Nicolaus Copernicus 550th Jubilee at American Polish Cultural Center of Troy, Michigan, USA, opened on February 3, 2024.
In February 2024, the American Polish Cultural Center (APCC) held a 550th jubilee exhibit commemorating the life of the famed Polish mathematician, astronomer and renaissance polymath Nicolaus Copernicus, Mikolaj Kopernik, who is best known in world history as the person who “moved the earth and stopped the sun”.
This commemoration over two weeks, attended by more than 750 individuals, occurred thanks to the generosity and support of many individuals and organizations, two major sponsors being the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland and the APCC. These two organizations contributed financial and material resources without which this great commemoration could not have taken place.
The American Polish Cultural Society jubilee commemoration began on February 3, 2024, with a by invitation gala at the APCC with Barbara Lemecha as the emcee. The gala started with Prof. Kazimierz Brzozowski PhD who gave an introductory piano concert, then guests were addressed by Richard Walawender the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland, Ryszard Tarnicki the President of the APCS/ APCC, Jerry Barycki the President of the Polish-Canadian Business and Professional Association of Windsor (PCBPAW) Canada, and the Honorable Ethan Baker mayor of the city of Troy. The guest speaker was Prof. Pawel Marcinek PhD of Oakland University. There were also representatives of Polonian organizations, representatives from Wayne State University, University of Michigan, and Oakland University as well as teachers from local high schools. There were media present: Alicja Karlic and Andrzej Miłosz from Polish Media Center, Jerzy Różalski from Radio Polskie Rozmaitości and Telewizja Detroit.
Jerry Barycki presented a vison of the Nicolaus Copernicus project and extraordinary interest in Canada, USA, Poland and several other countries. He presented a thank you token of appreciation, a Copernicus Jubilee Medallion to Ryszard Tarnicki, President of APCS.
The Exhibition consisted of an in-depth multi-media presentation of the life of Nicholaus Copernicus. Thanks to the Consulate General of the RP in Chicago there was a sampling of 20 award-winning posters which presented an interesting contemporary view of Copernicus and his impact. The next key component was an exhibit and booklet of 12 free standing exhibits on the life of Copernicus from an internationally recognized exhibit which was created by Mr. Jerry Barycki and the PCBPAW, Canada. The final component of the exhibit was a presentation that trails the 40-year travels of Copernicus in Warmia prepared by Mr. Darek Klepko.
Two hundred Polonian children and young adults attended the exhibit
Over two hundred Polonian children and young adults attended the exhibit. They represented over 150 grade school and high school students from the Adam Mickiewicz Polish Language School in Sterling Heights. The trip was organized by Ms. Ewa Klepko, vice principal, in cooperation with the schoolteachers. There were more than 25 students from Saint Mary’s Preparatory High School in Orchard Lake, students from Wayne State University’s Polish language and culture program taught by Aneta Luzinska. The students were introduced to the Copernicus exhibit by Ms. Luzinska who primarily guided the students through the exhibit as a teaching docent. Frank J. Dmuchowski gave a lecture to each of the groups about Copernicus and his impact. He also wrote a detailed biography of the highlights from the life of Copernicus. Altogether Ms. Luzinska and Mr. Dmuchowski gave seven tours and lectures. They were the recipients of certificates of appreciation from the Adam Mickiewicz Language School.
The Adam Mickiewicz Polish Language School in Sterling Heights.
Students from Saint Mary’s Preparatory High School in Orchard Lake, and from Wayne State University’s Polish language and culture program.
The 550th jubilee exhibit of the life of Mikolaj Kopernik which concluded on February 17th was successful because of the work of so many Polonians. The Organizing Committee is deeply indebted to the 750 plus Polonians, friends of Polonia who expressed their support by attending this jubilee commemoration of Mikolaj Kopernik the Pole who “in moving the earth and stopping the sun forever changed mankind and its place in the universe.”
Text by Zofia Duniec-Dmuchowski, graphics by Jerry Barycki, pictures by Alicja Karlic, except for the pictures of St. Mary’s Preparatory students which were taken by Ania Bieciuk, and by Jerry Barycki, marked as JB.