25 May - Cemetery of Świętego Mikołaja

We visited with the sexton of the cemetery of Świętego Mikołaja, the oldest Catholic cemetery in Bielsko-Biała. He shared books, site plans, and maps and looked up documents for our case study. The sexton is writing the history of the cemetery which opened in the 1880s. As families periodically come in to make payments for the term graves, he solicits materials, family stories, and pictures for inclusion in the forthcoming book. He currently has two thick binders of documentation showing the history and families associated with the cemetery. Families have shared original prints of wakes, family portraits, and documents. Michigan Polonia will collaborate with him by putting out a nationwide call for additional contributions.

25 May: Bielsko-Biała - Urząd Stanu Cywilnego

The team traveled to Bielsko-Biała which is the base for the stay in Poland.

Our first visit with the Civil Records Office (in Polish, "Urząd Stanu Cywilnego", abbreviated "USC") obtaining an agreement with the Director to expedite requests of individual records and /or complete family records. She also developed a Finding Aid for us to identify the USC for regional villages.

Genealogy Seminars

Szczyrk will be the genealogy conference center for instruction and relaxation, the first phase of the seminar, followed with research in the Archives in Krakow and pre-arranged visits to individual parishes. The drive from Szczyrk to Krakow will take several days with stops at important sites such as the Auschwitz Museum (Oświęcim), the hometown of Pope John Paul II in Wadowice, the pilgrimage site of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, and additional visits to historic roadside parishes such as Św. Erazma founded in 1327. Researchers will have an opportunity to photograph unique small roadside shrines devoted to Mary.

24 May 2009 - Matki Boskiej w Sanktuarium

The hotels in Szczyrk are near the shrine Matki Boskiej w Sanktuarium created to commemorate the 24 July 1894 appearance of Mary before three local women. The stone shrine on the edge of the hill has a striking similarity to the grotto on the campus of Orchard Lake.

A new crown for the statue was sent to the Vatican and blessed by Pope Benedict XVI, was blessed by Pope Benedict for the statue of Mary. Fr. Marek Dąbek, the custodian of the Shrine, explained that through the act of blessing the crown, the church authority validates what happened here in 1894.

23 May 2009 - Bielsko-Biała, visit to Szczyrk

The team traveled to Bielsko-Biała which became the base for our stay in Poland.

We visited several resorts in the nearby ski town of Szczyrk to discuss the possibility of the Polonica Americana Research Institute and Michigan Polonia holding genealogy seminars and conferences featuring local experts from Bielsko-Biała and Krakow.
We were guests of the owner of Orle Gniazdo (Eagle's Nest) in picturesque Szczyrk and attended an outdoor party,complete with grilled kiszka, kabobs,a blazing bonfire,and a talented Highlander band.

22 May 2009 - Grób Nieznanego Żołnierza

The current economic crisis extends to Poland and makes it extremely hard to ask anyone for financial help. But by the end of our meeting the advisors asked us to present a concrete business plan for the next three years for Orchard Lake Schools. They want to know how they can be involved and offer support and services. A second meeting is scheduled for June 9th where Chumiecki will present the strategy.

After the meeting Martin Chumiecki and Cecile Wendt Jensen visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Grób Nieznanego Żołnierza), a monument dedicated to the unknown soldiers who gave their lives for Poland. It is one of many such national tombs of unknowns erected after World War I.
A candle was lit in memory of all veterans.

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.