ECHOES OF THE 2005 HOLIDAY SEASON

The last months of the past year were overflowing with opportunities for special ”get-togethers”, such as the Andrzejki Party, Wigilia Dinner, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses, and of course, the New Year Eve Party. These festive meetings, filled with fellowship, kindness and holiday cheer, were joyful and very pleasant for all participants.

It is all thanks to the efforts and hard work of the events coordinators, to the culinary creations of all volunteer chefs who prepared scrumptious and delicious meals, to our youngsters who provided unforgettable entertainment, to our generous sponsors, who helped reduce costs and make our meetings more memorable, and to all who endlessly took care of the ”little things”. Without their involvement and dedicated efforts, we could not have experienced these wonderful events. We would need to mention the names of almost all the members of our Polish Catholic Mission community to truly recognize all persons who were directly involved.

Once again, please accept our most sincere thanks for all your most appreciated help.

OPINION SURVEY

In the very near future, we would like to invite you to participate in a survey especially created to help us establish future goals and a common vision for our organization. We also encourage all members to discuss their suggestions and ideas with the Board members and to actively assist in bringing these ideas and suggestions to life.

MEMBERSHIP STATUS OF THE PCM

At the present time, the membership pool of the Polish Catholic Mission of Memphis consists of 47 families. Out of that number, 10 families joined in a past year. PCM President, Jacek Dutkiewicz shared the Board’s membership goals for the coming two years: ”We wish for our Organization to be an open house for all, who treasure our traditions, language, fellowship, kindness and brotherhood; for all who feel the need to unite in the catholic spirit and to create a strong and respected polish community”

PCM membership and newsletter information is provided below:

 MEMBERSHIP IN THE POLISH CATHOLIC MISSION

 To become a member, one needs to pay membership dues by June 30 of the current year.

PCM Member rights:

• Right to vote to elect PCM officers

• Right to receive all information pertaining to the PCM activities (religious, organizational, financial, etc.)

• Free PCM newsletter

• Admission discount to PCM events (discount includes children younger than 23 years old- if single)

• Free admission to the Wigilia dinner for children younger than 18 years old.

• Free movie rental from the PCM movie library.

     PCM Newsletter

• Our newsletter is mailed to all PCM members as well as members of the former Polish-American Society.

• Non-members may continue receiving our newsletter for a $5/year contribution.  The above contribution should be mailed to the PCM Treasurer.

 MEMBERSHIP DUES FOR 2006

In accordance with the financial support plan selected by the PCM members during their meeting in March of  2002, the Board has set membership dues for 2006, payable by June 30. The Board has decided to lower this year’s dues to encourage new membership. Please send checks to the PCM Treasurer. The 2006 membership dues are as follow:

• Family  2 adults + children   $60

• Family  1 adult   + children   $30

Any additional donations will help  lower our operational expenses and will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your continuing financial support!

HOLY  MASS

Our third holy mass will be celebrated by Fr. Kazimierz Abrahamczyk on Saturday, March 11 at 6 p.m. at St. James Church located at 4180 Leroy Ave in Memphis, TN 38108. During this mass we plan to have a second offering. All funds we collect will be sent to a humanitarian organization and will be expressly designated for the families of the victims of the Chorzow tragedy.

”POLISH CATHOLIC MESSENGER IN MEMPHIS”

That is the name of the website designed and administered by Fr. Kazimierz. This website is regularly updated with homilies and reflections in the polish language prepared by Fr. Kazmimierz especially for our polish, catholic community in Memphis. We invite you to visit this site at: http://polcathtrad.blogspot.com

You can contact Fr. Kazmierz by phone (up to 10 p.m.) or by email at: Casimir E-mail Address or Kazik E-mail Address.

 EASTER SEASON 2006

Easter Egg Painting

We invite you to come and share in the beautiful Easter tradition of “pisanki”; egg painting. We have two meetings planned this year.

The first meeting, for the adults, will take place on Friday, April 7, at 6:00 pm at St. James Catholic Church, 4180 Leroy Ave.  If you plan to attend, please contact Zbyszek Stroiński, by April 2.

The second meeting, for children, will take place on Saturday, April 8, at 6 pm at St. James Catholic Church, 4180 Leroy Ave.  Parents are asked to contact Halina and Magda Dutkiewicz.

We encourage all big and small artists to attend and help us continue this wonderful tradition.

Easter Confession and Stations of the Cross

This year’s Easter confessions will take place on Saturday, April 8, from 6 pm to 8 pm, at St. James Catholic Church.  After confessions, Fr. Kazimierz will lead the Stations of the Cross.

Additional opportunities for confessions are as follows:

Thursday, April 11, from 8pm to 10 pm and Friday, April 12 from 9 pm to 10 pm. Both are at Fr. Kazimierz’s parish at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 8151 Poplar Ave., Germantown.

Christ’s Tomb

As in the past, a Christ’s Tomb will be decorated at St. James Catholic Church. We plan to meet on Wednesday, April 12, at 6 pm, at the church to continue this tradition. We ask you to bring live, seasonal, potted plants or offer lilies to help decorate the Tomb. Please contact Zosia Schmidt or Ania Woźniak with any questions relating to this event.

Blessing of Easter Food

Our “Swieconka”-blessing of the Easter food is scheduled for Saturday, April 15, at St. James Catholic Church, 4180 Leroy Ave in Memphis.

