The Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation
Panna Maria, Texas

 

 

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Activities
5th Annual Awards Gala & Auction - 2009

Lillian and Alois O'Berg Sue and Edmund McCarthy Elaine Mazurek Stephens Msgr. Franciszek Kurzaj

The Sixth Annual Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation Gala
by Elaine Mazurek Stephens

The Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation held its Sixth Annual Gala on Sunday, December 13, 2009, at the St. Paul Community Center in San Antonio.  The mission of the foundation is to strengthen and deepen the relationship between Texas and Silesia, a European region now in Poland, from which early immigrants came before settling in Texas. 

Monsignor Franciszek (Frank) Kurzaj, the FLM Foundation president, opened the program entitled “Remembering Our Loved Ones and Our Heritage in Songs and Photos.” Msgr. Kurzaj and Sister Inez Śmietana lead the audience in singing kolędy, traditional Christmas songs, in Polish and English while images from the Silesian Texan website were presented by Janet Dawson Ebrom and Elaine Mazurek Stephens.

Before dinner, a blessing was given by Rev. Jonathan Felux of St. Bridgid Church in San Antonio.  Then the Slavic tradition of the

Opłatek, the Christmas wafer, was exchanged.  The Opłatek is shared among the closest family members and friends at the start of the Wigilia, the Vigil Supper.  The thin, white wafer is stamped with Nativity scenes.  Its sharing unites the past with the present; heaven with earth.  Dinner was then served in the hall lavishly decorated in scarlet and white.

 

 

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the 2009 FLM Outstanding Service Awards.  Recipients were Edmund and Sue McCarthy, Alois and Lillian O'Berg, Elaine Mazurek Stephens, and Rev. Msgr. Frank Kurzaj who were lauded for their work as volunteers for the organization.  See photos above.

Msgr. Kurzaj, pastor of St. Paul Catholic Church, was also presented with the first ever Bandera County Praying Cowboy Preservation and Unity Award, established by the Sister County/City Partnership of Bandera County, Texas and approved by the Bandera County Historical Commission. Presenting the award was Roy Dugosh, President of the Bandera County Historical Commission, and Elenora Dugosh

Goodley, Ambassador of the Sister County/City Partnership of Bandera County.  Goodley said, "The award is to recognize people who dedicate their time in working towards preserving the culture and heritage and unifying descendants with the countries of Bandera County Immigrants."  The praying cowboy is a symbol of the cowboy heritage of Bandera County, Texas USA.  The Plaque was hand made by Fred Collins at his wood shop in Bandera, Texas.  The wood is cypress from the Cypress Trees that were washed down the Medina River by floods in Bandera, the same type of wood that was used by the Bandera Polish immigrants from Silesia Poland to make shingle roofing and also to build their houses.  The laser printing was done by Mr. Allen Strong of Cow Creek in Bandera, Texas.

Concluding remarks were given by Most Reverend John W. Yanta, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Amarillo.  A closing prayer was offered by Sister Martha Janysek, CSSF.  The final song was sung by all, "Serdeczna Matko" (Beloved Mother) in Polish.

See additional photos here.  Use your browser's back button to return.
 

5th Annual FLM Awards Gala & Auction - 2008

Sandra Kiolbassa accepts an Outstanding Service Award from Msgr. Frank Kurzaj on behalf of the Kiolbassa Provision Company

Msgr. Frank Kurzaj presents an Oustanding Service Award to Dorothy and James Collins.

Louise Janysek Jurgajtis was a surprise recipient in her office in the St. Francis Nursing Home where she works with the Seraphic Sisters.

The Gala was held on Sunday, December 28, 2008 at the St. Paul Catholic Church Community Center, 1201 Donaldson Avenue, San Antonio, Texas.  A Christmas concert by the internationally known folk group, "Śląsk," from Poland was followed by an elegant dinner and awards program.

To see additional photos from the Gala, including photos of Śląsk performances in South Texas, click here.
 

"Śląsk" in Texas!
The internationally known Polish song and musical company performed in South Texas during the 2008 Christmas Season, December 22- 30, 2008.  They appeared in Panna Maria, San Antonio, Houston, St. Hedwig and Corpus Christi.  

     

 

 

 

 

Schedule:
San Antonio
Dec. 24, 2008 - St. Paul Catholic Church, 10:00 P.M.
Dec. 26, 2008 - St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic church, 7:00 P. M.
Dec. 28, 2008 - St. Paul Community Center, FLM Gala (see above), 4:00 P. M.

Panna Maria

Dec. 24, 2008 - Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 3:00 P. M.

St. Hedwig

Dec. 24, 2008 - Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 5:00 P. M.

Corpus Christi

Dec. 25, 2008 - Corpus Christi Cathedral, 4:00 P. M.

Houston

Dec. 27, 2008 - Polish Roman Catholic Church, 6:00 P. M.

 
  

   

Reception for Gerard and Mary Kurzaj
Many of you have had the special opportunity to meet Gerard and Mary Kurzaj while traveling in Poland.  On Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008, a reception was held to welcome them during their trip to Texas. 

 

"Meeting Izabela Migocz", an interview with a performer in the internationally known Silesian Musical Folk
Group, "
Śląsk", as she talks about her recent first-time visit to Texas, in 2007.  Click here to read the interview and see the     photos. 
 

4th Annual Awards Gala & Auction - 2007

The Gala was held on Saturday, October 13, 2007.  Prior to the gala, at  6PM, a Mass held at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in St. Hedwig, Texas.  The Mass was celebrated by the Most Reverend John W. Yanta, D. D., Bishop of Amarillo followed by dinner at the John Paul II Parish Center on the church grounds. The program began with a slide show presentation by Elaine Mazurek Stephens, entitled, "Meeting Silesia 2007", depicting present-day life in Silesia, Poland.  The keynote speaker was Allen Kosub, noted researcher and historian.  The 2007 Annual Awards were presented to recipients, Gladys Lyssy Koenig, Genny Kosub Kraus, Elaine Dolores Moczygemba, Dorothy Gawlik Moy and Al J. Notzon III.  
         Copies of the 16 minute dvd,  "Meeting Silesia" are available by sending a donation payable to the FLM Foundation, P.O. Box 9, Panna Maria, TX  78144. 
       

     

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