Saint Adalbert Basilica will have a Feast Day Mass for its patron saint along with the Am-Pol Eagle’s Citizens of the Year award presentations on Saturday, 04/27 at 5:30 at the basilica.
The Mass will also be highlighted by the singing of Brittany Mruczek.
Click on images above to view the Am-Pol Eagle’s or Dyngus Day Buffalo’s Dyngus Day guides.
(Carl L. Bucki, Am-Pol Eagle) In its June edition, the Western New York Catholic reported the suspension of activities at St. Ann’s Church in Buffalo, due to dangerous conditions caused by deterioration and damage to the building’s structure. This sad news leads me to reflect upon the interesting relationship that the parish maintained with the Polish community of Western New York.
Catholic parishes are classified as either national or territorial. A national parish is generally established to serve the members of a particular ethnic group, whereas a territorial parish is defined by its geographic boundaries. Thus, it is possible that a national parish may operate within the area of a territorial parish.
In its edition for April 14, 1904, The Catholic Union and Times reported that, “the area covered by St. Ann’s Parish extends from Jefferson Street to Bailey Avenue, and from Howard Street to Sycamore Street.” Simultaneously, however, within those same geographic boundaries, there existed five national parishes dedicated to serve the city’s Polish community: St. Stanislaus, St. Adalbert, St. John Kanty, Transfiguration, and Corpus Christi. Therefore, at the beginning of the 20th century, one could truthfully say that the heart of Buffalo’s Polish community was located within the territorial limits of St. Ann’s Parish.
(By Robert Strybel) WARSAW – The facts, figures and data presented below have been compiled for your information, edification and enjoyment. But in some cases much more mileage could be squeezed out of them than just satisfying someone’s curiosity. They are a treasure trove of ideas for private online exploration (Googling) as well as school essays in history, geography, social studies or English composition. They can also serve as the basis of a change-of-pace contest at Pol-Am community events or even family gatherings and meet-ups with friends. Look through the list and see how many of these items you are already familiar with:
(By Bob Pacholski) The Lincoln Field House, located at the foot of Quincy Street in the St. John Kanty Parish neighborhood on Buffalo’s East Side, will celebrate its 100th birthday with special activities from 1 to 6 p.m. on Mon. July 11.
Activities will include 3 on 3 basketball, teeball, music, special activities and food as the historic field house will mark 100 years of service to the once heavily Polish-American St. John Kanty area. Alums of the field house programs are invited to participate in the 3 on 3 basketball age group division action and can register by calling Judy Ramirez at 856-5069.
Thank you Greg Witul for the photos!!!
The Am-Pol Eagle’s Citizens of the Year ceremony took place on Saturday, 04/21 at the historic basilica along with a Mass honoring all the recipients and celebrating Saint Adalbert’s feast day.
This is a great opportunity to worship in one of Broadway-Fillmore’s beautiful churches and support the basilica.
Saint Adalbert Basilica will also be honoring the Am-Pol Eagle Citizens of the Year during the Mass.
(By Jaroslaw K. Radomski) Even the weather was a great help on Sunday afternoon, Oct.23, the day of a unique celebration commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the election of Polish cardinal Karol Jozef Wojtyla as the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Students, parishioners of various Polish parishes, members of numerous Polonian organizations, veterans and representatives of local government filled St. Stanislaus Church – “Mother Church of Polonia in Buffalo.”
The song “Gaude Mater Polonia” echoed in the beautifully decorated church when the proud procession of students from Polish Saturday School, members of the Polish Heritage Dancers, dressed in amazing Polish regional costumes, members of the St. Stanislaus Parish Council and the Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo – Edward. U. Kmiec assisted by numerous priests followed the cross.
The main celebrant of the Mass – Bishop Kmiec welcomed all gathered with Polish words “Niech bedzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus.” He reminded the congregation of the great day of the elevation of Cardinal Wojtyla who became Pope John Paul II, “the shepherd for the world,” and the aim of the celebration: prayers for the Holy Father and all of Polonia.
(Kate Cline • 10/19/11) The copper domed peaks of Corpus Christi Church stand unassailable against Buffalo’s East Side. The commanding architecture combined with the church’s poignant history makes it a hauntingly magnificent Buffalo landmark. In an effort to preserve this beauty, Corpus Christi has recently become the scene of a major restoration project. Efforts to preserve the interior of the church began last March and phase two of the project has commenced this month, just in time for the National Preservation Conference taking place in Buffalo from Oct. 16 to Oct. 20.
