Once again this year Polish American Congress of Michigan held its fund raiser to help bring in needed money for the Michigan division of the PAC. Maintaining its own building in Hamtramck (since 1978) with a part time staff, providing various services to Polish immigrants, promoting our cultural heritage, protecting our group’s good name, acting as an umbrella organization for organized Polonia and serving as its voice, requires ongoing commitment by volunteers and financial support. Fund raisers and donations are the key in providing a basis for continuing the division’s mission, especially in light of the fact that 80% of PAC membership dues go to the national PAC office.   This year this event was called Pierogi Palooza II and once more itwas held at the Polish National Alliance Council 122 Banquet Hall in Hamtramck, taking place on Friday, June 2.

What was different about this year’s event was that, though there were not the long lines  with guests waiting as there were at last year’s event, participants were treated to a more varied menu of 15 varieties of pierogi from area vendors: Polish Village Café, ŚrodekCampau Quality Sausage, Bożek Meat Market, and Old World Gluten-Free (which also features vegan pierogi), and, once again, kielbasa on a bun (with or without kapusta), tasty desserts of torte or pączki(Sweet Dreams Bakery and Bartz Bakery), and of course various beverages from the bar, including Polish beers.

The crowd was entertained all evening by the Kielbasa Kings Polka Band, providing listening and dancing pleasure for young and old.Earlier, Mr. StasiuŚmigielski entertained everyoneon his accordion with beloved Polish musical selections. Two young adult area Polish folk dance groups provided added fun with suites of regional Polish folk dances – the Wawel Polish Folk Dance Ensemble and the Polanie Polish Folk Dance Ensemble.  The Polaniedancers, who are participating again this summer in the World Polish Folk Dance Festival in Rzeszow, Poland, also featured a lively and entertaining “Charleston”, which they will perform in Poland this year, representing an “American dance”.  This yearthePierogi Palooza guests came and stayed much of the evening, enjoying an authentic Polish American experience, even though food take-out was also available.Once again this year they were able to browse and purchase unique Polish souvenirs from the Polish Pride of Michigan kiosk or view interesting facts about PAC-MI, Poland, and Poloniafeatured in the Polish American Congress exhibit.Share the wealth raffle drawings and 15 attractive gift basket raffle drawings allowed a good number of guests to leave even more “enriched”.

Of course, as with any event, there were the financial sponsors, item donors, and volunteers who contributed materially as well with their time and talents.Appreciation goes out to the vendors: Carolyn Wietrzykowski; RadosławŚrodek; MichałBożek; AliciaBemiss; Sam Dahr; andthe proprietors ofBartz Bakery,who helped to provide us with delicious Polish style food. We would like to recognize and sincerely thank the others for their contributions here as well.

 

Sponsors:

Ray Okonski*

Barbara Gronet*

PNA Council 122

Polish Pride of Michigan

PAC-MI Senior Club

Polish Century Club of Detroit

Bożek Meat Market

Tadeusz and Eugenia Górecki

*Significant donations

 

Donors:

Our Lady Queen of Apostles Parish

Wawel Royal Castle Restaurant

Polish Art Center

Polish Varieties Radio

Lawrence Chominski (Polonaise Chorale)

Stella Szczesny and Tom Schemanski

Michael and Christine Wilk

MałgorzataLorelli

John Dąbrowski

Janina Furman

Rik Lapham

Donna Bielecki

Barbara Lemecha

Ann Bańkowski
Pierogi Palooza II Committee:Ann Bańkowski, Barbara Lemecha, Stella Szczesny, Barbara Gronet, Donna Bielecki, Jacqueline Kołowski, Helena Żmurkiewicz, Sebastian Szczepański

 

A big “Dziękuje” goes out to thesePP event volunteers:

