THE MOTHER CHURCH OF ST. LOUIS POLONIA | KOŚCIÓŁ MACIERZYSTY POLONII W ST. LOUIS
[Chapter One]* Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish has much to be proud of throughout her existence. The deep devotion to God and His church, patriotism for country and motherland, seriousness of purpose, self reliance and industriousness of her people have made the parish a shining example for all the Archdiocese of Saint Louis and the community at large.
In 1822, the then small community of Saint Louis was incorporated as a city. Several years later in 1826 the Diocese of Saint Louis was formed; the great cathedral, the first of her many impressive symbols of faith and devotion was dedicated in 1834. In the years which followed both the city and the Catholic community prospered. In 1847 Saint Louis, in recognition of her size and importance, was accorded the status of Archdiocese. She had become one of the most important centers of Catholicism in the still young nation.
It is during this period that thousands, both native and foreign born, moved westward in search of new opportunities in the rapidly developing western regions of the country. Saint Louis was at this time the jumping off point for those seeking their fortunes farther west, but also became the home of thousands to whom she offered the promise of success and assimilation into the life of the country. Among the large groups which settled in Saint Louis during this period were the Germans and the Irish, who established ethnic communities besides those of the French and native born Americans who had preceded them. By 1844 the building of such churches as St. Patrick and Saint Joseph's gave witness to the successful growth and assimilation of these groups within the city and the Archdiocese. Still other ethnic groups were to follow both the Irish and Germans to the city in the following decades.
Joseph Rychlicki, an exile from the Polish revolution of 1831 had arrived in Saint Louis by 1834. He lived for over fifty-four years in the city pursuing a career as a civil engineer. In the years that followed, small numbers of Poles came to the city. By 1861, according to some estimates there were eighty families of Polish origin in Saint Louis. About two hundred Poles enlisted in the Federal Army during the Civil War; among the first to give his life in the cause of the Union was Captain Joseph Morawski who was killed in the Battle of Fort Jackson. For many Poles this devotion to their adopted country was coupled with an equal devotion to their homeland. In 1863 a National Committee for the struggle to liberate the Polish homeland was organized. With the collapse of the Polish revolution it appears that many in the Saint Louis community decided to pursue agriculture elsewhere in the state.
At the time there existed no clearly defined Polish community within the city itself. During the years 1863-64 Father Leopold Moczygeba, a missionary from Texas, served the spiritual needs of the community, having gained permission for this purpose of using the church of Saint Bonaventura. By 1870 there appears to have been only three hundred Poles in the city. These Poles were depending on local German and Irish churches for their spiritual needs. Because of language difficulties they were deprived of real spiritual guidance, had difficulty in communicating, and were often at a disadvantage in seeking and obtaining employment. By the end of the next decade, however, all this was to change for the better with the formation of the parish of Saint Stanislaus Kostka.
Undoubtedly some of the Poles who left Saint Louis in the 1860's settled in Franklin County, Missouri. As early as 1866 small numbers of Poles had begun to arrive in the town of Washington and nearby areas. In Washington there was a Franciscan Monastery that included some Polish Fathers, among them Father Sebastian Cebula, who would later become a pastor of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church. In this same community, Polish culture was kept very much alive starting with the publication of the Polish Eagle in February of 1870. In the nearby settlement of Cracow the Poles had their own church guided by Father Matuzek, a Jesuit of Silesian extraction. In Clover Bottom a Polish school was established by 1875.
In 1878 Father Matuzek visited Saint Louis. Aware of the poor conditions for Poles which existed in the city, he returned several times to bestow the Holy Sacraments and enrich the needy spiritually. At the end of 1878 Father Anthony Klawiter from New Posen, Nebraska, arrived in the city and found quarters in the German church of Saint Joseph's. When he learned of the plight of the Polish Catholics in the community, he undertook a Holy Mission which lasted three days. Deeply moved by the devotion and enthusiasm of his faithful, Father Klawiter suggested that they organize their own parish and build their own church. A committee of several persons was formed, led by Father Klawiter himself. After three weeks of extensive solicitations throughout the city, thirty seven members for the parish were signed up with assets of thirty three dollars. A short while later permission was received from the Archdiocese to establish a Polish parish.
