. Stan’s under 5 are free. Recital only $10.00.