Mount Saint Marys College - Eagle Yearbook (Orchard Lake, MI)

Page 156 text:

PIJLISH HUMAN IIATHULIII UNIUN cn-ncAGo, n.uNo:s IP 'f W It was in the early 1870's W A that Poles began to im- migrate en masse to the United States. Most of the 100,000 newly arrived Polish immigrants settled in the industrial, centers such as Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Pittsburg. Almost immediately after their arrival, these immigrants began to build Catholic churches and organize social and charitable societies. As the Polish parishes were the centrum of these societies, activities, it was not long be- fore a Polish pastor advanced the idea of uniting all various Polish American social and charitable societies into one organiza- tion: such a priest was the Reverend Theo- dore Gieryk of Saint Albertus Parish, Detroit, Michigan. In June of 1873, Father Gieryk made known his idea in an open letter pub- lished in various then-existent Polish week- lies. Seeing the wisdom in Father Gieryk's idea, Mr. John Barzynski, editor of the Polish weekly newspaper The Pilgrim, his brother Father Vincent Barzynski, and Messrs. Peter Kiolbassa and Joseph Closkowski arranged for a convention to be held in Detroit on Oc- tober 3, 1873, for the purpose of discussing how Father Gieryk's idea could be best ma- terialized. The home of the P.R.C.U. as well as its Archives and Museums is at 984 Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago. Kftsimm I. Kozmciizwxcz President Although the project was unanimously ap- proved, it was decided to postpone actual organization as respresentation at the Con- vention was incomplete. lt was proposed, in consequence, that a National Congress of Pol- ish Americans be held in Chicago on October 14, 15, and 16, 1874. Messrs. Barzynski, Kiolbassa, Closkowski, and Father Gieryk were appointed to act as the Pre-Congress Committee. lt was at the Congress that the foundations of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of Amer- ica fZjednoczenie Polskie R. K. w AJ were laid. Father Gieryk became its first Presi- dent, Mr. Kiolbassa became Vice-President, and Messrs. John Barzynski and August Rud- zinski became Secretary and Treasurer re- spectively. One of the Union's six Directors to be elected was the Reverend Joseph Da- browski, Founder of the Orchard Lake Sem- inary. Twelve years later, it was decided at the 1886 Convention to issue insurance pol- icies. However, it took a full year to es- tablish a definite insurance program. In April, 1887, the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America was granted a Charter of Incorporation in the state of Illinois. This marked the formal beginning of the Union as we know it today.

Page 155 text:

UNITED PULISH WUME UP AMERICA CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ounded in 1932, the United Polish Women of America lUnia Polek w Amerycei is the youngest of all Polish fraternal or- ganizations. As of 1955, it boasted 54 lodges and a membership of 3,953. Fully cognizant of the fact that the works of Inercy must occupy a focal and not mar- ginal place in the life of every true Chris- tian, the United Polish Women of America has outlined a model program of charity. One outstanding facet of its program is a Wel- fare Fund which is replenished not by as- sessing its members, but rather by a volun- tary periodic donation. Financial assistance is extended to any needy member whenever misfortune or disaster strikes. It was on December 1, 1932, that the Unit- ed Polish Women of America commenced its insurance activities. Issued at present are the following certificates from 55300 to 32,000: whole life, 20 year payment life, and 20 year endowment. In 1955 adult ben- efit certificates numbered 3,666 and Junior 287. As of January 1, 1955, assets of the United Polish Women of America amounted to 3B582,906.23g liabilities 311,562.84g reserves 35511,268, and unassigned funds 360,075.39 The amount of insurance in force in 1954 totaled 32,008,815 and 32,078,815 in the fiscal year of 1955. Benefits paid out in 1953 totaled 3B49,903.10g in 1954 they amounted to 345,190.46 The Officers of the United Polish Women of America as of 1955 were: Mis. Anna Kosieracki, President, lVI's. Antoinette Wilk- owski, Secretary, and lVl's. Helen Mathis, Treasurer. The Home Office 'mis located at 1200 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago 22, Illinois. Dramatic talents of the members receive opportuni- ties for expression in the many productions pre- sented by these organizations. . :hair 1.4 .

Page 157 text:

Since its beginning in 1873, the Union has grown to be one of the largest fraternal or- ganizations in the United States, members be- ing found in 37 states. At the end of its first fifty years of existence, the Union boasted 1,036 lodges, with lllinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylania having the majority. The year 1950 saw the existence of 1,095 lodges, the largest amount in the history of the Union. In 1954 the number of lodges totaled 1,053 and 1,041 in 1955. Member- ship in the lodges in 1954 totaled 176,850 and 175,682 in 1955. The objectives of the Polish Roman Cath- olic Union of America as defined in 1874 at the National Congress in Chicago: to uphold the national spirit of Polish Amer- icansg Q21 to help them persevere in the Faith of their Forefathersg to maintain in its youth a lively interest in things Polish, and Q41 to aid in the building and improve- ment of parochial schools in the United States. Financially speaking, the Polish Union is very sound. As of January 1, 1955, it boast- ed assets of 3i535,261,805.33. Liabilities were ilS1,026,854.27, and reserves 330,910,- 134-.70. The amount of insurance in force in 1954 totaled Si9100,118,14-53 in 1955 it rose to fiiS100,973,100. insurance certificates issued are from 3500 to 2ilSl0,000. Certificate holders in Illinois number 48,9533 in New York 27,096g in Pennsylania 26,371, and in Michigan 13,- 9l0. Deaths per 1,000 benefit certificates in 1953 were 14.957 and 13.987,Q in 1954. Benefits other than death paid in, 1953 amounted to 3181052.54 and 35482040.18 in 1954. Sundry are the activities of the Polish Union. At present it grants scholarships to needy students desirous of studying at Or- chard Lake, Michigan, and otherinstitutions of higher learning, sponsors Polish youth clubs with the intention of instilling and pre- serving in their members an appreciation for the language and culture of Poland, main- tains a library and museum located in Chi- cago, publishes the news bi-weekly Polski Narod fP0lish Nationl, affords the Uni0n's members with an extensive athletic program, the emphasis being on softball and bowling, and commemorates religious and national an- niversaries ffor example, the demonstration held last year in Chicago to celebrate the Ccontinued on page 2141 The 1954 National Convention of the P.R.C.U. was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Most Reverend Stanislaus V. Bona, Bishop of Green Bay, gave the keynote address. His Eminence Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Ordin- ary of Chicago, presided in 1955 at the huge Monsignor Felix Kachnowski, Chaplain, and Mr. Kasimir Kozakie- wicz, President, greeted Archbishop Joseph Gawlina at the Chicago airport when the latter visited the P.R.C.U. headquarters. manifestation marking the 25th Anniversary of the Miracle of the Vistula. Sponsoring such religious celebrations is one of the pur- poses of all Polish-American Fraternal Or- ganizations.