Archive for the ‘Culture’ Category

Lately there has been a lot of news about the place, or rather places!, where this year’s May 3rd parade will be held. Polonia’s home in Slavic Village has for some time been getting painfully smaller and now will have to adjust to the closing of churches and schools…And then we have an unexpected development – two parades! Someone might say, „Enjoy it! That’s the way it is!” It’s not good, though, because too much of a good thing is just the same as not enough.

After much discussion it has been decided that one Polish parade will be held, in accordance with tradition, in Warszawa (that is, Slavic Village) and a second parade will be held in Parma. It’s a little absurd…unfortunately, our Polonia is not able to hide its divisions or, rather, its chronic dismemberment. The saying, „where there are two Poles, there are three parties” has not lost its significance but rather gathered strength. We might say today that where there is one Pole, there are two parades. (more…)

The first star, the beautifully decorated Christmas tree and the breaking of the bread or wafer — these are the most important symbols of Christmas for Poles. Let us explore their meanings and history. (more…)

My guest is Dr. Richard Mordarski,  Professor of Philosophy from Casimir the Great  University  in Bydgosc, Poland and a member of the editorial staff of FORUM. (more…)

We’re living longer thanks to medical science as it has been developing over the millennium. In ancient times, mankind was helpless in the face of illness and injury, especially in the case of epidemics. The Plague or Black Death of 14th Century Europe wiped out one third of the population,  while Spanish influenza in 1918 claimed approximately 50 million lives, more than lost in World War I.

It was not until the twentieth Century that we have seen major progress in the way man battles disease.   Two major discoveries helped usher in these changes – penicillin and corticosteroids.  Alexander Fleming observed that a plate with nutrients covered with bacteria set aside and forgotten for several weeks had developed a mold growth that destroyed the bacteria.  This phenomenon worthy of further investigation, lead to the discovery of antibiotics isolated from molds in1940.

(more…)

Polish-American Cultural Center in Honor of John Paul II has reached yet another milestone; in May 2009 Polish-American Cultural Center (PACC) established an organizational endowment fund at the Cleveland Foundation.  The foundation want to thank the board of directors of PACC for the trust you have placed in the foundation.

So what does this mean to PACC and its supporters?  An endowment fund is a fund set aside to generate income as well as for long-term use for the not-for-profit organization.  Having a strong and stable endowment fund is a sign that an organization is fiscally responsible and prepared for whatever the future may hold.  It can also ensure that the mission of an organization can continue in perpetuity if needed.

(more…)

I am just recovering – in time to write this article – from the 18th  National Convention of the Polish American Priests’ Association which was held here in Cleveland for first time from April 16th  -20th , 2007. We had 78 priests, one cardinal, and eight bishops in attendance gathering from around the country and from Poland and Rome, as well.

Each year, one of the Chapters which make-up our national organization host the convention. This gives our members a chance to visit the various centers of Polonia across the country. A schedule of events which includes time for convention business, visits to various sites of interest, and presentations on pertinent topics is arranged by the host chapter to help our time together not only be an enjoyable gathering, but also worthwhile and enriching one, too.
This year’s convention began on Monday evening at our convention venue, the Marriott Hotel at the Key Center in downtown Cleveland, where our opening dinner was held. Bp. Robert Carlson of Saginaw, Michigan, powerfully addressed our membership on the important theme of cultivating a culture of vocations in our communities today as has been so successfully done by Polonia in the past. No one was left unmoved by his simple yet powerful words.

(more…)

The Spring Board Meeting of The American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC) was held in Cleveland, Ohio. Members were absolutely delighted by the extensive activities and food extravaganzas, which were hosted by Ben Stefanski, President of the Polish American Cultural Center- John Paul II. Contributions were also made by Thad Cooke, founder of the Jamestown Colony of Poles in Cleveland and George Sobieraj, President of the Cleveland Society of Poles.
(more…)

My introduction to the Polish American Cultural Center came in the form of an exhibition opening.  As part of my job, coordinator of the SPACES World Artists Program at SPACES gallery, I was hosting Polish artist Roman Dziadkiewicz.  I wanted Roman to learn about Cleveland and to better understand what it means to be part of a Polish community in the United States. Also, he had been forced to speak and write in English for weeks, and we both needed some help. Roman and I were warmly welcomed to the opening of the Polish-Hungarian exhibition, documenting the relationship between the two peoples over many, many years. While Roman found solace in other Polish artists, I was moved by the openness of the Polish Center to welcome another community through its doors. (more…)

A winter walk in Warsaw. Actually, a visit to just one site, but an important one – Plac Józef Piłsudski, or Józef Piłsudski Square.

A colonnade, damaged during the war, rises from the square, a fragment of the fomer Saski Palace. An eternal flame and an honor guard of soldiers stands before it. Every Pole knows that this is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
For several years there has been a custom that young couples come here after their wedding to place their bouquets as an offering to the Unknown Soldier. Such a beautiful patriotic gesture to begin their new lives. (more…)

Łukasz Waszczuk represents the younger generation of Polonia on the Board of the Center. I met with him recently during a meeting of the Center’s sports club. Łukasz is also active in the sports group and during this meeting he reported about the club’s newest section, the ski club. Members of the group get a sixty per cent discount on their ski equipment. Because of the wide range of his activities, I asked Łukasz for an interview. I was interested in his thoughts about my recent article in the Forum on young Polonia. First he was a little angry, because they’re trying, so why write that nothing is being done for the younger generation? I quickly explained that of course the youth are trying, but that they don’t get sufficient help from us, their elders. With this, he had to agree. Of course, he mentioned our director who always helps young Polonia and he thanked him for the generally favorable attitude of the Center toward their efforts, but he has a similar opinion as mine about the theme of Polonia in Cleveland. I asked simply: What do you want Polonia to do for you?
(more…)