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POLISH
WEEKLY - May 8, 2003
Polish American Priests Association convention;
Father Ziemba recipient of 2003 Moczyugenmba Award
The
Polish American Priests' Association held its 14th national
convention at the St. John's Center for Youth and Family in
Plymouth, Michigan, April 21-25, 2003.
The Priests' Conference for Polish Affairs of the Archdiocese
of Detroit was the host organization. They also hosted the
1993 convention.
Seventy
nine delegates from across the United States represented a
variety of Polish American priest groups. Among the delegates
were His Eminence, Adam Cardinal Maida, Archbishop of Detroit;
Most Reverend John Yanta, Bishop of Amarillo, Texas; Bishop
Thomas Wenski, Auxiliary Bishop of Miami, Florida, and Chairman
of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops Committee
on Migration; and the youngest member of the Polish American
bishops, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago
and the Delegate of Cardinal George of Chicago to the Polonia
of Chicago.
The
delegates visited the grave of Father Joseph Dbrowski
at Mt. Elliott Cemetery to pay respect to his memory on the
occasion of the Centennial of his death being observed throughout
this year. They also visited the grave of the Servant of God,
Father Solanus Casey, at the Solanus Center of St. Bonaventure
Monastery. Their tour included a visit to the oldest Polish
Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Detroit, St. Albertus,
now closed; the majestic Sweetest Heart of Mary, where they
were greeted by the peeling of the magnificent bells and organ
music; the newly, beautifully renovated St. Hyacinth's Church.
where the pastor, Father Francis Skalski, treated the delegates
to a delicious lunch; and to the Cathedral of the Blessed
Sacrament, rededicated a month ago.
Their
tour concluded at the Orchard Lake Schools, where they heard
a most informative lecture by Father John Coleman, S.J., of
Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles on the topic: "Multiculturalism
in the Catholic Church in the United States."
The
delegates enjoyed a reception and dinner that followed a concelebrated
Mass in the Shrine-Chapel of Our Lady of Orchard Lake with
Bishop Yanta as principal celebrant.
The
delegates were addressed by Mr. Edward Moskal, National President
of the Polish National Alliance and the Polish American Congress;
Mrs. Virginia Sikora, National President of the Polish Women's
Alliance of America; Mr. Robert Bielenda, National Vice-President
of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America; Mr. Timothy
Kuzma, National Secretary/Treasurer of the Polish Falcons;
Rev. Thomas Bernas, National Treasurer of the Catholic League
for Religious Assistance to Poland; Rev. G. Michael Bugarin,
National Executive Director of the Pope John Paul II Center
in Washington, D.C.
Bishop
John Swantek, immediate past Prime Bishop of the Polish National
Catholic Church, was not able to attend the convention and
address the delegates because of the death of his mother,
Elsie, in Connecticut.
Msgr.
Stanley E. Milewski, General Chairman of the 2003 PAPA convention
and master of ceremonies at the banquet, introduced the recipient
of the 2003 Father Leopold Moczygemba award with these words:
"The
culmination of the annual banquet of the PAPA convention is
the presentation of the Father Leopold Moczygemba award to
a priest in recognition of his services to Polonia. It is
named after the priest who - leaving Poland - came to the
United States to minister to the immigrants in Texas - became
the founding pastor of the first Polish parish in the United
States in Panna Maria, Texas. We are honored again to have
in our midst the current pastor of that parish, Father Wojciech
Reisch, and the immediate past pastor, Msgr. Franciszek Kurzaj.
"During
the Centennial year of the death of Father Joseph Dbrowski,
the founder of the Orchard Lake Schools, the Polish American
Priests' Association and the host organization, the Priests'
Conference for Polish Affairs of the Archdiocese of Detroit,
honor a priest who continued the dream of Father Leopold Moczygemba.
We know that the idea to establish a Polish Seminary in the
United States was Father Moczygemba's. His life of service,
dedication, perseverance, and love took its physical toll.
The idea's sculptor was Father Joseph Dbrowski, and
the torch
of guiding SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, including St.
Mary's College and St. Mary's Preparatory, was subsequently
passed on to Father Witold Buhaczkowski, then Msgr. Michael
Grupa, then Msgr. Anthony K"owo, then Msgr. Ladislaus
Krzyóosiak, Msgr. Edward Szumal, Msgr. Wallace Filipowicz.
In 1967 it passed to Father Walter J. Ziemba, who has dedicated
his 52 years of Priesthood (and a total of 59 years of presence
on the campus of the Orchard Lake Schools) to serving and
admirably representing Polonia throughout the United States,
in Poland, and at the Vatican by his 16 years of service as
member of the Board of Directors and now a member of the Advisory
Council of the Pope John Paul II Foundation in Rome.
Known
to most of you, he represents the very best of what Polish
American priests do, viz. serve the Church in whatever capacity
with a willingness and talent and dedication.
Your
Eminence, Cardinal Maida, please join our PAPA president,
Father Thomas Machalski, in presenting the prestigious 2003
Father Leopold Moczygemba award to the Rector-President-Superintendent
Emeritus of the Orchard Lake Schools, a successor to Father
Joseph Dbrowski, Father Walter J. Ziemba."
Past
recipients of the Father Leopold Moczygemba Award are: +Msgr.
Henry Moczygemba (1990), Msgr. Stanley E. Milewski (1991),
+Msgr. Martin Piasecki (1992), +Msgr. Vincent Borkowicz (1993),
+Msgr. John Wodarski (1994), +Msgr. Edward Fus (1995), Most
Rev. Thomas Wenski (1996), Rev. W"adys"aw S. Gowin,
S. Ch. (1997), Msgr. John Gabalski (1998), +Very Rev. Canon
Bernard Goebel (2000),
Rev. Boleslaus Watroba (2001), and Rev. Lawrence Bukaty (2002).
The
2004 PAPA convention will be held in Syracuse, New York, from
April 20-23.
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