cpaa8603 Association of Polish Priests of Connecticut records 1952-1991 CPAA 86-03 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Renata Vickrey. Connecticut Polish American Archives, Elihu Burritt Library, Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, Conn.
2008

© Central Connecticut State University. All rights reserved.

 Finding aid encoded in MSWord2008-06-13 Finding aid written in English Collection Overview Association of Polish Priests of Connecticut(APPC) Association of Polish Priests of Connecticut Records 1952-1991 CPAA 86-03 4 boxes (2 linear ft.) Connecticut Polish American Archives, Elihu Burritt Library, Central Connecticut State University This Collection illustrates the establishment and years of activities of the Association of Polish Priests of Connecticut (APPC). The association was initially established under the Polish name Zjednoczenie Kaplanow Polskich in 1915. The main mission of the association was to establish a religious association of clergy who shared common ethnic heritage. The association represented interests of Polish clergy within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church which was almost exclusively run by clergy of Irish heritage. The APPC was instrumental in organizing celebration of the Millennium of Polish Christianity in 1966, which was a hallmark of public manifestation of religious and cultural links between Polish Americans and the country of their forefathers. The association made numerous financial contributions to the Catholic Church in Poland and sponsored major book publication - a biography of Monsignor Bojnowski. In February of 1991 the association becomes an affiliate member of a national organization - the Polish American Priests Association which was established in San Antonio, Texas. English and Polish. Historical Note

Priests from Connecticut and Polish catholic parishes formed the Association of Polish Priests of Connecticut initially under the Polish name Zjednoczenie Polskich Kaplanow in 1915. For over thirty years Rev. John J. Pitrus led the association. In the 1960s the organization started evolving towards a more formal structure and the first Constitution was approved in 1967. It listed its goals as promotion and effective communication among priests of Polish origin. The association provided priests with ways to find solutions to common problems in ethnic parishes and to help Catholics of Polish origin. The association promoted religious, cultural and social development of parishioners of Polish origin. This started when Priests of Polish origin were looking for ways to find support and solutions to the problems in ethnic parishes and the catholic hierarchy was not openly supporting ethnic parishes. The hierarchy was mostly Irish and priests of non-Irish origin. It was not in the hierarchy's agenda to promote ethnic parishes and promote the cultural and social development of parishioners of Polish origin. Therefore the Association of Polish priests in Connecticut was a medium to find common ground to problems and their solutions and also provided social network for ethnic priests. The celebration of the Millennium of Polish Christianity in 1966 was the first state wide manifestation of strong religious and cultural roots of Polish American Catholics with Poland. Several years later, in 1969, the association celebrated 50-th anniversary of Poland's independence and during the same year they invited Cardianl Karol Wojtyla of Cracow to Connecticut, who later become Pope John Paul II. In 1991 the APPC celebrated 150 anniversary of the oldest Polish parish in Connecticut, the Saint Stanislaus church in Meriden. The following years brought more anniversaries and reasons for celebration and displaying unity among Polish and Polish American clergy.

 Scope and Contents of the Collection

Material in the collection illustrates partially the history and evolution of the association. First bound volume of minutes, written in Polish, is dated from 1946 till 1971. Additional minutes are arranged by date together with correspondence; other documents related to major events and projects organized by the Association are also arranged by date. Material related to significant events like Poland's Millennium of Christianity is arranged separately. Collection also includes copy of a constitution, mailing lists, sermons, a typescript of publication related to the history of the association tiled "An interpretive history" by Rev. T. Mierzwinski (1971, 45 pp.), and several photo albums from various events. Material is arranged in 3 series:Series IMinutes and correspondenceSeries IIPoland's Millennium of Christianity and other anniversariesSeries III History, constitution and activities

The collection is open for research.

 Preferred Citation

Cite as: Association of Polish Priests of Connecticut Records (CPAA 86-03). Connecticut Polish American Archives, Elihu Burritt Library, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain.

The records were donated by Msgr. John P. Wodarski, who was a president of the organization at that time. First part was donated in 1986 and the second in 1991.

Processed by ew and rv, 2008.