Initially masses for the new parish were held in the basement of Saint Joseph's. But after only two weeks the facilities were denied to the Poles because of the alleged interference of their singing with church services on the main floor. Fortunately the Irish church of Saint Lawrence O'Toole quickly granted permission for the use of its facilities. But it was obvious to one and all that the migratory nature of the congregation could not continue forever. Renewed efforts had to be made to raise the funds necessary for the construction of a Polish church. To this end a request was made to Vicar General Muehlspiepen for permission to collect funds for the church throughout the city. This permission was granted by the Most Reverend Vicar General, who was to remain in the coming decades a close friend and benefactor of the Polish community. After only a few weeks services were transferred to St. Lawrence O'Toole school. Aside from the inconvenience of storing the articles for the mass following each service, the facility proved too small for the needs of Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation.
This problem was solved by relocating the congregation in the basement of the Saint Patrick's school. Permission was obtained not only for the saying of masses but also for Polish language classes. During this period a number of new families arrived in Saint Louis from Caracas, some forty families in all. Most of these newcomers as well as countless others down to the end of the century found their home in the Ashley Building, a large tenement housing over six hundred individuals at any given time. Despite their poor circumstances, feelings of pride and national identity ran high in the community. Poles were noted for walking in processional from the Ashley Building to Saint Patrick's dressed in colorful native costumes.
In 1879 Father Klawiter was transferred. He was replaced by the Franciscan Father Sebastian Cebula, under whose guidance the first church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka was built. Initially, however, the congregation had to make do with its facilities at Saint Patrick's. A new altar was built with monies raised at a picnic in Union Park in June of that year. Vicar General Muehlsiepen sanctified the altar and encouraged the community to continue its efforts, to which he pledged his whole hearted support.
A memorable day in the early history of the parish occurred on May 23, 1880. It was on this day that a young priest, Father Urban Stanowski, celebrated his first holy mass assisted by the Vicar General Muelhsiepen, Father Hessoun, the distinguished pastor of Saint John's Nepomuk, and other priests. In his Homily Father Hessoun expressed his great satisfaction that Poles, though numerically small, were making such a great effort to have their own priest and establish their own parish. Thus even in its earliest days the parish of Saint Stanislaus Kostka received praise for its efforts from distinguished clergy of other ethnic groups in the city while at the same time profiting from their encouragement and support.
Father Cebula moved as quickly as possible towards construction of a church. Fund raising continued, a building committee was formed, and a Society for Mutual Assistance named for Saint Stanislaus Kostka was established and lots for the new church were purchased at 20th and Cass costing $4,864. Construction began on July 16. At the blessing of the corner stone Czech, Irish, and German societies were in attendance, thereby signifying their support for the new church.
Three days after laying the cornerstone the church fund reached over $10,000. The construction proceeded swiftly and on November 12, 1881, the new church was dedicated. In only three years starting in the basement of Saint Joseph's with material assets of only thirty-three dollars, Poles had succeeded in building a handsome new church and school. The period of wandering was over. A new era in the life of the Polish community of Saint Louis had dawned.
In 1822, the then small community of Saint Louis was incorporated as a city. Several years later in 1826 the Diocese of Saint Louis was formed; the great cathedral, the first of her many impressive symbols of faith and devotion was dedicated in 1834. In the years which followed both the city and the Catholic community prospered. In 1847 Saint Louis, in recognition of her size and importance, was accorded the status of Archdiocese. She had become one of the most important centers of Catholicism in the still young nation.
It is during this period that thousands, both native and foreign born, moved westward in search of new opportunities in the rapidly developing western regions of the country. Saint Louis was at this time the jumping off point for those seeking their fortunes farther west, but also became the home of thousands to whom she offered the promise of success and assimilation into the life of the country. Among the large groups which settled in Saint Louis during this period were the Germans and the Irish, who established ethnic communities besides those of the French and native born Americans who had preceded them. By 1844 the building of such churches as St. Patrick and Saint Joseph's gave witness to the successful growth and assimilation of these groups within the city and the Archdiocese. Still other ethnic groups were to follow both the Irish and Germans to the city in the following decades.
