Panna Maria Heritage Center

Visitor Experience, #5 in Series

Immigration to Texas/Texas Silesian Settlements 1854-2015

THE FIVE MOCZYGEMBA PRIESTS This painting will be 8 ft. wide and 6 ft. tall. You probably recognize the one in the center is

the famous Father Leopold, founder of Panna Maria and the Patriarch of American Polonia;

the word “Polonia” describes the 12 million Polish people who presently live in our nation. Can

you recognize the other four? The other four Moczygemba Priests will be identified in a

coming newsletter.

Arrival in Texas 1854, Settlers Trek to San Antonio/Panna Maria

The first Silesian settlers arrived in Galveston on December 3, 1854. They wore Silesian

clothing, heavy blue woolen coats, small crowned, wide brimmed hats and wooden shoes.

The men wore heavy wool pants and wool coats. The women wore Silesian peasant

dresses, scandalously short by American standards; the ankle was visible. They brought

their bedding, kitchen utensils, farm equipment and religious articles from home.

When they arrived in Galveston they found people from a variety of different cultures, i.e.,

cowboys, Native Americans, Mexicans, Europeans, Black slaves, and Americans. The

Silesians neither spoke nor understood any English.

Fr. Moczygemba was not there to meet them. They managed to acquire boat transportation

to the port of Indianola, Texas, further down the coast. From there they hired Mexican ox

carts to take them and their belongings overland to San Antonio.

Our Ancestors arrival in Texas; this temporary pencil drawing will be in color in our center.

The caravan of bewildered, beleaguered, extremely tired immigrants, our ancestors, arrived in San

Antonio, Tuesday, December 21st. Father Moczygemba was not there to meet them. He had been

transferred to Castroville in his new appointment as head of the Conventual Franciscans in Texas.

As soon as he found out that they had arrived, he went to meet his brothers, relatives, and kinsmen.

What a reunion!

Father welcomed them, and announced to them that they needed to travel three more days back

towards the Gulf coast. He assured them he had secured land for them at a place where a river (San

Antonio) and a running creek (Cibolo) meet. The land had been surveyed thoroughly previously by

Father Leopold and a prominent real estate agent, John Twohig, who was Catholic. I assume that

some of the members of the group, namely the craftsmen, remained in San Antonio after seeing the

stores, homes, and Catholic Church of San Fernando. Perhaps others decided to also stay in San

Antonio for various reasons. Further historical research is needed.

On Friday, December 24th, they finally arrived at the designated location. At this new place, they

would finally have the opportunity to celebrate and worship freely, live according to their customs

and values, and be able to make a better life for themselves and us their descendants. There was

nothing there except a livery – a small building where horses could be feed and cared for – on the

La Bahia Road, a trail to historic Goliad.

Divine Providence chose that place to reward their strong faith by offering Christmas Midnight

Mass (Pasterka) in thanksgiving under the oak tree that still stands there today. The oak tree

which can live for hundreds of years is a great symbol of their strength of will to endure, and even

welcome the trials, crosses, “ups and downs” of life peacefully, even joyfully. Their devotion and

love of Mary, Mother of God’s son, Jesus, led Father Moczygemba to the place he named Panna

Maria, Virgin Mary in Polish. Thus you have the oldest Polish parish in the USA and the oldest

permanent Polish settlement in the USA – December 24, 1854, Panna Maria, Texas.

Christmas Midnight Mass under the Great Oak tree; this temporary pencil drawing will be in

color in our center, 11 feet wide and 6 feet tall.

WESOŁYCH ŚWIĄT BOŻEGO NARODZENIA

A merry and Holy Christmas to you all from the Panna Maria Heritage Center, its Board of

Directors, Fund Raising Committee, Construction Committee, Consultants, Honorary

Directors, Major Donors, Heritage Circle Members, all of our generous donors, those family

treasures that have been scanned into our abundant archives, our many saintly supporters

– Prayer: the Greatest Power on Earth!

Panna Maria Heritage Center Foundation P.O. Box 28125

San Antonio, Texas 78228

Naming Opportunities

(#1-4 indicate Newsletter number with description)

#1 Building (Seed money, present and permanent support) Bishop Yanta Trust in memory

of his parents John and Mary Pollok Yanta) ................................................................................ $3,000,000

#3 Rotunda ..................................................................................................................................................... $1,000,000

Rotunda Saints

#3 Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Czestochowa ..................................................................... $750,000

#3 Saints Cyril and Methodius .................................................................................................... $750,000

#3 Saint Hedwig ................................................................................................................................ $500,000

#3 Saint Stanislaus ........................................................................................................................... $500,000

#3 Saint Hyacinth ............................................................................................................................. $500,000

#3 Saint Pope John Paul II ............................................................................................................ $500,000

Multipurpose Room and Temporary Exhibit Space ......................................................................... $500,000

Theater ............................................................................................................................................................. $1,000,000

Library and Genealogy Research Room ................................................................................................. $100,000

(Taken by Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation)

Entry and Reception ................................................................................................................................... $1,000,000

#2 Lobby ..................................................................................................................................... $100,000 and above