 Search Terms Association of Polish Priests of Connecticut. Wodarski, John P.(John Paul), 1905- Mierzwinski, Theophil T., 1924- Catholics, Polish -- Connecticut. Polish Americans -- Religious life -- Connecticut. New Britain (Conn. : Town) Correspondence Minutes Clippings Photographs Financial records Related Material Rev. John P. Wodarski Collection, CPAA 86-02 Rev. Alphonse P. Fiedorczyk Papers, CPAA 88-06 Series 1. Minutes and correspondence 1946-1991 1 1 Minutes of Assocaition of Polish Priests of Connecticut, Hartford Diocese. 1946-1971 1 2 Minutes 1957-1962 1 3 Minutes 1972-1979 1 4 Minutes 1979-1981 1 5 Minutes 1981-1983 1 6 Correspondence 1952-1958 1 7 Correspondence 1960-1965 1 8 Correspondence 1967-1971 1 9 Correspondence 1974-1979 1 10 Minutes and scattered correspondence 1980-1985 1 11 Correspondence, notes, memos 1987 1 12 Correspondence, notes, memos 1988 1 13 Correspondence, minutes and related photographs (from the Harvest Festival in New Britain) 1989 1 14 Correspondence, minutes, memos 1990 1 15 Correspondence and related material 1991 1 16 Meeting announcements 1969-1970 Series 2. Poland's Millennium of Christianity and other anniversaries 1966-1991 2 1 Correspondence, announcements, pt.1 1966 2 1 Poland's Millennium of Christianity - correspondence, announcements, pt.1 1966 2 2 Poland's Millennium of Christianity - correspondence, announcements, pt.2 1966 2 3 Millennium of Poland's Christianity - program, homily delivered during the mass and related notes 1966 2 4 Poland's Millennium of Christianity - financial contributions 1966 2 5 Poland's Millennium of Christianity - clippings 1966 2 6 Tribute to Mary celebration - correspondence, program, financial contributions 1969 2 7 Cardinal Karol Wojtyla visit - program, announcements, financial contributions 1969 2 8 Cardinal Karol Wojtyla's visit - clippings 1969 2 9 Celebration of the election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla to be the Pope John Paul II - correspondence, announcements, program 1978 2 9 Celebration of the election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla to be the Pope John Paul II - correspondence, announcements, program 1978 2 10 Century of Polonia Celebration - letterhead, logo, buttons, special prayer cards 1991 2 11 Century of Polonia Celebration 1891-1991 - Jozef Cardinal Glemp, Polish Primate, visit to Connecticut - correspondence, official program and other material related to the event 1991 2 12 Visit of Cardinal Gulbinowicz from Wroclaw, Poland - photo album 1988 Series 3. History, constitution and activities 1967-1990 3 1 "The Associaiton of Polish priests in Connecticut: an interpretative history" by Rev. Theophil Mierzwinski 1971 3 2 "Koscielne dzieje Polonii w Connecticut, 1870-1986 by Rev. Boleslaw Kumor circa 1990 3 3 Constitution 1967 3 4 Bojnowski book Project - proposal, correspondence 1969-1974 3 5 3 letters concerning young priests of the association 1971 3 6 Deceased members of the association 1972 3 7 Association of Polish Priests - memorial mass 1986 3 8 Mailing list 1982 3 9 Financial records 1941-1978 3 10 Financial donations to assist Catholic Church in Poland and to scholarship fund at SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary 1969 3 11 Financial donations for Catholic Relief in Poland, related correspondence, receipts, and photograph of Msgr. Wodarski, Rev. Wysocki and unnamed priest 1980-1982 3 12 Financial donations to Pope John Paul II Pilgrims' Center between 1980-1985 3 13 Copy of an acknowledgment of financial donation to Solidarity Trade Unions in Poland signed by Lech Walesa 1980 3 14 Vatican II changes in the Mass liturgy and its implementation by Association of Polish Priests of Connecticut 1969 3 15 Vicar for the Clergy, nomination of Msgr. John P. Wodarski 1969 3 16 List of undergraduate and graduate students from the Holy Cross Parrish 1969-1970 3 17 Impressions of American Polonia, an essay by Bishop Albin Matysiak from Poland 1971 3 18 Cardianl Stefan Wyszynski justification for Beatification process of Father Maximilian Kolbe 1971 3 19 Report from the Ethnic Convention of clergy and non clergy delegates 1975 3 20 St. Stanislaus church in Meriden vs. Loyal Parishioners group controversy, related correspondence and clippings 1975 3 21 Sermon delivered by Msgr. L.B. Blecharczyk during mass for Katyn Massacre victims 1977 3 22 The historical geography of Polish American Ecclesiastical Institutions, an essay by Daniel S. Buczek 1978 3 23 Memorial mass for APPC, photo album 1979 3 24 Msgr. George Bartlewski's 70th Anniversary of Priesthood Jubilee 1985 3 25 Program of the Polish American Priest convention, San Antonio, Texas 1990