10 June - Last Journal Entry - Aboard LOT Flight 1

We went to Poland with a lot of recent Orchard Lake baggage including naysayers and some concern and apprehension of how we might be received. Would anyone be interested? Who would want to partner with The Polish Mission? Arriving at the beginning of strawberry season and stopping a several roadside stands to purchase the fresh berries, put in a better frame of mind. We left Poland as the cherries were coming into season which seemed to be a harbinger of success for The Polish Mission visit.

Now we know we presented Orchard Lake,The Polish Mission,Michigan Polonia,and ourselves to top government officials and explained the situation so well that we can say that each host greeted us as a fresh and enthusiastic new voice of Polonia. They said they have been waiting for a team with creativity,honesty,and a strong program. We pray that Fr. Dąbrowski is be proud of our efforts to bring his beliefs of Polish heritage, American citizenship, and faith into the 21st century.

As we met with a broad spectrum of leaders: Poland’s First Lady, university professors, ministers of culture and foreign affairs, church leaders, national museums directors, villagers, families and friends, we were treated with professionalism and respect. Each official indicated a place where they can fit into our program. As we prepare for 100th year of the campus and 125 years of the seminary we take Fr. Dąbrowski’s vision and these connections to advance his focus of Polish, American and Catholic culture. The ministers thanked Chancellor Whalen for sending a well prepared and professional team.

The meetings would not have happened without private advocates in the church, communities, and government. Ceil Wendt Jensen and Marcin Chumiecki’s months of preparation and grant writing resulted in this favorable reception and support for The Polish Mission’s programs. These partnerships will allow them to bring a new level of content and professionalism to The Polish Mission.

The team would like to thank the Executive Committee of Msgr. Charles Kosanke,Rev. James K. Mazurek, James Glowacki, and Chancellor Rev. Timothy F. Whalen for their support. It was encouraging to meet with Karen Majewski’s academic circle in Poland as they expressed their admiration for her scholastic work in the past and look forward to working with her in her new capacity as The Polish Mission's Archivist. Fr. Stanislaw Flis,the Liturgical Center director, is already taking an advanced program in Poland to expand his work. The Polish Mission is a team, composed of Karen Majewski, Cecile Wendt Jensen and Fr. Flis, under the management of Marcin Chumiecki who is guiding The Polish Mission in the 21st century. Marcin was proud to use his Polish advocates to promote such a professional team of dedicated people.

9 June - Artur Kozlowski, Senate leader and Director

We were honored to meet with Artur Kozlowski, Senate leader and Director of the Polonia Office in the Senate Chancellery who manages the largest budget of Polonia. The poster on his wall was a good omen of the cordial meeting. He asked for an overview of the Fr.Nir situation sensing we would give him the full and true story.
We discussed the strikes currently erupted in Polish schools in Poland. He spoke about possible Polish government support and asked questions about updating and revamping the Fr. Dąbrowski School curriculum which would award a certificate via the Polish Ministry of Education.
He gave us a copy of the Polish Senate’s resolutions in regard to Polonia for 2009-2011. He encouraged us to submit a plan that demonstrates our capacity to help them deliver their goals. He suggested that we were already on the path to programs with them.

9 June - Government Complex

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The final day of visits began with a security check and a stop to obtain documents to enter the government buildings and offices. We presented the Minister of Foreign Affairs with a letter of introduction from Chancellor Whalen. They asked personal questions regarding our backgrounds using the materials his staff had researched. We were verified and passed the high level government security as legitimate representatives of Polonia.
We first met with his assistant and explained the status of The Polish Mission. The Minister asked in particular for a written statement of our programs and ideas on how his office could participate in our 1 September 1939 event after Ceil presented the Michigan Humanities Council Grant. He was interested since it would be one government working with another. The Michigan Humanities Council is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
He asked for a full description and expresses his willingness of participation. He represents the Polish Foreign Office and usually works via his offices in the Embassy in the US and consulate. When he receives a written invitation via the Washington office, he will send a representative to the Orchard Lake campus to explore future programs and collaboration.
Marcin presented the campus location as a destination for Polish and North American government meetings citing our proximity to an international airport, the Canadian border, and Midwestern Polish communities.

8 June - Muzeum Wojska Polskiego

Military Museum
Walked via Nowy Świat to the Military Museum to meet with Prof. dr hab. Janusz Cisek. As we waited for him we noted that a Communist era security aid was still being used - each door was secured with sealing wax and string (we noted that the Senate used plastic tethers coded with digital chips).
We found we have a common project with Dr.Cisek- oral histories of the Children in Exile. We explained our oral history project funded by the Michigan Humanities Grant which guidance from Dr. William Smith of the Walter Reuther Library at Wayne State University.
Dr.Cisek offered to send several military exhibits that have been well received in Poland.
He presented us with a signed copy of his book and copies of "Golden Eagle, Silver Eagle" the story of U.S. and Polish collaboration during World War II.
Afterward, Marcin met for a late dinner with the representative of the Ministry of Culture to report the success of the day’s visits.

