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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

22 May 2009 - Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego

On Friday May 22 we met with a group of advisers to the Ministry of Culture and Director of National Heritage (Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego). Also present was the Deputy Director of the Biblioteka Narodowa Dr. Joanna Psztalaniec-Jarzynska.
The three hour meeting began with The Polish Mission Director Marcin Chumiecki presenting the history of Orchard Lake and the responsibilities of The Polish Mission. He covered the archives, galeria, and museums. He mentioned that he was thankful for the opportunity to represent Orchard Lake and that all official letters and agreements will be exchanged between Chancellor Whalen and the Ministers.
Cecile Wendt Jensen, director of the Polonica Americana Research Institute, presented a copy of her book "Detroit's Polonia" and spoke of the grant she obtained for The Polish Mission from the Michigan Humanities Council of Michigan ( the state funding agent for the National Endowment for the Humanities).
The grant will provide funding for two campus events: Commemorating 1 September 1939 and Celebration SS Cyril and Methodius Seminary 1909-2009. Jensen also provided a copy of her book "Sto Lat: A Modern Guide to Polish Genealogy” published by Michigan Polonia LLC which outlines the process American researchers follow in documenting their Polish heritage. There was also a discussion regarding indexing civil records.

21 May 2009 The Polish Mission Visits Poland

21 May began the first official visit of The Polish Mission of Orchard Lake and Michigan Polonia LLC, representing United States Polonia to the top government, universities, and museums, archives officials of Poland.
At 5:45pm we arrived for a private meeting with Poland’s First Lady Maria Kaczyński in Łazienki Królewskie Museum and gave her The Polish Mission presentation and extended an invitation to visit Orchard Lake in 2010 for the 125 Anniversary of SS Cyril and Methodius Seminary.
She said she was leaving for Tel Aviv the next morning, but would like to schedule a follow up meeting in early June. After the meeting we attend a gala.
Throughout our busy schedule in Warsaw, Krakow, and Bielsko-Biala the official letters from Chancellor Timothy Whalen were presented to the Ministry of Culture, Foreign Affairs, and the Head of the National Archives. We met with the president of the Holocaust Survivors Foundation when we present the photo album from Auschwitz and discussed future cooperation and start discussions between our communities. The names and emails of the visits are available upon request.