The Polish Mission's First Annual Wigilia Dinner Ceil Wendt Jensen The Polish Mission's First Annual Wigilia Dinner was held on the campus of Orchard Lake Sunday, December 7, 2008. In attendance were members and friends of the Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan (PGSM) <pgsm.org>, The University of Michigan's Center for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) < <http://www.ii.umich.edu/crees> www.ii.umich.edu/crees> , the West Side Detroit Polish American Historical Association (WSDPAHS) < <http://www.detroitpolonia.org> www.detroitpolonia.org>, and alumni of St. Mary's of Orchard Lake. The event drew attendees from across the state and even alumni from Indiana. Laurie Palazzolo, Vice President and Executive Director/ Secretary of WSDPAHS and Bill Krul president of PGSM helped advertise the event which followed the monthly the Polish Mass in the shrine chapel. The room was transformed into a festive setting complete with a Christmas tree, poinsettias, and red and tablecloths and napkins. Each guest received a handful of symbolic hay and a program from Michelle Chumiecki, the Director's eight year old daughter. While Marian Owczarski, Galeria Director, couldn't attend since he was busy in the Galeria greeting children in his St. Nicolas garb, he loaned one of the many Szopka from the Galeria collection for display. Marcin Chumiecki, director of The Polish Mission, welcomed the attendees, and asked those present to contact him will ideas and suggestions on how the Polish Mission could serve them. He introduced Chancellor Whalen, who wished everyone a happy and holy season. He also shared his childhood memory of tasting Oplatek at his grandmother's home years before his made his First Communion. As a young boy he was delighted to be able to taste the host-like wafer and thought it was a wonderful treat. Karen Majewska , Director of the Polish and Rare Books Collection and The Central Archives of American Polonia Archives spoke about the "Ksiega Pamiatkowa" recently found in the archives- letters of thanks written by Polish school children in 1922 thank the U.S. for their support during WWI. The inspiration for the gift was the popular schoolroom custom of presenting a classmate or teacher with an album inscribed by each child with good wishes, drawings, a favorite poem or a signature in commemoration of some special occasion. Please see: http://web.mac.com/polishmission/Site/1922_collection.html Similar letters entitled Polish Declarations of Admiration and Friendship for the United States, 1926 were sent to the United States to honor the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. They can be found on the Library of Congress website: http://international.loc.gov/intldl/pldechtml/pldechome.html Ceil Wendt Jensen, professional genealogist, <mipolonia.net> who is developing the Polonica Americana Research institute on campus spoke about the workshops, classes and seminars that will be offered in 2009. Rev. Stanislaw Flis of the Polish-American Liturgical Center < http://liturgicalcenter.org/ > gave each guest a copy of his publication the bi-lingual missalette, Pan z Wami. The bi-lingual version of the prayer book is published to help the many Polish parishes and numerous Polonian communities which, due to the interaction of natural processes of assimilation and integration, lose their knowledge of the proper Polish language and, therefore, are unable to benefit fully of the liturgy conducted in their native language. Fr. Flis also lead the group in prayers preceding the sharing of Oplatek. Steve Frayer, organist at St. Steven's parish and WSDPAHS member, accompanied Fr. Flis in the ceremony, and lead the group in Kolędy after the meal. Guests agreed that sharing the traditions of the Wigilia dinner and sipping mulled wine was the perfect way to meet the Polish Mission Director and hear the plans to revitalize and enhance the programs and buildings on the campus of Orchard Lake. Interested in the programs of The Polish Mission? Contact Marcin Chumiecki at 248-683-0412 mchumiecki@orchardlakeschools.com http://polishmission.com