![[Przygoda Picture]](PrzygodaJ_01.JPG)
Rev. Jacek Przygoda
1910 - 1991
Preserver of Polish ethnicity in American society
by Anthony F. Turhollow
Jacek Przygoda, born on October 31, 1910 in Poland to Jan and Zofia Przygoda had no doubts about his vocation in this world: the religious life. He studied at the Diocesan Seminary, Sandomierz, from which he was ordained so young, in 1933, that a dispensation was required from Rome.
In recognition of his intellectual gifts his bishop utilized him as a teacher briefly, for in 1937 he made Father Jacek the editor of the diocesan weekly newspaper, The Sower of Truth. While in the seminary he had begun to contribute articles to quarterlies and, after ordination, became a regular correspondent to several Polish newspapers, including one located in Warsaw. Father had a brief career as diocesan editor, for his bishop sent him to the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium to pursue graduate studies in the social sciences.
World War II changed his entire life as well as destroying the Poland he knew. With the invasion of Belgium he not only served as chaplain to the Polish miners, both immigrants and slave labor imported from Poland by the Nazi conquerors but also as the head of the Polish Mission in Belgium. He also published an underground newspaper which he called Word of Free Poland.
His underground activities quickly brought him to the attention of the Nazis. He was imprisoned twice and sentenced to death. To promote the Nazi theme of the war as a crusade against anti-Catholic Communism, the Soviet Union having been invaded by the Nazis, the Germans in control of Belgium pardoned him with the condition that he cease his underground activities. Obviously, Father ignored that condition. For this violation he was sentenced to death again. Fortunately, he escaped that fate when elements of the First American Army rescued him.
When the war ended in 1945, Father continued as head of the Polish Mission in Belgium. After completing that assignment and other assignments for the Polish hierarchy to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Caracas, Venezuela, Father made a tremendous decision. With his beloved Poland under the heel of Communism and with thousands of Poles displaced by that unforeseen result of the war, he immigrated to the United States to provide ministrations to those Poles who opted for the United States.
In 1948 he began to teach at St. Mary's College and High School, Orchard Lake, Michigan, and took courses in economics at The University of Michigan. Aspiring for an academic career, Father enrolled at Catholic University of Ottawa, Canada, from which he graduated in 1955 with a Ph.D. in Economics.
With the proper academic qualifications, he came to California to become a member of the Economics Department at the Loyola University of Los Angeles, now Loyola Marymount University, in 1955. In his own words he came not only for California sunshine but also "to teach young Americans to avoid the mistakes of the crumbling Old World and thus escape the menaces of totalitarianism, whether brown (Nazism) or red." Under the direction of the administrators of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles he served as assistant pastor in several parishes.
With his inexhaustible energy, Father broadened his goals by adding the preservation of the Polish heritage to his pastoral duties. To preserve the traditions and customs brought from Poland by Polish immigrants, Father first joined the Polish American Historical Association. PAHA had originally been founded by Dr. Oscar Halecki and Miecislas Haiman, both Polish immigrants and victims of Nazism, in Chicago in December 1942 as The Commission for Research on Polish Immigration and reorganized as the Polish American Historical Commission in 1944. In 1948 it adopted its present title. Father immediately joined this scholarly society which in 1949 was housed at Orchard Lake and participated in its activities. He attended annual meetings of the organization, served on its Advisory CounciI, functioned as First Vice-President in 1971, and President in 1972.
In 1972 he established the California-Arizona Chapter of PAHA with headquarters at Loyola. In 1973, under his leadership the chapter participated in the Quincentennial Celebration of the Birth of Mikolaj Kopernik or Nicholas Copernicus by sponsoring lectures, unveiling a Kopernik Bust, and displaying Kopernik paintings, posters, pictures and related materials at Loyola Marymount. In 1976 he chaired The Polish-American Bicentennial Committee of Los Angeles which celebrated the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence by an outstanding presentation of the Polish Heritage to the people of Southern California.
In addition to his newspaper work, Father authored: Life with Poles in Belgium; Jezu, ufam Tobie (prayer book in Polish); Texas Pioneers from Poland; editor, Polish Americans in California.
Although Father retired as Professor Emeritus in Economics from Loyola Marymount University in 1976 his hectic life continued. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles promptly added him to the faculty of the Our Lady Queen of Angels Seminary, where he taught social sciences from 1976 to 1984.
On his 81st birthday his sorrowful friends celebrated his memorial mass at Queen of Angels Seminary Chapel, honoring this faithful servant of God.
From: "Polish Americans in California, Vol. II," National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association, California 1995.
Jacek Przygoda
Reverend, professor, economics
Born Poland, Oct. 31, 1910; (deceased Oct. 25, 1991).
Education: Diocesan Seminary, Sandomierz, Poland; ordained, 1933. Master of Arts (M.A.), Catholic University, Louvain, Belgium, 1947; University Ml; Ph.D., Catholic University, Ottawa, Canada, 1952.
Career: Teacher 1933-36, Education Diocesan Weekly, Sandomierz, Poland 1937-38; Polish Catholic mission, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, 1938-48; rector, 1942-48; instructor, Ochard Lake School, Ml, 1948-55; professor, economics, Loyola Marymount University, 1955-76 (department chairman 1960-67; 69-70); Our Lady Oueen of Angels Seminary, San Fernando, 1976-90.
Author: four books, published Belgium, Rome, 1942-57, also, Texas Pioneers from Poland, Waco, TX, 1971. Contributing editor Sodalis, Orchard Lake, Ml; Polish American periodicals, newspapers. Editor Glos Polski, weekly, Brussels, 1945-46; Mikolaj Kopernik Quincentennial, Los Angeles, 1973.
Military: Underground Army, Belgium, 1941-45 (Senior Chaplain).
Honors: Golden Cross of Merit with glaives; Golden Apple: Teacher of the Year, City of Los Angeles Scroll, 1976; Haiman Medal, 1976.
Member of: American Association of University Professors (AAUP); American Association for Society Economists; Catholic Historical Association; Polish Roman Catholioc Union (PRCU); Polish Museum; Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (PIASA); Kosciuszko Foundation (KF); Pi Gamma Mu, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Pi Kappa Thau; Polish American Historical Association (PAHA) (president 1972).
Honors: Listed in Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in Religion, American Men and Women of Science, Dictionary of International Biography, Community Leaders of America, Men of Achievement.
From: "Polish Americans in California, Vol. II," National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association, California 1995.