Joseph Rychlicki, an exile from the Polish revolution of 1831 had arrived in Saint Louis by 1834. He lived for over fifty-four years in the city pursuing a career as a civil engineer. In the years that followed, small numbers of Poles came to the city. By 1861, according to some estimates there were eighty families of Polish origin in Saint Louis. About two hundred Poles enlisted in the Federal Army during the Civil War; among the first to give his life in the cause of the Union was Captain Joseph Morawski who was killed in the Battle of Fort Jackson. For many Poles this devotion to their adopted country was coupled with an equal devotion to their homeland. In 1863 a National Committee for the struggle to liberate the Polish homeland was organized. With the collapse of the Polish revolution it appears that many in the Saint Louis community decided to pursue agriculture elsewhere in the state.
At the time there existed no clearly defined Polish community within the city itself. During the years 1863-64 Father Leopold Moczygeba, a missionary from Texas, served the spiritual needs of the community, having gained permission for this purpose of using the church of Saint Bonaventura. By 1870 there appears to have been only three hundred Poles in the city. These Poles were depending on local German and Irish churches for their spiritual needs. Because of language difficulties they were deprived of real spiritual guidance, had difficulty in communicating, and were often at a disadvantage in seeking and obtaining employment. By the end of the next decade, however, all this was to change for the better with the formation of the parish of Saint Stanislaus Kostka.
Undoubtedly some of the Poles who left Saint Louis in the 1860's settled in Franklin County, Missouri. As early as 1866 small numbers of Poles had begun to arrive in the town of Washington and nearby areas. In Washington there was a Franciscan Monastery that included some Polish Fathers, among them Father Sebastian Cebula, who would later become a pastor of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church. In this same community, Polish culture was kept very much alive starting with the publication of the Polish Eagle in February of 1870. In the nearby settlement of Cracow the Poles had their own church guided by Father Matuzek, a Jesuit of Silesian extraction. In Clover Bottom a Polish school was established by 1875.
In 1878 Father Matuzek visited Saint Louis. Aware of the poor conditions for Poles which existed in the city, he returned several times to bestow the Holy Sacraments and enrich the needy spiritually. At the end of 1878 Father Anthony Klawiter from New Posen, Nebraska, arrived in the city and found quarters in the German church of Saint Joseph's. When he learned of the plight of the Polish Catholics in the community, he undertook a Holy Mission which lasted three days. Deeply moved by the devotion and enthusiasm of his faithful, Father Klawiter suggested that they organize their own parish and build their own church. A committee of several persons was formed, led by Father Klawiter himself. After three weeks of extensive solicitations throughout the city, thirty seven members for the parish were signed up with assets of thirty three dollars. A short while later permission was received from the Archdiocese to establish a Polish parish.
Initially masses for the new parish were held in the basement of Saint Joseph's. But after only two weeks the facilities were denied to the Poles because of the alleged interference of their singing with church services on the main floor. Fortunately the Irish church of Saint Lawrence O'Toole quickly granted permission for the use of its facilities. But it was obvious to one and all that the migratory nature of the congregation could not continue forever. Renewed efforts had to be made to raise the funds necessary for the construction of a Polish church. To this end a request was made to Vicar General Muehlspiepen for permission to collect funds for the church throughout the city. This permission was granted by the Most Reverend Vicar General, who was to remain in the coming decades a close friend and benefactor of the Polish community. After only a few weeks services were transferred to St. Lawrence O'Toole school. Aside from the inconvenience of storing the articles for the mass following each service, the facility proved too small for the needs of Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation.
This problem was solved by relocating the congregation in the basement of the Saint Patrick's school. Permission was obtained not only for the saying of masses but also for Polish language classes. During this period a number of new families arrived in Saint Louis from Caracas, some forty families in all. Most of these newcomers as well as countless others down to the end of the century found their home in the Ashley Building, a large tenement housing over six hundred individuals at any given time. Despite their poor circumstances, feelings of pride and national identity ran high in the community. Poles were noted for walking in processional from the Ashley Building to Saint Patrick's dressed in colorful native costumes.
In 1879 Father Klawiter was transferred. He was replaced by the Franciscan Father Sebastian Cebula, under whose guidance the first church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka was built. Initially, however, the congregation had to make do with its facilities at Saint Patrick's. A new altar was built with monies raised at a picnic in Union Park in June of that year. Vicar General Muehlsiepen sanctified the altar and encouraged the community to continue its efforts, to which he pledged his whole hearted support.
