The Polish Heritage Center (PHC) in Panna Maria, Texas, began as a vision of Bishop Emeritus John Walter Yanta to create an institution in honor of the first Polish settlement in Texas in 1854. Arriving in Texas from Upper Silesia, Polish immigrants under the leadership of Father Leopold Moczygemba arrived in Panna Maria, establishing the first Polish community and Polish Catholic Church in the United States. Faced with unfamiliar customs and a sometimes-harsh environment in times of severe drought or flooding, the community flourished, creating other Polish settlements in Texas such as Kosciusko, Bandera, and McCook. The Polish immigrants retained their identity and culture, leaving a rich legacy of community, faith, and family. It is these three themes Bishop Yanta wanted to prevail with the construction of the Polish Heritage Center in honor of the Polish immigrants to Texas, including his own ancestors.
Construction of the Polish Heritage Center broke...
