National CONVENTIONS
& Moczygemba AWARDS
Convention # 1
1990
The birth of PAPA
San Antonio, TX
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Henry Moczygemba
Convention # 2
1991
The bylaws and objectives are adopted
Chicago, IL
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. Stanley Milewski
Convention # 3
1992
Newark, NJ
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. Martin Piasecki
Convention # 4
1993
Detroit, MI
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. Vincent Borkowicz
Convention # 5
1994
Hartford, CT
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. John Wodarski
Convention # 6
1995
The Pastoral Plan for Polonia is adopted by the delegates.
Brooklyn, NY
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. Edward Fas
Convention # 7
1996
Miami, FL
Moczygemba
AWARD
Most Rev. Thomas Wenski
Convention # 8
1997
(Society of Christ)
Los Angeles, CA
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Wladyslaw Gowin
Convention # 9
1998
Buffalo, NY
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. John Gabalski
Convention # 10
1999
Washington, D.C.
Moczygemba
AWARD
Very Rev. Canon Philip Majka
Convention # 11
2000
The 10th Anniversary of the founding of PAPA is observed
San Antonio, TX
Moczygemba
AWARD
Very Rev. Canon Bernard Goebel
Convention # 12
2001
Constitution and bylaws are amended
Albany, NY
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Boleslaus Watroba
Convention # 13
2002
Milwaukee, WI
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. Lawrence Bukaty
Convention # 14
2003
Detroit, MI
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. Walter Ziemba
Convention # 15
2004
Officially affiliate with the National Association of Priests’ Councils (NFPC)
Syracuse, NY
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. Casimir Krzysiak
Convention # 16
2005
Chicago, IL
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Edward Siedlecki
Convention # 17
2006
Newark, NJ
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. Joseph Marjanczyk
Convention # 18
2007
Cleveland, OH
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Ralph Bodziany
Convention # 19
2008
Orlando, FL
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Joseph Zawada
Convention # 20
2009
Brooklyn, NY
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Marion Gural
Convention # 21
2010
Orchard Lake, MI
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Stanislaw Elis
Convention # 22
2011
(Pauline Fathers)
Doylestown, PA
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Lucius Tyrasinskiy
Convention # 23
2012
Michigan City, IN
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. Zdzislaw Peszkowski
Convention # 24
2013
(Dioceses of Altoona-Johnstown, Greensburg & Pittsburgh)
Pittsburgh, PA
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Joseph Swierczynski
NO CONVENTION
2014
None: Canonization of JPII
Moczygemba
AWARD
No award recipient
Convention # 25
2015
25th Anniversary of founding of is observed PAPA
Hartford, CT
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. Daniel Plocharczyk
Convention # 26
2016
St. Louis, MO
Moczygemba
AWARD
Most Rev. Robert Carlson
Convention # 27
2017
Orchard Lake, MI
Moczygemba
AWARD
Msgr. Thomas C. Machalski, Jr. and Very Rev. Canon Walter Ptak
Convention # 28
2018
Cleveland, OH
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Gerald Keller
Convention # 29
2019
Syracuse, NY
Moczygemba
AWARD
Very Rev. Canon John Mikalajunas
NO CONVENTION
2020
POST COVID BREAK
Moczygemba
AWARD
No award recipient
NO CONVENTION
2021
POST COVID BREAK
Moczygemba
AWARD
No award recipient
NO CONVENTION
2022
POST COVID BREAK
Moczygemba
AWARD
No award recipient
NO CONVENTION
2023
POST COVID BREAK
Moczygemba
AWARD
No award recipient
Convention # 30
2024
Onboard Carnival Cruise to Bahamas
Miami, FL SEE MORE
Moczygemba
AWARD
Rev. Stanisław Rakiej, S.Chr.
Father Leopold Moczygemba
Patriarch of American Polonia
Father Leopold Moczygemba, son of Leopold Moczygemba and Ewa Krawietz, was bom October 18, 1824 at Wielka Pluznica in Upper Silesia near Opole. He died February 23, 1891 in Dearborn, Michigan. What did he do to become the Patriarch of American Polonia?
Young Leopold was ordained a priest in the Order of the Friars Minor Conventual at Pesaro, Italy, July 25, 1847. When the first bishop of Texas, Most Rev. John Odin, went to France and Bavarian Germany looking for priests in 1852 to come and serve the German speaking Catholics already in Texas at New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Castroville and D’Hanis, our Father Leopold volunteered.
Two years later, when four of his brothers accepted his invitation to emigrate to Texas, in 1854 - to his surprise, 96 other families came also. That necessitated an urgent, immediate response of establishing a new land development in Karnes County near where the Cibolo Creek empties into the San Antonio River. Thus, Panna Maria was founded on December 24, 1854.
A great Missionary in Texas for five years. Father Leopold Moczygemba spent the rest of his 34 years of priesthood working in 11 other states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. He spoke seven languages in his ministry and crossed the Atlantic Ocean nine times in search of religious personnel and funds.
He rose to the highest position in his religious order in America, was chairman of the first Polish convention in the USA in 1873, co-founded the Polish Seminary of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Detroit in 1885, and was a confessor at the First Vatican Council in Rome in 1869.
His body was re-buried October 13, 1974 in the church yard of Panna Maria as part of the Floresville Deanery celebration of the Centennial of the Diocese of San Antonio, now an archdiocese.
There were four other Moczygemba priests: another Leopold, who was born of the first marriage performed in Panna Maria; Thomas, the first native-born priest of Texas; Leo and Henry, who died March 2, 1995.
Father Leopold Moczygemba, like the compassionate Jesus, like the courageous Moses, and the energetic St. Paul in his many travels, was a giant of a man for God, his Church, and his Polish People. He ranks at the very top of great American Catholic pioneers. Father Leopold Moczygemba truly deserves the title: Patriarch of American Polonia!
The above is based on the bibliographies of Father Joseph Swastek and T. Lindsay Baker, and composed by Bishop Emeritus John W. Yanta of the Diocese of Amarillo.