8 June - Muzeum Historii Polski

Monday was the highly anticipated visit with the assistant director of the Muzeum Historii Polski / Museum of Polish History Dariusz Barański and Małgorzata Żaryn, education director. Theirs is a relatively new museum,established by the Ministry for Culture and National Heritage on May 2, 2006. They are currently holding a competition for the design of the building itself.
It could not have been a better time to meet. At first they were speechless, but not due to lack of interest, but because we exceeded their ideal partner profile.They had been brainstorming about their North American programs. We received copies of their pamphlets, booklets and discussed the possibilities of programs, camps,and educational outreach.
We look forward to working with them on projects such as their current “Families Separated by War”.

7 June - European Union Parliament election

Sunday was also the election of Polish representatives to the European Union parliament. There was a campaign on TV leading up to the election featuring animated wycinanki and a competition to be known as the Navel of the European Union .
The results of the election were interesting. Those living in Poland voted for the coalition government of PO and PSL while the stateside Polonia voted heavily in favor of PIS.


http://www.7czerwca.org.pl/pliki/materialy/37_EUROPARLAMENT_30_EMIS_podmiana_FINAL.mpg

7 June - First Communion

Marcin began to take photos and Klaudia’s father brought his prized horse with colt out of the barn for the photo session. He also invited Marcin back at 6pm to milk the cows to see if he’d lost his touch. The barn was filled with cats, calves, and pigs all trying to get some of the cow’s milk. After the milking everyone was invited back into the farmhouse of bigos and vodka.

The evening entertainment was dancing outside to music from the car radios. Many of the wives were the designated drivers since Poland had a strict law regarding DUI. Their husbands enjoyed the red and white wine on the tables as well as the moonshine and homemade wine that flowed freely.

7 June - First Communion

On Sunday we participated in a village celebration which many Polish - Americans hope to experience. We were the guests of the Pakulas who own a summer house in the village - the cozy structure is over 100 years old.

We attended Klaudia's First Communion celebration and joined the family and neighbors in a feast. The tables were laden with a variety of homemade meats that were prepared from their pig which was slaughtered for the feast. A side table featured freshly smoked sausages, several types of bacon, kiszka, liver sausage, head cheese, smoked lard, and smalec. There were also several bottles of homemade vodka ready for the diners. Additional offerings included pork loin with kluski śląskie and kopytka and fresh hams. Oh yes, and home made cakes and pastries!

This event differed from the recent First Communion party for Marcin's daughter in early May with 10 people at Orchard Lake Schools,it brought back memories for Ceil of her First Communion party. It was attended by her parents, brothers, sisters, twenty five cousins, eight aunts and four uncles held in Detroit in the 1950s.

6 June Wedding

We stopped in a historic church while a wedding was taking place. A parishioner whispered that the lights were going to come on soon. Indeed, a unique feature amazed us: colored lights in orange, violet and chartreuse illuminated the side altars and shrines.

6 June Fundacji Polonia Banquet

We excused ourselves from the 30th anniversary event and rejoined the first day of the Fundacji Polonia congress. The banquet was held at the historic hall next to the president's residence.
The meal was prepared by the Culinary Institute and featured Polish wild meats such as horse sausage, pheasant, pate of boar and venison.
Other Polish foods included smalec, both pickled and creamed herring, and dumplings. The chefs in their torques (and one in a cowboy hat) served the meal and directed guests to a separate vodka bar with freshly squeezed fruit juices.
The entertainment was provided by the president’s military band. It was a great way to end the day and resume our casual discussions with the officials we met earlier.

6 June 30th Anniversary

The city of Warsaw was celebrating the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s first visit to Poland as pontiff at a park near the congress. The nine-metre white granite cross stands on the site where John Paul delivered a mass in 1979 in then-Communist Poland. An outdoor Mass was held and the cross was blessed. Bishop Tadeusz Rakoczy of Bielsko-Biała sent Marcin a special invitation to join the delegation while in Warsaw.

6 June - Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz

Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz, President, Poland Bank Association discussed ways to promote Poland using the unique channels via The Polish Mission and the exclusive location in Oakland County, Michigan.
We also spoke with Katarzyna Sobierajska, the Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Poland, about our “Come Home, Polonia” programs. She asked for the printed presentation and suggested ways to work with their office in the United States. The Polish American Congress rep was busy with contacts as well. We met with the Polonian representatives from Sweden, Portugal, Brazil, Russia and Israel. Marcin was received as a new leader of US Polonia.

