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.