PACIM

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - December
2025-12-17 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Google Meet, MN, United States
Joanne Asala (ed.), Polish Folklore and Myth, 2019, 118 pp., Medieval/Folk Tales, Link
This short collection of folklore and myths is light reading before the holidays. Folklore and myths are passed down from generation to generation.
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the button below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

Advent Lessons and Carols
2025-12-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Church of the Holy Cross, 1621 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55413, United States
Holy Cross Catholic Church warmly invites you to our Fifth Annual Advent Lessons and Carols on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 7:00pm.
Experience the beauty of the season through beloved Advent music, scripture, and candlelight, with readings and hymns in English and Polish.
This year’s program, Splendor of Eternal Light, includes choral works by:
Barkoskie IV • Gorczycki • MacMillan • Handel • Hovland • Wood • Weir • Ord
A reception will follow in Kolbe Hall.
All are welcome to join us for this cherished Advent tradition.

Carnival Ball
2026-02-14 17:30 - 2026-02-15 00:00 | Midland Hills Country Club, 2001 Fulham Street, Roseville, MN, 55113, United States
Join PACIM for an unforgettable evening of elegance, celebration, and community as we bring together the vibrant spirit of Polish Carnival with the warmth and joy of the Valentine’s season.
The ball opens at 5:00 PM with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM.
Dinner
A three-course dinner with your choice of main course:
Main Course Options

6-ounce Top Sirloin Steak with a wild mushroom glacé
Minnesota Chicken — Chicken breast stuffed with wild rice, dried cranberries & apples with morel mushroom cream sauce
Walleye Pike — lightly breaded and baked, served with lemon and tartar sauce

Accompaniments

Yukon Gold whipped potatoes
Amaretto-glazed mini carrots
Midland Hills salad
Warm rolls
Regular or decaf coffee, or hot tea

Dessert
A glass of red or white wine is included with the dinner. Cash bar available.
Hors d’oeuvres will be served before dinner.
Program

5:00 PM – Social Hour & Cocktails
6:00 PM – Dinner
7:15 PM – Presentation of the Outstanding Contribution to the Polish Community Award to Fr. Spencer Howe.
7:45 PM – Performance by the Dolina Dancers (tentative)
8:00 PM – Ball Opening with the Polonaise Dance
Raffle Drawing
Dancing until Midnight

Suggested dress code: suits or formal attire for men, and evening dresses or cocktail attire for women.

If you cannot attend the Carnival Ball this year, you can still support PACIM by helping offset event costs or contributing to our other programs through a charitable donation.
Donate

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - February 2026
2026-02-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Google Meet, MN, United States
This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen, Tadeusz Borowski,
1959 (1976), 180 pp. Short Stories Link
A canonical work from the postwar Polish literary corpus and thus thought of as required reading, this collection of short stories provides the reader with the opportunity to think and rethink about what it is to be human, through our humanity and inhumanity. We will also explore individual and collective memory in our discussion.
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the button below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - March 2026
2026-03-18 19:00 | Google Meet, MN, United States
To the Letter, Tomasz Różycki, 2016 (2023), 127pp. Poetry Link
A collection of modern lyrical poetry, mostly quarterns, that provide a modern post-communist perspective on Polish life, longing, and suffering. Pick your favorite to read for the group.
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the button below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

Easter Basket Blessing
2026-04-04 11:00 - 12:30 | Church of the Holy Cross, 1621 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55413, United States
One of the most cherished Polish Easter traditions is Święconka, the blessing of Easter foods on Holy Saturday. Families prepare baskets filled with symbolic foods and bring them to church to be blessed, sharing in a moment of faith, tradition, and community.
It’s a meaningful way to connect with our heritage and celebrate the joy of Easter together.
Holy Cross Catholic Church offers the traditional Easter Food Blessing (Święconka) on the Holy Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 11:00 AM (in English) and at 12:00 PM (in Polish).

Dyngus Day at Yoerg's Brewing
2026-04-06 17:00 - 21:00 | Yeorg’s Brewing, 378 Maria Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55106, United States
A great chance to socialize over beer and kiełbasa!

An event organized by Break the Bubble (Jon Slick):

“Something a teeny bit different.

There is a Polish holiday the day after Easter (Dyngus Day), which is basically an excuse to have some beer and sausage after behaving all Lent. So far, so good, right?

