Polish Times - Czas Polski - tygodnik polski w Detroit, USA

The West Side Detroit Polish American Historical Society (WSDPAHS) held their annual “Opłatek” on Sunday, December 27, at the historic St. Francis D’Assisi church on Detroit’s west side.

This year the event’s highlight was presentation of awards to West Side Detroit Polonia’s organists.  Edwin Waslawski (St. Casimir Parish), Albert Wieczorynski (St. Casimir Parish), Johnny Kash (Ss. Peter & Paul Parish), Bronisław Siarkowski (St. Alphonsus Parish), Tom Kuras (West Side organist) and Louis Darmofal (Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish).  The awards were handed out by member of the WSDPAHS Board - Laurie A. Gomulka and Bob Bielenda.

The event also included one of the most beloved tradition of Polish Wigilia (Christmas Dinner) - sharing of opłatek (Christmas wafer) and a organ concert of Polish Christmas carols presented by David Troiano, director of “Filarets” Choir.  He performed over ten wonderful Polish “kolędy”, including “Anioł pasterzom mówił”, “W żłobie leży”, “Przybieżeli do Betlejem”, “Bóg się rodzi” and “Z narodzenia Pana”.

Rev. Gary Michalik, member of the WSDPAHS Board, wished everyone present a Blessed and Healthy New Year 2010.

The West Side Detroit Polish American Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 2006 for the observation, study, appreciation, and preservation of the history of west side Detroit Polonia’s neighborhoods and the Polish-American immigrants who settled and continued to build the community throughout the decades.  This includes their descendants and their neighbors, surrounding institutions, businesses and churches.  The society also serves as a repository of historical archives, including artifacts, documents, oral history and other significant records relevant to its mission and purposes.  Its archives are located in the Heritage Room of St. Hedwig chuch (3245 Junction St.), the society’s headquarters.

To date, among WSDPAHS’s accomplishments is the listing of the historic “Dom Polski”, which is located just a few blocks from St. Hedwig church, in the National Register of Historic Places.

WSDPAHS’s most popular event is the annual pilgrimage to the Polish churches of the West Side Detroit.  It provides a much needed exposure to in many cases forgotten Polonia’s “treasures”.  Every event organized by WSDPAHS takes place in different historic location, which also makes for a great promotion.  Last year’s “Opłatek” which took place at St. Francis D’Assisi was for some a first chance to take a closer look at this magnificent building.  It is the second oldest Polish Parish on Detroit’s west side (the corner stone was laid in 1903 and completed in 1905).  The style of the church is Italian Renaissance with truly breathtaking interiors.  The current Pastor of St. Francis D’Assisi Parish is Rev. Robert Wojciechowski.

For further information on WSDPAHS please visit www.detroitpolonia.org.