2022 Wianki, Polish Celebration of Noc Świętojańska (St. John’s Night)

Celebrating Constitution of May 3, 1791 in Polish Center of Wisconsin

2022 POLISH CONSTITUTION DAY
in Polish Center of Wisconsin

The 1791 Constitution was celebrated this year through Words, Music and Imagery. A series of five posters featuring the most iconic images related to the May 3rd Constitution provided a spectacular backdrop for the performance of Chopin’s music and remarks explaining the critical importance of this remarkable document.

The Hon. Francis T. Wasielewski was the pianist of the evening. A Judge of the Wisconsin Circuit Court for Milwaukee County for 28 years, he also pursues his life long love for music (studies at the University of Indiana School of Music and Wisconsin Conservatory of Music). He was President of the Polish Heritage Alliance of Wisconsin (2004 to 2009) and now sits on the Board of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Chopin’s compositions played at the event:
Mazurka opus 6, No.3 in E major
Prelude opus 24, No. 4 in E minor
Prelude opus 24 No. 19 in E flat major
Grande Waltz Brilliante in E flat major opus 18
Etude opus 10 No. 3 in E major
Polonaise opus 40 No. 1 in A major

► event program ◄

2022 celebration
photo gallery

On the Significance of the Constitution and the Poster Exhibit

Remarks by Donald E. Pienkos
Professor Emeritus of Political Science

Tonight we celebrate an event that took place 231 years ago tomorrow, an event of great significance for Poland and for the cause of representative self government. It is the anniversary of the vote in Poland’s parliament that approved a new Constitution for the country. This Constitution, Europe’s first modern Constitution, is strikingly similar to our own Constitution that was ratified in 1789, just two years before.

Poland’s Constitution was indeed both remarkable – and critical to Poland’s very survival. It provided for a properly functioning parliament, an independent judiciary, and a strong executive. It created a permanent standing army to defend the country. At the same time the ‘May Third Constitution’ reaffirmed Poland’s tradition of religious toleration, respect for individual rights and the rule of law while declaring – for the very first time – that the country’s vast peasant population was part of the nation and under the government’s protection.

When the news of the Constitution came out, it won praise from freedom-loving people everywhere.

The Constitution reflected a concerted effort by patriotic Poles, including its reform-minded King, Stanislaus Poniatowski, to do away with the profound defects in its government that had left a once great country “in a perpetual state of near anarchy.” In doing so, they aimed at regaining Poland’s full independence in its dealings with the three giant powers on its borders – imperial Russia to the east, Habsburg Austria to the south, and German Prussia to the west.

From left to right in the front row: Professor Donald Pienkos and Hon. Francis T. Wasielewski

Indeed, less than twenty years before in 1772, those three superpowers, led by Empress Catherine II of Russia, had seized 30 percent of the country – a shocking act of aggression that our history books far too politely call “the first partition of Poland”.

But the new Constitution would last just 14 months. Some nobles, who in one historian’s words, held “views that epitomized the worst vices of the old Poland,” opposed its passage. Here, Catherine II took full advantage of their complaints by sending in a massive 100,000 man army to restore the old disorder.

Despite the heroic efforts by Poland’s vastly outnumbered forces, Russia and its Prussian ally prevailed in the war that followed. In 1793 they seized three-fifths of the country. Catherine then ordered a counterfeit Parliament to nullify the Constitution.

But only months later, Gen. Thaddeus Kosciuszko, who had served with distinction in our own War for Independence, led an insurrection to save Poland. But his last ditch effort was crushed. The three partitioners then divided up what little remained of the country. Poland would not regain its independence for 123 years – in 1918.

However, the memory of the Constitution did not die. As Mark Brzezinski, our new U.S. Ambassador to Poland, wrote in his book,The Struggle for Constitutionalism in Poland, its ideals inspired future generations of patriots. He cites one observer who declared, “The miracle of the Constitution did not save the Polish state. But it did save the Polish nation.” Indeed, after 1918 and again after 1989, the May Third Constitution has been celebrated as a great national day in independent Poland.

In closing let me note that in every country, there are moments that help define what its people stand for and aspire to be. For example, in our own America we have the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776 and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address of 1863. In England there are Winston Churchill’s stirring words to rally the nation following the calamity of Dunkirk in 1940. In Poland there is the amazing election of June 4, 1989 that led to the collapse of communist rule and paved the way for the end of the Cold War. And there is the Constitution of May Third 1791.

Despite the heroic efforts by Poland’s vastly outnumbered forces, Russia and its Prussian ally prevailed in the war that followed. In 1793 they seized three-fifths of the country. Catherine then ordered a counterfeit Parliament to nullify the Constitution.

Now let me turn briefly to the Posters displayed tonite. The work of the Polish Center, they vividly tell the story of the Constitution and in various art forms.

The first shows what Poland looked like before and after the first partition of 1772. Poland’s king and the Empress of Russia, who were once young lovers, are pictured as they were in 1791 when they were much older.

The painting in the second panel is based on an eye witness drawing and shows the parliament at the moment of the vote to approve the Constitution. One of its authors is also shown.

The fourth panel portrays the joyous procession that followed the passage of the Constitution as conceived by the great Painter Jan Matejko. The king is at the left. Two of its authors are shown as well.

