Milwaukee, WI - (Photos)Officers and members of the PRCUA were blessed with beautiful weather as they traveled to Milwaukee, WI, to attend the Annual Mass in honor of the PRCUA's Patron, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on Sunday, June 24th. Some went by motor coach - others drove - to St. Josaphat Basilica, located on the historic South Side of Milwaukee, WI, at the southwest corner of West Lincoln Avenue and South Sixth Street. Upon their arrival, everyone was awestruck by the sheer size and magnificence of the Basilica, whose beauty and awe-inspiring décor takes one's breath away. Patterned after St. Peter's in Rome, St. Josaphat has all the elements of a classical Romanesque Basilica and it has been designated by the city of Milwaukee as an official landmark.

In order to qualify for the Church’s designation of “Basilica,” certain requirements must be met: it must be a place of pilgrimage and special devotion, a center of historic significance for the Faith, and architecturally and artistically qualified for such an honor.

The monumental task of building this vast structure was first conceived in the mind of Fr. William Grutza, who had constructed the first church in 1888 and saw it consumed by flames a year later. Due to the quickly growing Polish Catholic population on the then far South Side of Milwaukee, the second church proved entirely inadequate to meet the needs of the growing parish even before its construction was completed. In 1896, Fr. Grutza contacted Erhard Brielmaier, an architect specializing in ecclesiastical work, and commissioned him to draw up plans for a structure that would meet the present and future requirements of his huge parish.

That same year, in a stroke of fate, Fr. Grutza went to Chicago and while there, he learned of the razing of that city's old Post Office and Customs House to make room for a more modern structure. The entire building was made of stone and was in excellent condition. Father Grutza purchased stone and fixtures and had the material shipped via 500 flatcars to Milwaukee to be used in the construction of the church. This includes six granite columns and carved stone capitals which became the entrance facade of the new church.

The dome - which was the fifth largest in the world at that time - required reinforced steel for the foundation. Steel rails were used to reinforce the concrete footings under each of the eight piers supporting the 214-foot dome. Thus, the building of St. Josaphat Church was the first large-scale attempt at iron construction in the United States. Finally, in 1901, the church was officially dedicated. Unfortunately, one month later, its pastor died. The decoration of the interior of the church, which was not begun until 1926 due to financial restraints, was completed in 1928 by Artists Conrad Scmitt and Gonippo Raggi. Just one year later - in 1929 - Saint Josaphat’s was declared a Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XI - then the third church to receive this honor in the U.S.A.

The Basilica is also a Franciscan center for prayer and spirituality, deeply rooted in Roman Catholicism and Polish culture. In 1991, the St. Josaphat Basilica Foundation was formed to undertake a capital campaign for the restoration and renovation of this historic landmark. In 2002, the Basilica celebrated the Holy Year of the Great Jubilee with the opening of the Pope John Paul II Pavilion, which is the Basilica's Visitor's Center.

Chaplains, along with present and past officers and members of the Board of Directors processed into the Church at the beginning of the Sacred Heart Mass. They included President and Mrs. Wallace Ozog; Resident Vice President Anna Sokolowski and her husband, Mark; Vice President Robert and Eleanor Bielenda; Secretary-Treasurer Joyce Szarowicz and her husband, Walter; President Emeritus Edward Dykla and his wife, Loretta; Past Treasurer and Past Director of District 7, Joseph Boruta; Past Director of District 2, William Mrowka; Past Director of District 7, Stephan Delonka and his wife, Irene; PRCUA flag bearers, James Robaczewski of District 7; John Frankowicz of District 8; and Paul Pawlowski of District 9; Dir. Kaz Zabek and his wife, Freida of District 1; Dir. Joanne Zajac and Dir. and Mrs. Edward Kaplaniak of District 3; Dir. Joan Sylak of District 5; Dir. Sharon Haberski and her husband, Steve, of District 6; Dir. and Mrs. Robert Bugielski and Dir. Lillian Stempinski of District 7; Dir. Krystyna Lech and her husband, Ted, of District 8; Dir. Elizabeth Grabowski and her husband, Konrad, of District 9; Dir. Barbara Toboy of District 10 and Dir. Thomas Lisiecki of District 10.

Concelebrating the Mass were PRCUA Chaplain Rev. Walter J. Ptak, Vice Chaplain Rev. Canon Anthony D. Iwuc and Vice Chaplain Rev. Monsignor Stanley E. Milewski, with Rev. Ronald Kotecki from Immaculate Conception Parish in Milwaukee, WI. Rev. Ptak gave the homily and the PRCUA officers brought up the gifts at the Offertory. The Mass was offered for the living and deceased members of the PRCUA. Beautiful liturgical music, in both English and Polish, was provided by the New Life Choir. Special thanks are extended to Rev. James Jankowski, Pastor and Rector, the Conventual Franciscans for hosting the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America at St. Josaphat’s and to Director Sharon Haberski, staff of the FLIA Office - A Division of the PRCUA - in Greenfield, WI and the Committee for making the arrangements and handling the details.

After Mass, everyone enjoyed a delightful buffet luncheon at the Crocus Restaurant in Milwaukee. Rev. Ronald Kotecki gave the Invocation and Dir. Sharon Haberski welcomed all the guests.

Afterwards, the PRCUA group participated in the Polish Fest along Lake Michigan in Milwaukee. Members of the Wesoly Lud Polish Folk Dance Ensemble of the PRCUA danced at two differet stages at the Festival on Sunday. They received rousing applause form an appreciative audience.

Photos