#2 (Heritage Circle (Major) donors will have their names prominently displayed in lobby)

Current Heritage Circle Donors

In loving memory of Sam, Sr. and Faustina Woytasczyk Kotara by her children

The George Kowalik Family, in memory of Melchior & Anna Kowalik and Thomas & Hedwig Czerner Kowalik

In memory of Lambert and Lillian Plasczyk Respondek by Dr. Martha Respondek

Pat and Barbara Moczygemba Hoffmann

In memory of Vincent and Leona Zezula Janysek by children

The Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation

In memory of our grandparents Louis & Anastasia Janysek Pawelek and Theodore & Eleanora Dragon Labus by Randy & Debbie, Ryan & Rebekah Pawelek

The Andy and Joyce Rives Family in memory of Alvin James Pawelek

In memory of Lambert and Rosalie (Pawelek) Titzman families

In memory of John and Mary Yanta by Joe and Joyce Yanta

In memory of Philip Dziuk and Mary Ann Moczygemba

by great-grandson Bishop John W. Yanta

In memory of John Pollok and Anna Gorzel by great-grandson Bishop John W. Yanta

Kenedy Memorial Foundation

Valero Energy Foundation

In memory of John and Mary Yanta by Ernest Yanta

In memory of John A. and Mary Yanta by Valeria, Ernest, John, †Fabian and Joe

In memory of Fabian Yanta by Anonymous

John A. and Mary Yanta Memorial Trust by Bishop John W. Yanta, Trustee

Heritage Circle Information

The Panna Maria Heritage Circle has been created to celebrate the strong threads that tie the future to the past and honor our most faithful supporters of the Heritage Center. Through the Heritage Circle we honor those who have been shown their strong, early commitment to the Panna Maria Heritage Center. Members of the Heritage Circle will have made major gift commitments of $100,000+. In acknowledgment and appreciation of their support, Heritage Circle Members will receive:

Inclusion on a special permanent fixture in the Main Entry Lobby A naming opportunity in the Heritage Center commensurate with the size of their

gift (members will have first selection of naming opportunities) Invitation to special VIP events throughout the course of the project Participation at a VIP level in the Groundbreaking and the Dedication and Ribbon

Cutting Special listing at the site during construction A special commemorative gift Lifetime membership to the Heritage Center

There are 77 Naming Opportunities for various exhibits, statues, paintings, rooms, areas, etc., to sponsor or remember a loved one in a memorial. Money can be given in many forms: pledges over time, estimates of giving, yearly gifts, in-kind gifts, insurance, royalty, year-end gifts, etc. PMHC is a IRS 501, c, 3 non-profit organization. Your gift is tax deductible. Your CPA can be helpful. If you have any questions, please call 210-263-7270 or contact the Board of Directors and Fundraising Committee: Bishop John Yanta, Msgr. Frank Kurzaj, Fr. Wieslaw Iwaniec, Al Notzon, Pat and Barbara Hoffmann, Sam and Suzy Kotara, Betty and George Kowalik, Loretta and Adrian Niestroy, Al Notzon, Randy Pawelek, Norman Pollok, Cheryl Pruski, Dr. Martha Respondek, Joyce Rives, Lambert and Rosalie Titzman, John Wojtasczyk, and Joe Yanta. Some members of the Heritage Circle have done so by going together as siblings and/ or payments spread out over time. These are good will estimates of giving which might require even more time or consideration due to economic conditions beyond control. The Center is a memorial to our Silesian Polish Immigrant ancestors! God has truly blessed us though them!

MORE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES

Interactive Display of Polish Family Names, and Texas Silesian Polish Settlements ........ $250,000

Arched Mural (Family Prayer and 12 Monitors) ............................................................................... $250,000

Conference Room ............................................................................................................................................ $100,000

Concession Area ............................................................................................................................................... $250,000

Computer Room/Genealogy Video Room ............................................................................................. $250,000

Historic Fireplace ............................................................................................................................................ $150,000

Exhibit Niches Panna Maria Pastors (Taken by Barbara and Patrick Hoffmann) ............................... $100,000

A listing of all the priests who have served in Panna Maria

Texas Silesian Polish Priests (not a Panna Maria Pastor) ............................................... $100,000

Texas Polish Silesian with Religious Vocations ................................................................... $100,000

A listing of Texas Polish Silesian nuns, sisters, and brothers

Offices (2 available) each ............................................................................................................................. $100,000

Main Exhibit Hall ......................................................................................................................................... $2,000,000

Archive (Taken by Bishop Yanta in memory of his parents) ........................................................... $500,000

Gallery .................................................................................................................................................................. $250,000

Work Room ........................................................................................................................................................ $100,000

Area 3, Early Poland and Silesia, 996 to 1854

#4 Early Poland and Quote by John Paul II .......................................................................................... $150,000

#4 Jagiellonian Dynasty, Nicolaus Copernicus ................................................................................... $150,000

#4 Gothic Period in Poland ........................................................................................................................... $50,000

#4 Royal Republics, King Jan III Sobieski .............................................................................................. $150,000

#4 Renaissance Period in Poland ............................................................................................................... $50,000

