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West Side Detroit Polish American Historical Society

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Second Annual All Saints’/All Souls’ Pilgrimage, Prayer Service & Wypominki – November 1, 2009

Posted on November 1, 2009

Laurie A. Gomulka

WEST SIDE DETROIT POLISH AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND POLISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN HOST SECOND ANNUAL ALL SAINTS’ DAY (Wszystkich Şwiętych) & ALL SOULS’ DAY (Dzień Zaduszny) PILGRIMAGE, PRAYER SERVICE AND WYPOMINKI (Naming)
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2009 – ST. HEDWIG CEMETERY

Once again we were blessed with beautiful weather as our two societies came together to host this special, sacred event, which this year was held at St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights, where many Polish Americans are buried. We began in the mausoleum with a prayer service led by WSDPAHS member Rev. Larry Zurawski of St. Damian Catholic Church in Westland. Mr. Anthony M?czka, Director of the Polonaise Chorale, provided keyboard accompaniment.

WSDPAHS Director Dr. Thaddeus C. Radziłowski of the Piast Institute in Hamtramck gave a presentation on All Saints’/All Souls’ customs in Poland. As part of his presentation he said that in Poland on All Souls’ Day, a great light appears in the sky. You open the windows and every soul returns home to the place where it once lived. It is believed that you owe the souls something for what they gave you in life. It is also believed that you are to ask for their help in the next life.

During the meal the people remember the great qualities of the dead and listen for every sign that maybe the dead have come back to them, such as a breeze shaking the window pane. It is a traditional meal. They put all of the portions that the dead are to eat in their place, and then even after the meal is over they don’t eat them themselves or pass them out to beggars, but rather give them to so?called “clean” animals: horses and cattle. They then say, “Honored dead, go back to heaven, be gone,” and they send them on their way.

Dr. Radziłowski continued by saying that in the cemeteries in Poland, people clean the graves and put lamps on them. There is incense in the air and people bring extra candles for those graves that are neglected,
as it is believed that no grave should be left unattended.

There’s tremendous smoke in the air from the candles, and you can hear Mass being said in the chapel to welcome those who have died and to thank them for their sacrifices and to pray for their souls.

Again this year, Valerie Koselka baked soul cakes, which, in Poland, were traditional small loaves of bread that the Polish baked and gave to the flocks of beggars at cemetery entrances on November 1 and 2. Beggars were regarded as extremely helpful in praying for the intercession of the saints for the souls of the family’s dearly departed. The small cakes were made of butter, sugar, egg yolks, flour,
salt, spices, and warm milk.

Hymns that were sung included Be Not Afraid, Serdeczna Matko, and Witaj Królowo Nieba.

Certified Genealogist Ceil Wendt Jensen of Michigan Polonia, who is a member of both the WSDPAHS and PGSM, gave a presentation on prominent individuals interred at St. Hedwig. Of special interest and significance was information provided by Mr. Raymond Rolak, who has a
direct connection with Saint Maximilian Kolbe. Mr. Rolak’s family member, who is interred in St. Hedwig’s mausoleum, was a priest who studied under Fr. Kolbe and was given a prayer book by Fr. Kolbe.

Following Ms. Jensen’s presentation, a demonstration of grave cleaning as done in Poland was given, using the grave of the father of WSDPAHS Director Mr. Richard Sokolowski.

We look forward to next year’s event!

Filed Under: Events

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  • January 7, 2023 – Sixteenth Annual Opłatek
  • Saturday, November 5, 2022: Fourteenth Annual All Saints’/All Souls’ Pilgrimage, Prayer Service & Wypominki
  • St. Albertus Parish 150th Anniversary Mass
  • 1960s Polish Wedding Party on May 14, 2022
  • January 8, 2022 – Fifteenth Annual Opłatek & Society’s Crystal Jubilee
  • October 30, 2021 – Thirteenth Annual All Saints’/All Souls’ Pilgrimage, Prayer Service & Wypominki
  • May 14, 2022 – Eleventh Annual Summer Social Event: “1960s Polish Wedding Party!”
  • Jazztopad Festival April 2021
  • Jazztopad Festival January-February 2021
  • September 18, 2021 – Eleventh Annual Summer Social Event
  • January 4, 2020 – Fourteenth Annual Opłatek
  • November 2, 2019 – Twelfth Annual All Saints’/All Souls’ Pilgrimage, Prayer Service & Wypominki
  • July 20, 2019 – Tenth Annual Summer Social Event
  • April 27, 2019 – Eleventh Annual Spring Pilgrimage & Święconka
  • January 5, 2019 – Thirteenth Annual Opłatek
  • October 27, 2018 – Eleventh Annual All Saints’-All Souls’ Pilgrimage, Prayer Service & Wypominki
  • August 12, 2018 – Ninth Annual Summer Social & Membership Appreciation Event
  • Saturday, March 10, 2018 – Sixth Annual Polish Easter Basket Social
  • Twelfth Annual Opłatek – January 6, 2018
  • Eighth Annual Summer Social Event – August 20, 2016
  • Commemoration and Grave Marker Ceremony – May 21, 2016
  • Fifth Annual Easter Basket Social – March 12, 2016
  • Tenth Annual Opłatek and Grand Gala Heritage Room Exhibit – December 27, 2015
  • Eighth Annual All Saints’/All Souls’ Pilgrimage, Prayer Service & Wypominki – October 31, 2015
  • Seventh Summer Event: Assumption at Holy Cross Cemetery – August 15, 2015
  • May Crowning Event – May 3, 2015
  • Eighth Annual Pilgrimage & Swieconka – April 11, 2015
  • Fourth Annual Easter Basket Social – March 8, 2015
  • Ninth Annual Opłatek – December 28, 2014
  • Sixth Annual Summer Event: Summer Solstice Festival & Wianki – June 21, 2014

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West Side Detroit
Polish American Historical Society

Detroit, MI

Phone: 1-855-765-6642

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