Marcia Lewandowski

Henrietta Nowakowski

Krystyna Kuczara

Thomas Schemanski

Janina Stanton

Irena Bańkowska

Władysław Bańkowski

Tomasz Wolski

Stanisława Rogal

Wanda Jagłowska

Mary Ellen Tyszka

Richard Konrad

Marianna Konrad

Chester Szczotka

Nancy Szczotka

Carol Bennett

Brian Malski

Alicja Foryś

Zdzisław Foryś

Anna Huk-Glaeser

Ms. Klaudia- visitor from Poland

MirosławHałoń

Lee Merritt

Jasia Żmurkiewicz

Ola Konopka

Iza Szczepańska

Krzysztof Adamczyk

Grażyna Adamczyk

Pat Bargowski

Norbert Golembiewski

Stefan Łopacki

Stanislaw Łopacki

Andrew Pietrzak

James Kaczor

Alicja Kaczor

Danielle Miller with friend „Mo”

JurekRóżalski

 

Of course we thank all who came to Pierogi Palooza II, showed their support of Polish American

Congress of Michigan and we hope had an enjoyable Polish American experience. See you next year!

 

MORE PHOTOS FROM PIEROGI PALOOZA ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1305306042858143&id=241433862578705

 

St. Anne De Detroit Church, located near Ambassador’s Bridge in Detroit, dates back to Cadillac’s settling of Detroit in 1701, and it’s considered the second-oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish in the U.S.  The current Neo-Gothic structure, the parish’s 8th church building, dates to 1886 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

What was once Detroit’s signature French-language parish – the old school building has the name “Ecole Ste. Anne” carved into it – now has a growing, vibrant, primarily Hispanic congregation.

But once a year, for 10 days, the church becomes a site for Ethnic Novena, catered to the diverse community of Metro Detroit.

On Thursday, July 20, a Polish Novena will be held, with Fr. Ostrowski as Presider, and featuring award-winning Filarets Choir.  Knights of Columbus, Polish dance groups will also be featured.

This year the Novena will introduce a special new tradition: carrying of flags – the flag of the nation represented, the Detroit flag, the American flag, and the Vatican flag.

Refreshments will be served after the Novena at the Parish Hall.

St. Anne De Detroit Church: 1000 St Anne St, Detroit, MI 48216.  Visit www.ste-anne.org for more information.

 

JULY 18 – Ste. Anne Novena – Night 1 (Irish)

JULY 19 – Ste. Anne Novena – Night 2 (Asian)

JULY 20 – Ste. Anne Novena – Night 3 (Polish)

JULY 21 – Ste. Anne Novena – Night 4 (Albanian)

JULY 22 – Ste. Anne Novena – Night 5 (Mexican)

JULY 23 – Ste. Anne Novena – Night 6 (French)

JULY 24 – Ste. Anne Novena – Night 7 (Chaldean)

JULY 25 – Ste. Anne Novena – Night 8 (African-American)

JUL 26 – Ste. Anne Novena – Night 9

 

(seb / photo: St. Anne de Detroit Facebook Page)

On Wednesday, August 9, 2017, the Polish American Congress of Michigan (PACMI) Scholarship Fund will host its annual Fund Raiser / Dinner, during which 2017 PACMI Scholarship Recipients will be presented.  The event will take place at Krakus Restaurant in Detroit (12900 Joseph Campau).  Doors open at 5:30 pm; dinner served at 6:00 pm.  Suggested contributions: $30.00 per person (contributions in excess of $20.00 are tax deductible).  For a contribution of $250.00 or more towards the Scholarship Fund, each donor will receive a document of their contribution.

Reservations can be made by August 2, by calling 313-365-9400 or 586-751-8168.

This year, the Polish American Congress of Michigan Scholarship Fund selected nine students which will be presented with scholarships.  They are: Danielle Miller (Oakland Univeristy; major: Health Science), Ewa Sztandera (University of Detroit Mercy; major: Nursing), Hanna Gove (Grand Valley State; major: Occupational Therapy), Agnieszka Miklasewicz (Western Michigan University; major: Law), Pamela Jablonski (University of Michigan; major: Business Admnistration), Natalia Jablonski (University of Michigan; major: Nursing), Karina Cieslak (Wayne State University; major: Bio-Chemistry), Evelina Kutyma (Unviersity of Michigan; major: Public Health).