The final panel includes a fragment of Jan Styka’s painting of Kosciuszko’s victory over a large Russian army at Raclawice in April 1794. Together, nobles, townspeople, and peasants won that day – a high point in the fight for Poland. The monumental Raclawice Panorama is on permanent display today, inshrined in the city of Wroclaw.



This event was sponsored by The Milwaukee Society of the Polish National Alliance, in Cooperation with the Polish Center of Wisconsin and support from the Wisconsin Division of the Polish American Congress. Special Thanks for creating the Poster Exhibit go to Mr Jeff Kuderski, Executive Director of the Polish Center and Polish Fest, and Mr Jim Gaffney.

Saturday, May 7th, 2022 Newsletter No Comments

2022 Polish Constitution Day, Polish Flag Day and the Day of Polonia

“Polish Pope, John Paul II, and his
epochal 1979 pilgrimage to his homeland”

Lecture by NEAL PEASE
Professor Emeritus of History
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 

May 10, 2022 at 6:30P.M.

Pope John Paul II’s three pilgrimages to his homeland began on June 2 1979. The Pope visited Warsaw, Gniezno, Częstochowa, Cracow, Kawaria Zebrzydowska, Wadowice, Oświęcim, Nowy Targ and again Crakow.

► Flyer PDF◄

2022 March Bulletin

Why has Poland been so generous and welcoming to these Ukrainian refugees and why has the Polish Government led the way in calling for sanctions against Russia? The answer is simple. We Poles understand, probably better than anyone, what it means to be attacked for no just cause by a neighboring power, especially Russia. And we Poles understand what it is like to have to fight and resist a belligerent invader – alone – as the invader tries to take our land, tries to destroy our culture, and tries to nullify our nation. Poland is now showing the world that, in contrast to its own tragic experiences, no nation should have to fight such evil aggression alone; if we do not stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, we might be the next victims.

Richard A. Walawender, Honorary Consul
Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Detroit

In the weeks and days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Polish government was estimating that about 1 million Ukrainians might seek refuge in Poland. One month since the invasion’s onset, the actual number is over 2.3 million on March 30, 2022. With the total number at 4 million, Poland disproportionately bears the brunt of the invasion-caused exodus by accepting more refugees than all other countries combined. As these numbers keep increasing, so does the incredible strain on resources that Poland expends – so generously and in an exemplary fashion – to accommodate the overwhelming influx of refugees. That’s why donations to aid the country of our ancestors is still needed and the list of funds that still accept them can be found on this page.

Support is also urgently needed to complete the production of the phenomenal “NO GREATER ALLY” documentary chronicling the impact of Polish soldiers, airmen, and seamen during World War II. Scroll down to read the letter explaining the needs and watch the related videos.

2022 Polonia For Ukraine Donations

Polish American Congress calls for action
to help the Ukrainian refuges in Poland

Living for centuries under the shadow of Russian aggression, Poland responded with an astounding generosity to Ukrainians fleeing their country after Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022. So far over 1,300,000 refuges have poured into Poland and more are still on the way. These huge numbers notwithstanding, they are welcomed with sympathy and assistance offered by the various branches of government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses, and individual citizens – some housing the refuges in their own homes (read more on the PAC website).

To download the flier, click on the image above or on the red text below
► PAC Radiothon ◄

Here’s how you can help:

To support organizations that provide relief to the victims of Russian aggression, please consider donating to the POLONIA FOR UKRAINE fund. Through the Council on Aid to Ukrainians of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the money will be distributed to cover medical needs for citizens in Ukraine and refugee needs in Poland.

Here is a link to donate by PayPal or credit card
► Credit, debit or PayPal ◄

Donations can be made also by writing checks payable to Polish American Congress (memo line – Polonia for Ukraine), and sending them to: PAC Treasurer Micheline Jaminski, 984 North Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60642 or delivering to Polish National Alliance, 6100 N. Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60646.

You can also make a pledge or donation by calling Polish Daily News at (773)763-3343 during the “Polonia for Ukraine” Radiothon aired on WPNA 103.1 FM (wpna.fm) at the following times:
Friday, March 11th, 6am-6pm; Saturday, March 12, 8am-6pm; Sunday, March 13, 10am-2pm.

Another option is the POLAND’S UKRAINIAN ASSISTANCE FUND established in the Polish Center of Wisconsin in Franklin WI. Avoiding the overhead costs, all monetary donations to this fund will go directly to the trusted people providing relief “on the ground zero” in Poland.

The HELP UKRAINE NOW fund, set up by the NYC-based Kosciuszko Foundation under the motto “Stand With Ukraine: For Your Freedom & Ours, ” adopted a similar mode of funds distribution. In fact, the foundation’s president is working in person on the Polish-Ukrainian border and among other deeds, has opened to the refugees his own house located close to the border.

To round off the list of choices, the Embassy of Poland in Washington D.C. suggests donating to these Polish humanitarian aid organizations that accept donations in foreign currencies:

• Polish Center of International Aid (PCMP);
• Polish Humanitarian Action (PCMP);
• Caritas Polska (forms only in Polish);
• Ocalenie Foundation;
• Polish Medical Mission (Polska Misja Medyczna);
• Polish Red Cross (Polski Czerwony Krzyż PCK).

Last edits on March 28, 2022