A memorable day in the early history of the parish occurred on May 23, 1880. It was on this day that a young priest, Father Urban Stanowski, celebrated his first holy mass assisted by the Vicar General Muelhsiepen, Father Hessoun, the distinguished pastor of Saint John's Nepomuk, and other priests. In his Homily Father Hessoun expressed his great satisfaction that Poles, though numerically small, were making such a great effort to have their own priest and establish their own parish. Thus even in its earliest days the parish of Saint Stanislaus Kostka received praise for its efforts from distinguished clergy of other ethnic groups in the city while at the same time profiting from their encouragement and support.
Father Cebula moved as quickly as possible towards construction of a church. Fund raising continued, a building committee was formed, and a Society for Mutual Assistance named for Saint Stanislaus Kostka was established and lots for the new church were purchased at 20th and Cass costing $4,864. Construction began on July 16. At the blessing of the corner stone Czech, Irish, and German societies were in attendance, thereby signifying their support for the new church.
Three days after laying the cornerstone the church fund reached over $10,000. The construction proceeded swiftly and on November 12, 1881, the new church was dedicated. In only three years starting in the basement of Saint Joseph's with material assets of only thirty-three dollars, Poles had succeeded in building a handsome new church and school. The period of wandering was over. A new era in the life of the Polish community of Saint Louis had dawned.
First building of St. Stanislaus Church in 1882. Later it was converted into parish school and eventually demolished in 2007.
Hardly had the new church been erected when Father Cebula was unexpectedly transferred to another parish. His place was taken by Father Leon Brandys whose zeal in continuing the work of Father Cebula was much appreciated by his parishioners. He decorated and beautified the church, established a parish library, and invited Bishop Ryan to administer Confirmation on July 6, 1884. For many parishioners at the time, this event marked the true fulfillment of their dreams and the point at which the difficulties and suffering of the past could truly be forgotten. Father Brandys was transferred from the parish in 1885. At his death, two years later, in Radom, Illinois, large numbers of his former flock went to pay their last respects, a true testament to the work of their beloved pastor.
On May 29, 1885 a nominating decree was issued by the Prior of the Franciscan Brothers in Saint Louis appointing Father Urban Stanowski pastor of Saint Stanislaus. The new pastor served the parish on Sundays, Holy Days, and one additional day of the week. The remainder of his time was spent at the Franciscan Monastery on Meramec Street some distance away. This arrangement was not particularly to the liking of the Saint Stanislaus parishioners who, having worked so hard to build their church, now wished to have a full-time pastor. Unfortunately, there was not then a Polish priest under the jurisdiction of the Saint Louis Archdiocese. However, after repeated requests, Archbishop Kendrick petitioned Rome to release Father Stanowski from his vows. With the granting of this request Father Stanowski began the over four decades of service to the parish which were to prove among the greatest years of its growth and prosperity.
Father Stanowski moved quickly to reduce the financial obligations of the parish. Having accomplished this by 1887, he purchased an adjacent lot to the church on which was constructed a rectory, completed in 1888. The spiritual growth of the parish was equally impressive. During September of 1888 over 1,200 faithful received Holy Communion during a Holy Mission held by Reverend Sebastian of the Society of Jesus. By 1892 over 2,000 received Holy Communion during a Forty Hour Devotion at Lent. In the same year Archbishop Kendrick confirmed some 320 parishioners.
With the growth of the parish, the church and school facilities became inadequate. Additional lots were purchased at 20th and 21st Streets. Part of this was designated for a new church, while the rest was resold to parishioners for their own houses. Thus a Polish ethnic community came into being along these two streets adjacent to and around the church. Over the years it formed the nucleus for an expanded neighborhood as the former Irish residents in the area moved out to be replaced by ever increasing numbers of Poles.
By 1891 the Franciscans had relinquished rights to the parish and Father Stanowski became a secular priest under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese. It is only against the backdrop of events in Polish communities in other cities at the time that subsequent actions taken by Father Stanowski and the Archdiocese can be fully appreciated. Fierce disputes over whether being Polish meant first of all being Catholic, or identifying with ones ethnic heritage and land of origin, had led to an open split in many congregations with open hostility to (and even separation from) the Roman Catholic hierarchy. At the center of the controversy was the ownership of church properties.
