The Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation
Panna Maria, Texas

 

 

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Activities

8th Annual Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation Gala
to be held on Sunday, December 11, 2011
 
 
3:00 P.M. - Mass honoring our Silesian ancestors at St. Paul Catholic Church, 350 Sutton, San Antonio, Texas 78228
 
4:30 P.M. - Doors open at St. Paul Community Center, 1201 Donaldson Avenue, San Antonio, Texas, for the Gala:
 
5:30 P.M. - Concert by Polish Singers from Lublin in ballroom followed by banquet, silent auction, and awards
 
 
Tickets are $30 per person.  Deadline for reservations is Dec. 5.
For tickets,
Contact Mrs. Evelyn Lyssy 210-333-8500 or Mrs. Dorothy Moy 210-333-1476.
 

 

 

December 2010

Chopin in Texas

By Reverend Monsignor Francizcek (Frank) Kurzaj,
President of the Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation
 

On Sunday, November 14, at St. Paul Community Center in San Antonio, Texas, the citizens of South Texas had the opportunity to delight in the healing music of Fryderyk Chopin.  The wonderful preludes, etudes, waltzes, and mazurkas of this great Polish composer, whose 200th birthday is celebrated all over the world, were performed by an accomplished pianist and educator, Dr. Jan Bogdan Drath.  This artist graduated from the State College of Music in

Dr. Jan Bogdan Drath

Katowice, Poland and holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from North Texas State University.  He is the founder and director of the Annual Chopin Workshop at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.  The concert was organized in conjunction with the annual Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation Gala which gathers the descendants of the first Polish settlers in Texas, who found their roots in Silesia, Poland.  The Foundation seeks to deepen the unity among the Silesian Texans and to build a cultural bridge between Texas and Silesia, Poland.   

In an exquisitely decorated auditorium of the Community Center, around 400 people in complete silence listened to Chopin’s melodies.  After each piece of music the audience exploded with thunderous applause.  At the end of this spectacular concert, the audience and the artist, with Chopin’s Funeral March, memorialized  the recent death of Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki, a great contemporary composer, who died November 16, 2010, and was buried in Katowice, Poland, the birthplace of Pope Paul II..  They also paid tribute to Proxie Urbanczyk Pollok, a 100 year old lover and protector of Polish song and music from Panna Maria, Texas. 

The second part of the event took place in the ballroom of the St. Paul Community Center where the participants viewed a video presentation of the 2010 trip to Poland and the Holy Land and had the opportunity reminisce about their previous trips to Poland.  During this part of the celebration they also recognized and honored the recipients of the 2010 Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation Service Awards.

The first was presented to the family of Alphonse J. Moczygemba (posthumous) and Mary Moravitz Moczygemba for their exceptional contributions to the Silesian community of Texas. Another was presented to Urban Concrete Contractors Ltd. for representing Silesia in Texas with sterling integrity and exceptional generosity. Accepting the award were the founders, Ronnie and Terry Urbanczyk.

The last Outstanding Service Award was presented to Snoga’s Bar-B-Cue for representing Silesia in Texas with superior generosity and hospitality.
 

The participants left with boxes of Polish items from the silent auction and hearts filled with great pride and joy for experiencing this unforgettable evening.

 

November 2010

The 7th Annual Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation Gala
See photos here and here
 
The Seventh Annual Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation Gala was held on November 14, 2010, at the St. Paul Community Center in San Antonio, Texas. FLMF President, Rev. Msgr. Franciszek (Frank) Kurzaj welcomed the crowd of almost 300 people who gathered to remember Father Leopold Moczygemba, the Polish priest who was responsible for encouraging the 1850s immigration to South Texas by thousands of people from a  region in Europe, now in Poland, called Silesia.  Many of the FLMF supporters are descendants of those brave settlers.
 
In commemoration of the 200th Birthday of Poland's Fryderyk Chopin, a piano concert was performed by Dr. Jan Bogdan Drath, Founder of the Annual Chopin Workshop for Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Texas.
 
Following the concert, the guests proceeded into the elegant dining hall where the blessing was given by Rev. Robert Ploch of St. Joseph Church in Devine, Texas. During dinner a slide show by Fr. Robert Ploch was presented, "2010 Trip to the Holy Land" chronicling the latest annual trip sponsored by the FLMF.
 
Winners of the three FLMF Outstanding Service Awards were announced:
 

L-R: Rev. Monsignor Franciszek Kurzaj, FLMF President, presenting the Outstanding Service Award to Terry and Ronnie Urbanczyk, owners of Urban Concrete Contractors, LTD.