Aside from architectural and structural repairs, Corpus Christi Church is restoring the rendering of Raphael Santi’s Disputa, the mural in the sanctuary apse. The mural, painted by Marion Rzeznik, in collaboration with Gonippo Raggi depicts the Church’s theologians and mystics trying to plumb the mysteries of the Eucharist.
The painting has suffered damages due to changes in the atmosphere. “It is the fact that the atmospheric conditions, the heat and cold and changes in climate in the building had really taken its toll,” said Henry Swiatek of Corpus Christi Church.
(Michael Mroziak • Wed, Oct 05, 2011) Western New York is preparing to host thousands of visitors who will come to see some of the Buffalo area’s historic and cultural gems. Corpus Christi Church, one of local Polonia’s cherished sites, will be among those on the schedule.
Beginning Wed., Oct. 19, Buffalo is hosting the National Preservation Conference, sponsored by the Washington D.C. based National Trust for Historic Preservation. The four-day event is the organization’s 65th annual conference but the first to be hosted in Buffalo.
“I feel that this conference is like Buffalo’s debutante party,” said Chuck LaChiusa, chairman of the Sacred Spaces Reborn bus tour that will be conducted as part of the conference. “Buffalo is being introduced to the country in terms of its great Victorian and early 20th century architecture.”
Visitors will have a lot of local architectural beauty on which to feast their eyes. It’s not just about the beauty preserved at these sites. More importantly, visitors will learn lessons about how many of these buildings remain relevant.
The spirit, prayers and faith of the parishioners and friends of St. Adalbert Basilica was evident on Sun., Sept. 18 during the celebration of the parish’s 125th anniversary. The faithful focused on the “beauty” of the service and the recollection of the long history of the East Side parish.
Afterwards over 300 people attended a reception at Millennium Airport, Cheektowaga. There they were greeted with an exhibit of old class photos and historic pictures from the parish’s past.
Lori Dinero, a parish trustee, said “It was beautiful. What was beautiful about it was the focus on love and faith the people of St. Adalbert have had through the years. And, it was a celebration of that.”
William and Alfreda Wasik, former parishioners married 70 years, attended the event. Their two children attended school at St. Adalbert’s.
Alfreda said of the anniversary Mass, “It was very beautiful, very sweet. The Chopin choir sang very beautifully. It’s a shame it’s going to close.” Alfreda was a member of the Mother’s Club and remembers the nuns as being “very nice.”
William said the anniversary celebration was “well planned.” He was a member of the Holy Name Society and was active in Boy Scouts at the parish. He remembered all the societies being very active. He also recalled Fr. Joseph Bialek as being “very helpful, active, and pleasant.” And, he added, “He was very outspoken.”
Irene Kupinski, an active parishioner, said, “The service was just beautiful and I think God heard us. He gave us a last hurrah.”
Her connection with the parish goes back to her grandmother who settled on Rother St. when there was just a wooden church at the site. She noted that a century ago her grandmother was there at the beginning of the parish and a century later she was there fighting to keep it open.
(click on image for full view)
Michael Mroziak • Wed, Aug 24, 2011: Andy Golebiowski is not one to just sit back. If there’s a need or want in the local Polish community, and no one seems to be acting or leading, he might just take the reins. Not letting the many tales Polonia has to tell fade away is what motivates Golebiowski. He does not actively seek rewards for his work, but this year has earned the honor of Polish American of the Year by the Buffalo Bisons baseball team, which presented him with his award in a pregame ceremony at the Bisons’ annual Polish Festival Night earlier this month.
He likens getting involved with Polish related projects to jumping into a fast moving river and going along with the flow. Born in Buffalo’s East Side to two Polish immigrants who arrived in the United States after World War II, Golebiowski’s lifestyle as an active community participant is just as much a part of his blood as his Polish background.
“My mother has been an organizer of Polish things in Buffalo for a long time,” said Golebiowski. “She was a very active person, was involved with running the Polish Saturday School, and always running some kind of campaign or event or something like that, so I think I picked that up.”