Yoerg’s has plenty of beer (some Polish beers, too), delicious food (including Polish sausage), and it’s also a completely fantastic place BTW. I’ve somehow convinced them to host this little experiment. It wouldn’t shock me if maybe more than a few of you want a drink after dealing with family all Easter weekend.
You don’t have to be Polish to attend… no one’s perfect. “

Introduction to PACIM and the Columbia Heights Sister City Organization
2026-04-11 10:00 - 12:00 | Minnesota Genealogy Center, Minnesota Genealogy Center, 1385 Mendota Heights Road, Mississippi Room, Mendota Heights, MN, 55120, United States
The Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota is dedicating its April meeting to a special introduction of PACIM and the Columbia Heights Sister City organization.
During the meeting, we will showcase PACIM’s mission, history, and the many initiatives and events that support and celebrate the Polish-American community in Minnesota. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, discover new activities, and engage with others who share an interest in Polish heritage and culture.
The meeting is open to the public—we warmly invite you to attend and show your support!

Screening of "Budapest Diaries" ("Dziennik z wycieczki do Budapesztu")
2026-04-11 14:45 - 17:00 | Landmark Center – F.K. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium, 75 Fifth Street West, St. Paul, MN, 55102, United States
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF45)* presents “Budapest Diaries” (“Dziennik z wycieczki do Budapesztu”), directed by Rafał Kapeliński.
“Loosely based on an event from writer-director Kapelinski’s childhood, this poignant coming-of-age drama is set in 1981, as Poland’s political and economic crises worsen. It follows 11-year-old Irek and his beautiful mother Hanna on a bus trip from Poland to Hungary. Although she claims that she wants to show Irek a more beautiful and colorful world, he eventually discovers that the reason for their journey is more complex than he ever imagined.”
PACIM members and supporters can use the code PACIMMSPIFF45 for discounted tickets.
* PACIM is a proud sponsor of MSPIFF45.
Buy Tickets

Yom HaShoah Special Screening: "For the Living"
2026-04-12 15:00 - 17:00 | Capp Center, 1375 St. Paul Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 66116, United States
From the Minnesota JCC:
In January 1945, ten-year-old Holocaust survivor Marcel Zielinski made a treacherous 60-mile journey on foot from Auschwitz-Birkenau to Kraków in search of his family. Decades later, 250 cyclists from 12 countries retraced his path in an empathetic mission called Ride for the Living, created and run by JCC Krakow.
This documentary draws parallels between Marcel’s harrowing experience and the cyclists’ journey, sparking an urgent conversation about the ongoing struggle between dehumanization and empathy.
Co-Director Tim Roper and Producer Lisa Effress will be in attendance to introduce the film and participate in a Q&A following the screening.
$14 GENERAL • $12 STUDENTS/SENIORS
Watch the trailer
Buy Tickets

Screening of "Budapest Diaries" ("Dziennik z wycieczki do Budapesztu")
2026-04-14 13:30 - 15:00 | The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St., Minneapolis, 55414, MN, 55414

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - April 2026
2026-04-15 19:00 | Google Meet, MN, United States
Seven Plays, Stanisław Witkiewicz, 1920s (2004), 393 pp. Surrealist Drama
A selection of Witkacy’s numerous plays provides insight into what Polishness might have meant after regaining independence through surrealist theater. In addition to reading and watching Beelzebub Sonata, which will provide a visualization of how his pieces may have been performed, we will read “The Anonymous Work,” “The Cuttlefish,” as well as “Theoretical Preface” and “A Few Words About the Role of the Actor in the Theatre of Pure Form.”
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the button below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

Screening of "Father" ("Otec")
2026-04-16 14:05 - 16:00, 2026-04-17 23:50 | The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St., Minneapolis, 55414, MN, 55414
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF45)* presents “Father”, directed by Tereza Nvotová.
“A tragic mistake shatters the life of a devoted father, shaking his marriage and isolating him in guilt. But when he and his wife come to see that the tragedy was something rooted deep in the architecture of the human mind, a fragile path toward forgiveness begins to emerge. With its unique narrative approach, Father challenges the audience’s perceptions of guilt, tragedy and empathy. Inspired by real-life events.“
PACIM members and supporters can use the code PACIMMSPIFF45 for discounted tickets.
* PACIM is a proud sponsor of MSPIFF45.
Buy Tickets

