& territories Religious services All Polish Canadians including their descendants are encouraged by organizations such as the Congress, to preserve their background and retain some ties with Poland and its people. In the past, the most significant role in the preservation of various aspects of Polish traditions and customs among the Polish communities in Canada fell for the Polish urban parishes, which retain the use of the Polish language during services. The first Polish Catholic priest visited Polish immigrants in 1862 in Kitchener. The first church serving Polish immigrants was built in 1875 in Wilno, Ontario. In Winnipeg, the Holy Ghost Church was built in 1899 with the church in Winnipeg publishing the first Polish newspaper in Canada, Gazeta Katolicka in 1908. In Sydney, Nova Scotia, St. Mary's Polish Parish was established in 1913 by immigrant steelworkers and coal miners, many of whom had previously formed the St. Michael's Polish Benefit Society (est. 1909). The parish remains the only Polish parish in Atlantic Canada, although there is a Polish mission (St. Faustina) in Halifax. The first Polish-Canadian Roman Catholic bishop is Reverend Mathew Ustrzycki, consecrated in June 1985, auxiliary bishop of the Hamilton Diocese. There are Polish-Canadian priests in many congregations and orders, such as the Franciscans, Jesuits, Redemptorists, Saletinians, Resurrectionists, Oblates, Michaelites, and the Society of Christ. In addition, 80 priests serve in 120 parishes. Largest Polish Canadian communities Polish Canadian organizations Canadian Polish Congress Polish Culture Society of Edmonton Polish National Union of Canada Konekt Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services Canadian Polish Research Institute Poland in the Rockies The Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in Canada Canadian Federation of Polish Women Federation of Polish Jews of Canada Recognition The Victoria Cross Numerous Polish-Canadians have been recognized with awards and appointments by the Queen and the Canadian governments as well as universities and various organizations. One of the most notable recipients was Andrew Mynarski, pilot-gunner from Winnipeg, awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for extreme valor in World War II. The Order of Canada Mary Adamowska Panaro, C.M. Winnipeg, Welfare Council of Winnipeg Dr. Henry Wojcicki – Edmonton, distinguished psychiatrist, University of Alberta senator Dr.Tom Brzustowski Waterloo, president of NSERC Walter Gretzky, Brantford, Ontario, Canada Judges Their Honours Judge Paul Staniszewski – of Toronto, Montreal and the County Court of Windsor Judge Alfred Harold Joseph Swencisky – of the Superior Court of BC in Vancouver; past president of the