6 June Meeting with Waldemar Pawlak

The Polish Mission and Michigan Polonia LLC discussed their mission statements with the Vice Premiere of Poland and Ministry of Economic Development Waldemar Pawlak, Eugeniusz Grzeszczak Secretary and Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Zygmunt Broniarek, former White House Correspondent 1960-1967 and 1985-1990.

6 June Fundacji Polonia - Warsaw

XIII Conference “Prosperity for Poland”
We were the invited guests of the Fundacji Polonia president Martyna Lisiecka-Klinz and had a personal liaison assigned to us. He is a recent university graduate beginning his political career.Before the conference started we scheduled several meetings where the Polish Mission and Michigan Polonia LLC materials were presented and suggested ways in which they can use our channels.

5 June Old Town

The day ended with a tour of Warsaw's Old Town as guests of Andrzej Pakula, an international business man who works with US businesses. We visited a new Jazz Club after our visit to St. John's Cathedral (Katedra św. Jana) and the tomb of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. The pastor helped set the lights so Marcin could take photos of the ex-votos (votive offerings)at the side altar and suggested we take a handful of paper slips which had “thoughts” of the Cardinal written on them and share them with the seminarians.

5 June Warsaw

The National Archives of Poland
We met again with Burse, in charge of relations outside of Poland. She reviewed the complexity of the archival system in Poland and was interested in continuing cooperation. She mentioned that the project headed by Montreal resident Stanley Diamond was being renegotiated. Known as JRI Poland the indexing project raises funds from interested researchers and funds the indexing of Jewish archival holdings. The Index can be found online at: http://www.jewishgen.org/jri-pl/
The Polish Mission and Michigan Polonia hope to establish a similar program for records of interest in the Polish regional archives. Using the online catalog tools SEZAM and PRADZIAD one finds that only 20 percent of Catholic records are held by the National Archives.

4 June - 20th anniversary

The 20th anniversary of Solidarity was celebrated in the town square and national television stations covered the events all day long. There were camera crews in Kraków where the POL party and government officials welcomed European Union officials to the celebration. Later in the day, the delegation traveled to Gdańsk to join President Kaczyński in an evening celebration. Luminaries, of course, included Lech Wałęsa. Here is Tomasz Sarnecki's famous Solidarity poster "W samo południe 4 czerwca 1989" (High Noon June 4th 1989). Gary Cooper, the sheriff from the poster, carries a ballot paper instead of a gun - a symbol of a peaceful revolution and wears a Solidarity logo above his sheriff's badge.

1 June Bielsko-Biała

We also visited the Development Director of Bielsko Biała to thank Yola who was instrumental in setting up the visits for The Polish Mission and Michigan Polonia.

1 June Bielsko-Biała

The next day was filled with visits in Bielsko-Biała. The team visited with Bishop Tadeusz Rakoczy who informed us that a digitization project is underway for the diocese records and an index will be created. He said the index could be shared with The Polish Mission to help researchers pin point their ancestral parishes.
When the Bishop found out that Marcin’s daughter had made her First Communion in May, he presented him with a white rosary. It was in a small case with the insignia of Pope John Paul II and had been blessed by the pontiff. The cross was a small miniature of the cross of Pope John Paul II’s crosier.

International Memorial

The Memorial of Auschwitz-Birkenau had 20 commemorative flagstones in 20 different languages including tablets inscribed in English, Slovenian, Belorussian, Czech, German, French, Greek, Hebrew, Croatian, Italian, Yiddish, Hungarian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, and Roma. The inscription reads:

For ever let this place be
A cry of Despair
And a warning to humanity
About one and a half million
Men, women, and children,
Mainly Jews
From various counties
Of Europe
Auschwitz-Birkenau
1940-1945

31 May - Auschwitz II-Birkenau

We first visited the area of the Theresienstandt Family Camp and the quarantine area. We peered into the gates of the prison in a prison set up for potential escapees and political opponents all who would only survive for two weeks in the double security brick compound. Each area had small tributes left by visitors. The train tracks had floral tributes and wreaths made of pine cones which represented the surrounding forest. Ribbons woven into the tributes had messages written in Italian, Hungarian, Russian, and Polish. This reflected just some of the nations and languages of those murdered at Auschwitz.