 

We invite you to join fun crowd at the new and improved Pierogi Palooza II event , Friday, June 2, 2017, at the PNA Council 122 Hall, 10211 Conant in Hamtramck, MI 48212 (guarded parking).  Good food (including many varieties of pierogi to try) and your favorite beverages (all for very reasonable prices), lively entertainment, Polish merchandise for purchase, raffles, Polish heritage displays, and a true Polish American experience are all guaranteed from 4:00 pm to midnight. $2.00 gets you in with food and beverage options to purchase.  This is a FUNDRAISER for Polish American Congress Michigan, which is the umbrella organization of Polonia serving the Polish American community for over 70 years.  We were happy to host so many of you at last year’s successful event and hope to see you back this year.  Everyone is Welcome! Come Hungry and Bring your Dancing Shoes!  Feel free to share it with your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.  See you on June 2!

 

 

For more information, please call 313-365-9400.

 

HAMTRAMCK, MI – Kongres Polonii Amerykańskiej wydział na stan Michigan zaprasza na uroczystą Mszę św. ku pamięci ofiar masakry katyńskiej oraz katastrofy smoleńskiej.

Msza św. odbędzie się w niedzielę, 9 kwietnia, o godzinie 6:00 wieczorem w kościele św. Faustyny w Warren (14025 E. 12 Mile Road).

Msza św. uczci siódmą rocznicę katastrofy lotniczej, do której doszło w Smoleńsku w sobotę, 10 kwietnia 2010 roku.  Zginęło w niej 96 osób, wśród nich m.in.: prezydent RP Lech Kaczyński z małżonką, ostatni prezydent RP na uchodźstwie Ryszard Kaczorowski, wicemarszałkowie Sejmu i Senatu, grupa parlamentarzystów, dowódcy wszystkich rodzajów Sił Zbrojnych RP, szefowie instytucji państwowych, duchowni, przedstawiciele ministerstw, organizacji kombatanckich i społecznych.  Była to druga pod względem liczby ofiar katastrofa w historii polskiego lotnictwa i największa pod względem liczby ofiar katastrofa w dziejach polskich Sił Powietrznych.  Katastrofy nie przeżyła żadna z osób obecnych na pokładzie.

Msza św. uczci także ofiary zbrodni katyńskiej, której w 1940 roku dopuściła się radziecka policja polityczna NKWD.  Na mocy decyzji najwyższych władz Związku Socjalistycznych Republik Radzieckich NKWD rozstrzelała co najmniej 21 tysięcy obywateli Polski, w tym ponad 10 tysięcy oficerów wojska polskiego, których uznano za „wrogów władzy sowieckiej”.  Zabito ich strzałami w tył głowy.  W latach 1940–1990 władze ZSRR zaprzeczały swojej odpowiedzialności za zbrodnię katyńską, lecz 13 kwietnia 1990 roku oficjalnie przyznały, że była to „jedna z ciężkich zbrodni stalinizmu”.

Zapraszamy całą patriotyczną Polonię na tę ważną, uroczystą Mszę św.

HAMTRAMCK, MI – Michigański Wydział Kongresu Polonii Amerykańskiej (KPA) informuje, iż w soboty, w godzinach 10 am – 12:00 pm, w siedzibie KPA w Hamtramck organizowane są DYŻURY PRAWNICZE, w trakcie których współpracujący z KPA prawnicy oferują darmowe konsultacje prawne.

 

W najbliższych tygodniach dyżurować będą:

Sobota, 25 marca – Matt Wozniak

Sobota, 1 kwietnia – Annette Raczkowski

 

Aby umówić się na spotkanie z prawnikiem sugerujemy wcześniej zarejestrować się (choć nie jest to konieczne) dzwoniąc do biura KPA na numer telefonu 313-365-9400.  Siedziba KPA mieści się przy 11333 Joseph Campau w Hamtramck, MI.

