James Smock has always held an interest in his Polish ancestors and heritage. He is a native Houstonian with Polish roots in Bremond, Marlin and New Waverly, Texas.
James is a past president of the Polish Genealogical Society of Texas and was the founding webmaster of the PGST website. He also served as the Surname Index Coordinator from 1994 - 2000.
In addition to serving as the webmaster and editor of this Polish Texan website, he maintains a number of other websites including;
With a lifelong passion for photography, James can often be found with a camera around his neck. In addition to photographing family events and his grandchildren, he is the church photographer for St. Mary Catholic Church in Plantersville and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stoneham. Many of his photographs can be found on the church website or his photography gallery.
Every year, the Polish Food Store in Houston celebrates Pączki Day both on Tłusty Czwartek, the traditional Polish feast marking the last Thursday before Lent and again on Fat Tuesday by cooking up hundreds of pączki. Fat Tuesday gets its name from the Catholic practice of using up fats and other rich foods before Lent, the period of fasting and penitence before Easter.
…
Pączki Day In TexasRead More »
Employees of The Polish Food Store in Houston will probably be working all night Wednesday making hundreds of delicious pączki to celebrate Tłusty Czwartek or Fat Thursday on February 27, 2014. Tłusty Czwartek is a traditional Polish feast marking the last Thursday before Lent. It is similar to the French festival of Mardi Gras which is celebrated on Fat Tuesday.
…
Tłusty Czwartek In Houston TexasRead More »
Tłusty Czwartek In Houston Texas Read More »
The traveling icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa, in her “From Ocean To Ocean Global Pilgrimage” on behalf of life issues, will arrive in Houston on February 21, 2014. In the summer of 2012, a group of Catholic and Orthodox faithful began a global campaign in support of life and family under the patronage of Our Lady of Czestochowa (the Black Madonna). Starting in Vladivostok, Russia, the Ocean to Ocean Campaign in Defense of Life has received the support and blessings of numerous bishops in Europe, as well as Metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church, and is expected to circle the globe and enkindle a sustainable movement to build a culture of life.
…
Our Lady of Czestochowa Traveling Icon Coming To HoustonRead More »
Our Lady of Czestochowa Traveling Icon Coming To Houston Read More »
On Saturday night, February 8, 2014, the members of Houston based Wawel Dance Group held a big party and fundraiser on the grounds of Our Lady Of Czestochowa Catholic Church to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the group. The Wawel Polish Folk Dancers are a non-profit performing group dedicated to promoting Polish culture through song and dance. The group consists of high school, college, graduate students and adults.
…
Evening Under The Stars With Wawel Dance GroupRead More »
An energetic group of kolednicy or Polish Christmas carolers gathered to sing old time carols at 12:30 PM on December 28, 2013. They started the celebration by singing on the steps of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, a historic Washington County parish that was founded in 1889 by early Polish immigrants to Texas. The weather started off partly cloudy and cool but overall it turned out to be a beautiful and comfortable day for the 6th annual Kolędy Polskie in Chappell Hill. St. Stanislaus’ pastor, Father Jozef Musiol, a native Polish speaker with a great singing voice, helped Mike Addicks, Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz, Mike Kurtin and Brian Marshall lead the group of about 80 singers of all ages, including a large delegation from Our Lady Of Czestochowa parish in Houston.
…
2013 Koledy Polskie In Chappell HillRead More »
Videos from the Koledy Polskie celebration in Chappell Hill, Texas on December 28, 2013.
…
Videos From 2013 Koledy Polskie In Chappell HillRead More »
Videos From 2013 Koledy Polskie In Chappell Hill Read More »
Videos from the 2013 Polish Koledy held in Bremond, Texas on December 7, 2013.
…
2013 Polish Koledy In Bremond VideosRead More »
2013 Polish Koledy In Bremond Videos Read More »
On December 7, 2013, a group of kolednicy or Polish Christmas carolers gathered at the Texas Slav and German Warhouse in Bremond, Texas, a town known as the Polish Capital of Texas. Outside, the weather certainly provided a Christmas atmosphere, it was cloudy, windy and cold with a flake or two of frozen precipitation falling every now and then. Brian Marshall and Mike Kurtin lead the enthusiastic group of about 25 kolędy singers of all ages and music was provided by a talented group of musicians that included Brian Marshall, Jakub Marshall, Frank Motley, CJ Jozwiak and Ronnie Dutka.
…
2013 Polish Koledy In BremondRead More »