31 May - Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau

We returned to Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau at 3:00 am to begin the second stage of the Auschwitz series.
Chumiecki brought his three specialized cameras including a Nikon fitted with an Infra Red lens. His goal was to capture dawn, symbolizing the new era that came after World War II.
The theme was reinforced by the sights and sounds of nature! The rainy, damp morning was greeted by a chorus of crickets, cuckoos,and chirping birds masked in the haze. We were escorted by the night guard who unlocked buildings, grounds, and towers for us.
Each turn of the road found red fox passing under the barbed wire, red deer darting across the fields, and a lone stork. The most impressive and symbolic sight was the flock of white seagulls on the roads that flank the railway tracks which brought the inmates to the camp. As we approached the gulls took off in flight, like the souls of those murdered at Birkenau.

Auchwitz Museum Security Chief Józef Góra

The access to the proper departments and staff was arranged by Security Chief Józef Góra. He arranged for early entry to the grounds which are closed to visitors from 7:00pm- 8:00am. Góra also arranged appointments with Szymon Kowalski, Deputy Head of the Archives, Igor Bartosik PhD, Director of the Collections Department and Art Historian Agnieszka Sieradzka.

Survivor art work

The 1 September 1939 Commemoration on the campus of Orchard Lake will include exhibits of two Catholic Auschwitz survivors Jan Komski and Adam Grochowski. Dr. Cywiński was well acquainted with Komski’s work. They received a large collection of his work in 2006. An exhibition was held shortly thereafter. The Barracks visited included offices in barrack 25, The storehouse in Barrack 23 and the former hospital currently closed to visitors in Barrack 28.

Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau

Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau
Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński, Director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

The Polish Mission Director arranged a meeting with the Director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński.
Marcin Chumiecki presented Dr. Cywiński with a limited edition book comprised of images Chumiecki created in 2007 during a night shoot at Auschwitz. The Director gave Chumiecki permission to return at dawn to shoot the second part of the photo series.
The meeting included the presentation of the history and holding of The Polish Mission and Orchard Lake Schools. The focus of the discussion was the World War II museums on campus and the 1 September 1939 Commemoration funded by the Michigan Humanities Council.
Ceil Wendt Jensen, grant writer and educator, outlined the curriculum she will develop and share with classroom teachers as part of the grant work. Chumiecki extended an invitation to visit the campus of Orchard Lake. It was accepted by Dr. Cywiński.

30 May - Kraków

The last visit in Kraków was with the Director of the State Archives. Cecile presented her with a copy of “Detroit’s Polonia” and Marcin presented the history of Orchard Lake and The Polish Mission. The Archivist visited the Orchard Lake campus in the early 1980s and would like to visit again. She was impressed with the plans for the archives, galeria and museums. She pledged her support to help in any way she can and looks forward to an announcement from her director detailing the scope of participation.

29 May - Kraków

The only downside of the day was that the rain took down the free WI-FI signal for the Rynek (Market Square). The rain did provide a perfect back drop for evening photos.

29 May - Biblioteka Jagiellonska (The Jagiellonian Library)

The Polish Mission Director Marcin Chumiecki and Cecile Wendt Jensen of Michigan Polonia LLC met with Professor Zdzisław Pietrzyk, Director of the Jagiellonian University Biblioteka Jagiellonska (The Jagiellonian Library) on 29 May 2009. Although his mentor’s funeral was scheduled for noon, he made time to meet with The Polish Mission. We were warmly greeted and after a few pleasantries Cecile presented him with a copy of her book “Detroit’s Polonia”. Professor Pietrzyk asked her to sign her book because after fifteen years of working with manuscripts he values a book with the handwritten signature of the author. It will become part of the Jagiellonian Library Collection.
Professor Pietrzyk developed a rough draft of a plan that includes a grant proposal. Marcin Chumiecki will present this information to Chancellor Whalen for consideration by the Executive Council. Director Chumiecki extended an invitation to visit the campus of Orchard Lake and Professor Pietrzyk accepted and set a tentative date in August, 2009.

27 May - UJ. Jagiellonian University, Krakow

After the long and exhausting session we were given a walking tour of the Jagiellonian University campus. We walked over the 13th century cobblestones and passed the oldest building on campus, The Collegium Maius. We stopped for a photo in front of the Collegium Novum. We ended our tour at the Jagiellonian University Guest House situated at ul. Floriańska. It was a great location, only a few blocks away from Krakow's most splendid monuments,the Florian Gate with the Barbican on one side and the Market Square on the other.