#4 Tadeusz Kosciuszko ................................................................................................................................. $150,000

#4 Baroque Period in Poland, St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Krakow ...................................... $150,000

#4 Partitions of Poland ................................................................................................................................. $200,000

#4 A Letter from Fr. Moczygemba ........................................................................................................... $150,000

#4 Folk Architecture in Poland, Wooden Country Style Church .................................................. $50,000

#4 Silesia, the Homeland Left Behind ..................................................................................................... $200,000

#4 Ocean Voyage to Texas ........................................................................................................................... $250,000

#4 Baroque Ceiling Painting ....................................................................................................................... $150,000

#2 Accordion Graphic of all Silesian Polish Families that came to Texas (1854-1870) ... $150,000

Area 4, Immigration to Texas/Silesian Settlements 1854 to Present

Arrival to Texas/Trek to San Antonio .................................................................................................... $500,000

Midnight Mass, Christmas Eve, 1854 ...................................................................................................... $500,000

Getting Started/The Early Years ............................................................................................................... $250,000

Civil War/Peter Kiolbassa ........................................................................................................................... $150,000

The Resurrectionist Fathers ....................................................................................................................... $150,000

The Blue Sisters, Education in the Texas Silesian Communities ................................................. $150,000

Expansion, White Deer and McCook ....................................................................................................... $200,000

Ranching, Farming, Family, Community, and Church...................................................................... $300,000

(Taken by Sam and Susie Kotara and sister, Mary Ann)

Panna Maria, an Image of Polish Texas .................................................................................................. $300,000

Area 5, Texas Silesian Parishes

Large (6’x3’) electronically illumined graphic appearing to be beautiful stained

glass window.

Immaculate Conception, Panna Maria ....................................................................................... $75,000

(Taken by Andy and Joyce Rives)

Annunciation of BVM, St. Hedwig ................................................................................................ $75,000

Nativity of BVM, Czestochowa....................................................................................................... $75,000

(Taken by Lambert and Rosalie Titzman)

Immaculate Conception, McCook ................................................................................................. $50,000

Sacred Heart, White Deer ................................................................................................................ $50,000

Holy Cross, Yorktown........................................................................................................................ $50,000

(Taken by Dr. Martha Respondek)

St. Stanislaus, Bandera ...................................................................................................................... $50,000

Holy Trinity, Falls City ...................................................................................................................... $50,000

(Taken by Barbara Moczygemba Hoffmann and 3 brothers)

St. Ann, Kosciuszko ............................................................................................................................ $50,000

(Taken by Mark Hoffmann)

St. Peter and St. Paul Cemetery, Meyersville ........................................................................... $25,000

(Taken by Dr. Martha Respondek)

St. Joseph Cemetery, Inez ................................................................................................................ $25,000

St. Joseph Cemetery, Las Gallinas ................................................................................................. $25,000

St. Michael’s Cemetery, San Antonio ........................................................................................... $25,000

Fr. Moczygemba Sculpture ............................................................................................................................ $50,000

Fr. Moczygemba Accomplishments, Moczygemba Priests, Moczygemba Legacy ............... $150,000

Display Case for Rotating Exhibits (e.g., Historic Prayer Books, Wedding and First

Communion Certificates, etc.). .................................................................................................... $100,000

Area 6, Twentieth Century Poland

WW I, Poland Regains Independence ..................................................................................................... $150,000

WW II, Poland Invaded by Germans and Soviets, Allied Victory ................................................ $150,000

Communist Poland 1945-1989 ................................................................................................................. $150,000

A Polish Pope, Bishop Karol Wojtyla Becomes Pope in 1978 ...................................................... $150,000

Solidarity Succeeds, Collapse of Communism, the Berlin Wall Falls ......................................... $150,000

Section of the Berlin Wall ............................................................................................................................... $50,000

Area 7, Polish Renaissance in Texas

Poland’s Millennium of Christianity ........................................................................................................ $250,000

Polish American Priests Association Established in Texas, the Vanguard of the Polish

Renaissance in Texas ................................................................................................................................ $150,000

Bishop John W. Yanta, the first Bishop from the Polish Immigration of 1854...................... $200,000

The Polish Pope, John Paul II visits San Antonio ............................................................................... $250,000

Silesians Texans Return to Poland, Fr. Leopold Moczygemba Foundation, Panna Maria

Historical Society, Silesian Profiles .................................................................................................... $250,000

Area 8

Water Well & Pump donated by Thomas Moy & Sons Water Well Drilling, Inc.

Book collection of autho, Hon. Robert Thonhoff

Survey work by Pollok Surveyors

*** If you wish to receive these newsletters regularly by e-mail or U.S. mail, simply send us your information to our e-mail or U.S. mail address below. Prayer, the greatest power on earth. May God Bless You and Yours, and have a Merry & Holy Christmas

Retired Bishop John W. Yanta, President; Panna Maria Heritage Center P.O. Box 28125; San Antonio, Texas 78228; Tel.: 210.263.7270

Please visit our web site, www.pannamariacenter.org, and follow the progress of the project, Panna Maria Heritage Center, on Facebook.