HAMTRAMCK, MI – Anna Bańkowska was elected the President of the Polish American Congress Michigan Division (PAC-MI) at the annual membership meeting on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the PNA Hall in Hamtramck.

Bańkowska was the only nominated candidate for the position of PAC-MI President.  It will be her second term as the leader of the Michigan Division of the Polish American Congress.

Bańkowska is following in the footsteps of her father, Kazimierz Olejarczyk, who passed away three year ago.  Mr. Olejarczyk devoted his entire adult life to Polish American Congress (for 16 years her served as the President of the organization).

The election of officers and board members was conducted by the Nominating Committee led by Hon. Judge John Chmura.

Barbara Lemecha was re-elected Executive Vice President, while Barbara Gronet and Christopher Adamczyk were once again elected as Vice President for American and Polish Affairs. Tomasz Wolski will again serve as the Treasurer.

Anna Huk-Glaeser was elected Recording Secretary (for Board Meeting) and Donna Bielecki will assume the position of the Recording Secretary (for Membership Meetings). Jolanta Bujny will serve as the Corresponding Secretary.

Jerzy Rozalski, Zdzislaw Jurek and Henrietta Nowakowski (with Barbara Lemecha as alternate) were elected as National Directors.

18 members were elected State Directors. They are: Wladyslaw Bankowski, Joan Baritche, Janusz Dabrowski, Frank Dmuchowski, Chester Szczotka, Stanislawa Jakobek, Richard Lapham, Jerzy Rozalski, Alicja Karlic, Thomas Schemanski, Stella Szczesny, Mary Ellen Tyszka, Miroslaw Wawrysz, Richard Konrad, Joseph Kalankiewicz, Gena Jurek, Marcia Lewandowski and Stefan Zmuda.

The individuals elected to the Audit Committee include Waldemar Raczkowski, Edward Nizienski and Richard Lapham.

The newly elected Officers and members of the Board will officially take their positions on Saturday, April 8, during the swearing-in ceremony at the PNA Hall in Hamtramck. The event, which starts at 1:00 pm, will also include a delicious dinner and a presentation of PAC Awards.  The PAC will honor organizations marking significant anniversaries and individuals that contribute to Detroit’s Polish American community.  The awards will be presented to the Polish Falcons of America Nest 31, Our Lady Queen of Apostles Parish, Friends of Polish Art, Polish Century Club of Detroit, Polish American Veterans Association District VI, Saint John Paul II Polish Language School, Rev. Jozef Dabrowski Polish Language School, Klub Polonia, Stan’s Grocery, Jolanta Gmurowska, Carolyn Wietrzykowski and Ludwik Zabicki.

Tickets for the Installation of Ceremony and Award Ceremony ($40) can be reserved by calling PAC office: 313-365-9400.

The February edition of the National Polish American Congress newsletter featured a story about activities of our Division.  This time, we submitted a story about our planned events commemorating the bicentennial anniversary of the death of Tadeusz Kosciuszko.  Click on the link below to read the story (and to read many other interesting articles featured in the newsletter).

http://www.pac1944.org/NewsLet/PAC-NL-1702.pdf

The exhibition “Pride of Poland” will be on display at the American Polish Cultural Center (2975 E. Maple Road, Troy, MI 48083) on Saturday, February 11, 2017 (during the annual Polish Folk Dance Festival).

The exhibit, created by the Grand Rapids Polish Heritage Society, celebrates Poland’s historical, scientific, military, cultural and sports contributions to America and the world, including:

• winged warriors who routed the Turkish invaders at Vienna
• the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win the prize twice, in two different sciences
• fliers and aircrews that defended England in the Battle of Britain
• the brilliant mathematicians who broke the Nazi Enigma system
• famous Polish American sports and entertainment figures

Learn much more about Poland, its history and its influence by visiting the “Pride of Poland” Exhibit in the east hallway of the American Polish Cultural Center.