27 May - UJ. Jagiellonian University, Krakow

Cecile Jensen MA, spoke of the dual role of the Polonica Americana Research Institute, a new department of The Polish Mission, which offers professional genealogical services to family researchers and CEU for K-12 teachers based on the campus holdings. Immediately after the two hour presentation the professors began to offer plans and their expertise to help The Polish Mission. It was an overwhelming and positive response from this esteemed academic group. Professor Pietrzyk, Director of the Jagiellonian Library, invited Marcin Chumiecki and Cecile Wendt Jensen to his office the next day to discuss ways in which his department can become involved.

27 May - UJ. Jagiellonian University, Krakow

This has been a hectic but productive trip. The Krakow visit was a success. The Jagiellonian University professors gathered to hear about The Polish Mission.
The professors congratulated Father Timothy Whalen and the Board of Regents for establishing The Polish Mission, beginning a new era for the campus of Orchard Lake. Several of the professors sent their regards to Karen Majewska PhD while several more spoke of their attempts to access the Orchard Lake archives for their doctoral studies.
Director Chumiecki gave a general overview of the situation, condition, and holdings of the archives, Galeria, and museums and the plan for the future.

26 May - Iwona Purzycka, Director, Museum of Bielsko-Biała

The last scheduled meeting was with the Iwona Purzycka, Director of the Museum of Bielsko-Biała and related scholars. The three hour meeting began with Marcin Chumiecki reviewing the Polish Mission presentation and showcasing the holdings of the Galeria and Museums. Ceil shared the need for Americans in general, and Polish descendants in particular, to learn the past and current history of Poland and understand the Polish influence in the U.S.
We met the director who is skilled at reading the Gothic church records. He enjoys genealogical research when he is not working on his professional assignments.

26 May - Bielsko-Biała

We visited the Bielsko-Biała town square and browsed several antique galleries discussing the current interest in artifacts and archival documents including manuscripts and rare books. We talked about the frequency such items appear in the Polish market. Pictured here Marcin Chumiecki, Director of the Polish Mission, and the shop owner.

26 May - Evangelical Parish of the Church of the Savior

Our next appointment was with the archbishop of the diocese of the Evangelical-Augsburg Church. His office is located at Martin Luther Square, comprising the Evangelical Parish of the Church of the Savior, presbytery, “Augustana” publishing house and two schools. A bronze statue of Martin Luther stands in the center of the square and is the only statue of this theologian and reformer in Poland. During our interview the Archbishop mentioned the records are hard to read and they too rely on the local scholar to transcribe the records. He had a map that showed the past and present boundaries for the Evangelical parishes thought out Poland.

26 May - Parafia Św. Mikołaja, Bielsko-Biała

We visited Parafia Św. Mikołaja, St. Nicolaus Cathedral in Św. Mikołaja Plac [St. Nicolaus Square] – a 15th century Gothic church, last rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century. Once an Evangelical church it holds six centuries of birth, marriage, and death records in bound volumes. The records from the 1500s are narrow books protected by archival covers. There are bound indices to help find entries in the records. There is a notation that the death records from 1890-1945 are held at the USC. The records room was supervised by a Sister of the teaching order of Notre Dame. She told us members of her convent teach in New Baltimore, Michigan! Sister gave us the name of the local expert who can read the Gothic script in both the Catholic and Evangelical records prior to 1900. He is sought out by professors in the region due to his skill and finesse in reading and transcribing the old hand writing and language.

May 26 Mother’s Day in Poland

Fr. Josef is a history buff and has found old tombstones and ironwork that once marked graves in the old cemetery that surrounded the church. He has positioned the pillars, sculptures and stones on the church grounds. Marcin is pictured here taking photos of the grave art.

May 26 Mother’s Day in Poland

May 26th was also Mother’s Day in Poland.

It is celebrated by school children who have special events for their mothers at school with planned programs, theater presentations with kids as actors,and handmade cards. The day would not be complete without special foods including cakes and singing Sto Lat for the Moms.
We visited with Fr. Josef at the parish of Holy Trinity Church on Sobieskiego St. – erected at the beginning of the 17th century in late Gothic style as the first new Protestant place of worship. The street's name derives from the fact that Jan Sobieski passed this way before the battle of Vienna. It was taken over by the Catholics during the Counter Reformation.
The parish school specialized in Polish-English instruction. We were surrounded by children during their recess and they tried out their Hello, My name is,and What is your name? phrases. One wonders if the “devil signs” held over the other student's head (in the photo) is an English import or a home grown prank.

25 May - Jewish Cemetery

The team also visited the historic Jewish cemetery founded in 1849 which is still extant. The latest burials were in 2003 and 2008. The Jewish cemetery in Biała was closed in the 1960s. The Bielsko cemetery is on Cieszyńska ul. The graves are marked with stone and iron, while one is adorned with a Communist hammer and sickle.