Screening of "The Altar Boys" ("Ministranci")
2026-04-16 14:15 - 2026-04-17 16:30 | Edina Mann Theaters, 3911 W 50th Street, Edina, MN, 55424, United States
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF45)* presents a film directed by Piotr Domalewski “The Altar Boys” (“Ministranci”).
“Frustrated by the indifferent attitude of adults and Church institutions towards social injustice, a group of altar boys from a poor parish decides to implement their own plan for moral renewal. Armed with youthful rebellion and their own interpretation of the Bible, they become secret judges, helping those in need and meting out punishment for sins. Told with humor and energy, Altar Boys is a story about growing up, faith, and the fight against hypocrisy.”
PACIM members and supporters can use the code PACIMMSPIFF45 for discounted tickets.
* PACIM is a proud sponsor of MSPIFF45.
Buy Tickets

Screening of "The Altar Boys" ("Ministranci")
2026-04-17 14:10 - 16:30 | The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St., Minneapolis, 55414, MN, 55414
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF45)* presents a film directed by Piotr Domalewski “The Altar Boys” (“Ministranci”).
“Frustrated by the indifferent attitude of adults and Church institutions towards social injustice, a group of altar boys from a poor parish decides to implement their own plan for moral renewal. Armed with youthful rebellion and their own interpretation of the Bible, they become secret judges, helping those in need and meting out punishment for sins. Told with humor and energy, Altar Boys is a story about growing up, faith and the fight against hypocrisy.”
PACIM members and supporters can use the code PACIMMSPIFF45 for discounted tickets.
* PACIM is a proud sponsor of MSPIFF45.
Buy Tickets

Screening of "Erupcja"
2026-04-17 21:15 - 23:00 | Edina Mann Theaters, 3911 W 50th Street, Edina, MN, 55424, United States
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF45)* presents “Erupcja”, directed by Pete Ohs, and starring Charli XCX.
“Bethany (Charli XCX) has arranged a trip to Poland with her doting boyfriend, who she fears is about to propose. Not so coincidentally, they are staying in the same neighborhood as her childhood friend Jel (Lena Góra) with whom she shares a special relationship, literally causing volcanoes to erupt and throwing their trip, and her boyfriend, into uncertainty.
Director Pete Ohs wrote, edited, and produced this assured comedy that features stellar performances by Charli XCX (in her feature film debut) and Lena Góra, whose onscreen rapport is pitch perfect.”
PACIM members and supporters can use the code PACIMMSPIFF45 for discounted tickets.
* PACIM is a proud sponsor of MSPIFF45.
Buy Tickets

Screening of "Erupcja"
2026-04-18 21:45 - 23:30 | The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St., Minneapolis, 55414, MN, 55414

Concert in Honor of Polish Constitution Day
2026-05-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Church of the Holy Cross, 1621 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55413, United States
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM, Holy Cross Catholic Church will host a concert in honor of Polish Constitution Day, presented on the eve of Poland’s historic national holiday commemorating the Constitution of May 3, 1791.
The Holy Cross Choir and a chamber orchestra will perform a vibrant program of Polish sacred choral music spanning more than four centuries, from the splendor of the early Baroque to the powerful spiritual language of modern Poland. Many of these remarkable works are rarely performed in the United States, making this a unique opportunity to experience the richness of Poland’s sacred musical tradition.
Holy Cross Director of Sacred Music Samuel Backman writes:
“During my years at Holy Cross, I’ve grown more and more fascinated by the rich cultural traditions of Poland—especially its sacred music. After a great deal of research and many hours preparing and performing editions from the original sources, I’m thrilled to bring these beautiful and often overlooked treasures of Poland’s musical heritage to a twenty-first-century American and Polish-American audience.”
The program will feature music by distinguished Polish composers, including Szarzyński, Gorczycki, Mielczewski, Jarzębski, Surzyński, Klonowski, Dankowski, and Górecki, highlighting the depth and beauty of Poland’s sacred choral tradition. A special highlight of the evening will be Wojciech Dankowski’s beloved Mass in E Minor, cherished in Poland for its noble simplicity and devotional character.
Admission is free, and all are warmly welcome. Whether you come to celebrate Polish culture, rediscover the music of your heritage, or simply enjoy a beautiful evening of choral and orchestral music, we would be honored to have you with us.
