TREASURE HUNT   —  or a study of Polish History

 

 

During last summer’s vacation months from June to September a mysterious  Polish group of academics made its way through the northeastern United States visiting various Polish parishes in the region.  This group was not simply touring or paying courtesy calls to these parishes. Their mission actually involved a great amount of serious and arduous work  Who were these people and what was the purpose of their visits?  Let’s find the answer to our questions in an interview with the leader of the team, the historian at KUL (the Catholic University of Lublin)  Professor Jacek Golembiowski.

 

Father Jerzy Kusy:  How, where and when did this idea to conduct a historical study on the Polonia of the United States originate?

 

The idea to conduct in depth studies into the origins of the cultural history of Polonia in the U.S. was actually first initiated  in the 1980’s by Prof. Czeslaw Bloch, director of the Research Institute for Polonia and Polonia Pastoral Studies, KUL (the Catholic University of Lublin).  

During his many visits to the United States, Prof. Bloch found that Polish immigrants in the U.S. had created a network of settlements and colonies with a distinct Polish character.  In time, as these communities grew and joined together, they formed a sizeable and impressive organization in itself.  It was quite evident that the foundation upon which these Polonia organizations and institutions in the US had been built was the Church — Catholic parishes (numbering at around 1000 at their height).  The hundreds of churches, schools, hospitals and cultural centers  initiated by Polonia, that had sprung up around the United States was a testament to the binding ties of faith and cultural heritage that had been, and I trust, will continue to be the mainstay of Polonia.  Unfortunately financial resources which were scarce in the final years of the Communist government in Poland and a drop in interest at that time for researching the Polish Catholic cultural heritage abroad, had made endeavors to do any studies about them virtually impossible.

 

J.K. :  What specific assignments did this group of researchers have?

 

Prof. J.G.:  The main points of our project have been seeking out and safeguarding unique and non-replicable documents to create a digital record  and document the operations and activities of these Polonia centers affiliated with Catholic parishes in the U.S.A. To be specific, we were looking at handwritten or printed documents such as sacramental logs, parish chronicles, annals of organizations affiliated with the parish —  brotherhoods, societies, associations as well as committees charged with organizing church anniversaries and special celebrations, collections of correspondence and  archived photographs.  Also very important for us were books commemorating  parish jubilees and records marking the anniversaries of clergy in the priesthood as well as the financial statements and accounts of these parishes.  Beyond these things our art historians assisted by a professional photographer, annotated and recorded hundreds if not thousands of images documenting the architecture, the decorations, interiors and other sacred objects and artifacts associated with the parish.   We are ensuring that any others who will want to study the creative output of our forefathers in the United States, from the architecture, the stained glass windows, statuary, sculptures, paintings  to the chasubles  (ornate vestments worn by priests celebrating Mass or the Eucharist)  and chalices inscribed in Polish, will have an abundance of reference materials for their studies. 

 

Fr. J.K. :  What have you accomplished so far?

 

Prof J.G. Up to now we have done inventories in 44 locations ( 21 in Chicago, 13 in Detroit and so far 3 in Cleveland:  St. Stanlislaus, St. Casimer, St. John Cantus.  There have been 2 in Pittsburgh and 5 in Buffalo, New York.  We worked in July and September 2017 and 2018.  Our next vacation time trip will take us to a Polish Cathedral in Milwaukee and on the East Coast.  We also will continue to study parishes in Chicago once we have finished with the category of Polish cathedrals.

 

Fr. J.K.:  How has your work and how have you yourselves been received by American  Polonia?

 

Prof J.G. Our initial investigations have been met with great interest and goodwill by the American Polonia.  Particularly important for us have been the friendliness of  and cooperation we’ve had from the priests and parish employees who’ve provided us with access to archival materials and important objects to photograph.  Our project requires the logistical assistance and financial support of  Polonia. We’re hoping to find organizations and institutions as well as private individuals who will join us in our work in preserving the Polish heritage in the USA.  Most of the members of my group have for the first time encountered America’s Polonia, and the history and heritage that they have created.  We’ve all been impressed by the immensity of their achievements, the vigor and energy  with which these organizations have operated, and the amazing activism and dedication seen in so many areas.  The realization of this project and the dissemination of our findings and results will allow for the opportunity to provide information and  knowledge about this very important part of Polish history to a wide audience.

 

Fr. J.K.:  Can you introduce us to the members of your investigatory team?

 

Prof. J.G.: The work of inventorying and documentation is performed by a team of seven individuals:  myself –Prof. Jacek Golebiowski as director of the project and director of the Center for Polonia Studies and  Polonia’s Pastorate at the Catholic University of Lublin;   Professor Katarzyna Chrudzimska-Uhera, Director of the Institute of Art at Cardinal Wyszynski University in Warsaw;  Prof. Anna Czyz,  Dean of History and Social Studies at Cardinal Wyszynski University, Warsaw;  Dr. Pawel Sieradzki, Secretary of Education at the Center for Polonia Studies and the Polonia Pastorate at  KUL ( Catholic University Lublin);  Dr. Bartholomew Gutowski, historian at Cardinal Wyszynski University.   Sister Mgr. Genevieve Potoczala, church historian and archivist at Orchard Lake Michigan;  Norbert Piwowarczyk, photographer.  The team is supported by Fr. Dr. Stanislaw Flisa from the Central Archive for American Polonia at Orchard Lake.

 

Fr. J.K.:  Where can we see the results of your study?

 

Prof. J.G.:  The results of our work will be able to be found on the internet site:  kosciolypolskiewusa.com . This page is being created  first in the Polish language, but later will also be available in English. The first collection of data concerns sites in Chicago and its metropolitan area.  We are entering data as collected according to a timeline as the study progresses.

 

Fr. J.K.:   What kind of reflections do you have from your visits with Polonia in the USA?

 

Prof. J.G.:  What stands out most in our impressions has been the awe inspiring achievements of our forefathers, who, in spite of a lack of finances and living in difficult conditions, nonetheless found the will and the way to build majestic churches, schools, auditoriums and cultural centers.  This all testifies to their deep connection to their faith and love for their Fatherland.   We’re all keenly aware that this is the last moment for rescuing this history, a heritage evidenced by material objects as well as the nonmaterial, a  legacy created by Polish emigrants who traveled  across the ocean to a new land.

 

Fr. J.K.:   I sincerely thank you for this discussion and offer the hope and the wish that “ there will be a lot more work” for you and your group; work that will serve to benefit Polonia and Poland as well as provide a treasure trove of knowledge and information for future generations.  I also impatiently await the appearance of your internet site ( kosciolypolskiewusa.com)  with the results of your study.

 

 

Fr. Jerzy Kusy