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Concrete Texture

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.

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