Mary Moczygemba accepts for the Family of Alphonse J. Moczygemba

Outstanding Service Award
Presented to the family of

Alphonse J. Moczygemba (posthumous)
and Mary Moravitz Moczygemba
For their exceptional contributions to the Silesian community of Texas

~and~

Outstanding Service Award
Presented to
Urban Concrete Contractors, LTD
For representing Silesia in Texas with sterling integrity and exceptional generosity. 
 Accepting the award were Ronnie and Terry Urbanczyk, owners.

~and~

Outstanding Service Award
Presented to
Snoga Bar-B-Cue
For representing Silesia in Texas with superior
generosity and community hospitality

Additionally, the four winners of the First Annual Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation Essay Contest were honored.  Each winner had received a special certificate in May of 2010 plus a $500 scholarship for college. Three of them, who could not attend, were:

Kathryn Moczygemba, who is now a senior at La Vernia High School

Meagan Hester, a 2010 graduate of La Vernia High School- now at UT Austin

Lauren Ashley Flieller , a 2010 graduate of Poth High School and now attending the University of the Incarnate Word

The fourth scholarship winner,  Blaise Christopher Yanta, was present at the Gala.  He was applauded by Father Kurzaj and the members of the FLMF. Yanta was a 2010 Runge High School graduate and is now in his first year at Texas A&M in Kingsville.  After researching the historical aspects, Blaise wrote a first-person story from the point of view of an inanimate object.  His unique essay was told from the perspective of the trunk brought from Silesia by his ancestors. 

The closing prayer was given by Sister Jane Gawlik, CSSF. The closing song was "Serdeczna Matko."
 
The Gala Committee included:   Jim and Dorothy Collins, Robert and Geraldine Piegza, Patricia Felux, Dorothy Moy, Denise & Dennis Stout, Charlotte & Jerry Truss, Al & Liz Helmke, Al and Lillian O'Berg, Evelyn and Rudy Lyssy, Lillian and Elmer Mzyk, Ferdinand Kotzur, Genny Kraus, Lorraine Pruski, Gladys Koenig, Mary Martinez, Sue Mason, Dorothy Pawelek, Janet Ebrom, Elaine Stephens, Adam and Aleksandra Gerbatowski, Sr. Emilia Rzeznik, OLS, Barbara Jendryczka, David Schraer, Francisco Monzon, David Gutierez, Humberto Guerrero; Fr. Robert Ploch, Leelann Garza; Jesus F. Ramirez, Emily Kolodziejcyk, Shirley and Tim Baney, Kathy and Edwin Keller.
 
The event was catered by Next Door Catering of New Berlin

 

 
An Invitation
from the
Members of the Polish American Priests Association of Texas

Grateful for the many signs of solidarity and the countless expressions of sympathy following the tragic death of the President of Poland, Professor Lech Kaczynski and his wife, Maria, along with 94 others who lost their lives near Smolensk, Russia, we the members of the Polish American Priests Association of Texas extend our warm invitation to all who would like to personally join us in mourning.  Among the many memorial services to be held all over Texas are the following Memorial Masses: 

 
April 17 in Dallas, Texas at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 2907 Woodall Rodgers Freeway on Saturday, at 6:00 p.m.;
 
April 18 in Panna Maria, Texas at Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. Catholic Church, the oldest Polish settlement in the United States, at 9:00 a.m.;
 
April 18 in Houston, Texas at  Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Church, 1712 Oak Tree Drive at 11:00 a.m.;
 
April 18 in San Antonio, Texas at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 3107 N. St. Mary's Street at 1:00 p.m.;
 
and a special Memorial Mass on April 20 in Austin, Texas at St. Mary Cathedral, 203 E. 10th Street at 7:00 p.m.   The Memorial Mass in Austin will be celebrated by the Most Rev. John W. Yanta, D. D., Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, with many P.A.P.A. priests concelebrating.
 
At each of these locations a Book of Condolences will be available for mourners to express their sympathy and solidarity with Poland.  The books will be sent to Poland by members of the P.A.P.A. of Texas.  All Texans including those of Polish descent are invited to attend these special Masses and continue to pray for the people of Poland.
 
Bus Trip is planned
For those who want to go to Austin from San Antonio for the Mass at St. Mary Cathedral, a bus trip is planned.  The bus will leave Holy Name Catholic Church, 3814 Nash Blvd. on Tuesday, April 20 promptly at 4:00 p.m.  A donation of $15 is suggested.  Reservations are required.  Please call Dorothy Pawelek at 210-333-7369 before 5pm on April 19.

6th 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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