We encourage you to visit the Lord’s Grave for a quiet moment of prayer and reflection.

After the blessing of the food, kids will have a chance to hunt for eggs.  We promise each egg will be filled with sweet rewards.  Parents are invited for coffee and sweets.  Please bring a homemade dessert to share with others.

Easter Mass

Easter Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, April 16, at 12 noon, at St. James Catholic Church, 4180 Leroy.  After mass, we will share our traditional Easter meal.  “Zurek” soup, sausage and eggs will be provided.  Please bring other dishes and holiday cakes to share with others.

If you would like to attend the Mass but have difficulties with transportation please contact any of the PCM officers.  We will do our best to help.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAY 3 CONSTITUTION

On Wednesday, May 3, to honor the anniversary of the May 3 Constitution, we plan a commemorative dinner for the members of the Polish American Society.

We invite all interested parties to participate in this event. If you plan to attend or if you need additional information please contact Zbyszek Stroinski, by the end of March.

DEACON CHRISTOPHER

On Saturday, May 13, at 5 pm at the St. Francis  of Assisi Catholic Church located at 8247 Chimneyrock Blvd in  Cordova ,seminarian Christopher Rusin will be ordained as a deacon by Bishop Terry Steib. For Christopher, this is the next step on his way to becoming a priest. We invite our entire community to take part in this very special mass, which will replace our mass scheduled in May.

JUNE PICNIC

We would like to invite everyone to our summer picnic.  This year’s picnic will include mass celebrated by Fr. Kazimierz.  Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 10, from 4 pm to 8 pm. As in prior years, we will meet at the park in Germantown, at the Johnson Road Park pavilion.  PCM will provide kielbasa for the grill and soft drinks.  Please bring a dish to share with others.  Ania Woźniak is coordinating the menu. Please direct all questions to Ania Woźniak.

 ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES

Bookkeeping changes

After careful consideration of the IRS laws governing our organization including bookkeeping and documentation standards, the Board has made the decision to assume the bookkeeping responsibilities of the PCM. Due to this change, the Board would like to express sincere thanks to Teresa Rudnicka for her long-term contribution and work as the PCM bookkeeper.

Donations for Fr. Kazimierz

All interested in making personal donations for Fr. Kazimierz, may do so by simply placing an addressed envelope in the collection basket. Please be sure to clearly write ”For Fr. Kazimierz” on the envelope. Please note that these personal donations will not be included in the yearly PCM contribution statement, nor counted as membership dues.

Invitation to dialogue

Your opinions are very valuable; therefore, the Board proposes additional opportunities for dialogue. We invite you to meet with PCM officers after the monthly masses and to actively participate in the creation of the newsletter’s new section: ”Letters from Members”. We encourage you to send in your signed letters to the PCM Secretary.

PCM’s new website

We are very proud to announce our  brand NEW website.

You can visit it any time at http://polishcatholicmission.org

Our website is administered by Bob and Zosia Schmidt. All are welcome to help by sending articles or photos to Zosia and Bob Schmidt for inclusion on the website at: E-Mail Bob.

Polish Movies Library

This is a reminder to let you know that we have Polish movies available for rental at no cost to PCM members. The detailed list of these movies is posted on our website. Gosia Stroińska coordinates the rentals.

Addition to the newsletter

As you’ve probably already noticed, this edition of PCM newsletter is supplemented with an ”addition” titled ”Culture with no Limits”. It is prepared by a talented group of young people which includes: Monika Lux-Huserick, Magda Dutkiewicz, Agata Walas-Maenhoudt and Iwona Kessling. Their goal is to provide us with additional  information as well as suggestions on „things to do”.

Address or telephone number changes

 Please inform us of any address or telephone number changes as we very diligently try to assure that you will receive all PCM correspondence we send in a timely manner.

CONDOLENCES

We ask Mr. Stanley Miekicki to accept our deepest condolences for the loss of his wife, Lucile Miekicki. May she rest in peace. To honor Mrs. Mieckicki and in accordance to the wishes of Her husband, PCM made a donation in memory of Mrs. Miecicki to the Church of Resurrection –Mr. and Mrs. Miekicki’s parish church.

PLEASE PRAY

Six year old Kelsey, granddaughter of Irena and Czeslaw Figlewicz, for sometime now, is a patient at the St. Jude’s Children’s  Hospital. She very bravely fights a very serious illness. We ask our entire community for prayers in her intention and would like to wish little Kelsey a speedy and complete recovery.

SPORTS CORNER

If you are interested in improving your stamina and have fun at the same time, then join our volleyball team. We meet every Wednesday, at 7 pm at the gym of the Blessed Sacrament Church, 2564 Hale Ave. Please contact Zbyszek Mustwillo with any questions.

HAPPY EASTER

We wish you all a Joyous Easter and the Blessings of the Risen Christ. May you enjoy Easter eggs and have a very ”Wet Monday”.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2006

Following is the preliminary calendar of activities planned for 2006. We will inform you of any changes in the upcoming newsletters.

Officers of the Polish Catholic Mission:

Jacek Dutkiewicz – President
E-Mail Jacek

Viola Bute – Vice President
E-Mail Viola

Ania Woźniak – Secretary
E-Mail Ania

Zbigniew (Mark) Stroiński – Treasurer
E-Mail Mark

Zosia Schmidt – Coordinator for Church Affairs
E-Mail Zosia