On May 2,1891, with the advice and consent of the Archbishop, the parish was incorporated in the State of Missouri as the "Polish Roman Catholic Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish." While the incorporation placed the ownership of the parish in the hands of its secular directors, the use of the name "Roman Catholic" underscored the continued relationship of the parish with the Archdiocese, a connection not sought under similar conditions in other cities. The fact that Father Stanowski remained under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop while serving as the first president and treasurer of the corporation was most significant. This kind of arrangement would have been considered anathema to nationalists elsewhere who wished to take financial control of parishes away from both bishops and priests. Such was the compromise of 1891, which by-and-large has served the parish well down to the present day.
Throughout the subsequent decades it was the unique personality of Father Stanowski which held the key to the delicate balance of interests achieved at the time of incorporation. The swift movement of events after May 2, 1891, indicates his ability to cultivate the nationalistic and ethnic identity of his parishioners while at the same time fostering good relations with the church hierarchy. Over the years Saint Stanislaus was to continue to receive both the praise and the support of prominent figures in the church hierarchy within the city.
On May 6, 1891, the first meeting of the trustees was held, perhaps only coincidentally three days after the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the Polish National Constitution. Father Stanowski had himself been responsible for organizing a celebration of the event at the church. At the same gathering a protest was heard against the imprisonment by the German government of a Polish editor who had defended the Catholic faith and rights of the Polish people.
Construction was begun on the new church in July of 1891. By September of the following year, when it was completed, $60,000 of its total cost of $92,000 had already been raised. This testimony to the unity and devotion of the parish was noted in the local press as well as at the dedication of the church itself.
The dedication ceremony was a significant event in the Archdiocese. Clergy from many parishes throughout the city attended. It was also an occasion for demonstrating that it was possible to be a Polish Roman Catholic rather than having to choose between being either a Pole or a Roman Catholic. United States, Papal and Polish flags flew in abundance. Contemporary reports of the event drew attention to the inscription on the cornerstone which named Pope Leo XIII, Archbishop Kenrick, and Father Stanowski.
Vicar General Muehlsiepen blessed the church inside and out. Afterwards he delivered a sermon in which he praised the parish exclaiming among other things: "Saint Stanislaus Kostka parish is one of the luckier ones. In a short time, you Poles have built the most beautiful church in Saint Louis. This is proof of your devotion to the church. The results of your work brings joy to other ethnic groups. You are an example for others to follow, a proof that much can be accomplished in a short time when properly motivated. You have earned God's greater praise than what I can express."
Father Hessoun, who some twelve years before had encouraged the then small community of Poles in the basement of Saint Patrick's school, celebrated the first mass in the new church. Father Victor Barzynski delivered the homily in Polish. Father Barzynski's presence was of particular significance. He had first come to public attention in 1874 when he assumed control of the Polish mother church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka in Chicago. From that time until his death a quarter century later, he more than any other man in America personified Polish Roman Catholicism. During 1891-1892 Father Barzynski was an advocate of clerical leadership in promoting ethnic awareness and nationalistic patriotism, a policy already pursued by Father Stanowski in Saint Louis.
Polish, German and English newspaper accounts of the day expressed the tremendous excitement and admiration of the entire city over the appearance of the new church. Designed by the firm of Wessbecher and Hummel with the guidance of Father Stanowski, its monumental towers on the front elevation and an imposing cylindrical apse created a profile recalling Polish churches dating to the period when Christianity was introduced into the first independent Polish state. Its majestic dome, brilliantly sheathed in copper, soared heavenward, a symbol proudly proclaiming the devotion and faith of the Polish community. This impressive exterior, coupled with a spacious, beautifully lit and sumptuously ornamented interior, a Greek cross plan, made Saint Stanislaus among the outstanding churches of the entire Archdiocese.
In the summer of 1893, Father Stanowski returned to Poland for the avowed purpose of praying at the most hallowed shrine of Poland, the Mother of God Church of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa. Although thwarted from fulfilling his vow because he was blacklisted by the Russian occupying authorities, he was able to obtain a late eighteenth century replica of the famous icon of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa and its marble altar from the Paulist monastery of Cracow. At the time this image was claimed to be one of only two copies that had been made and, as such, it accrued the potent symbolism of Polish nationalism and religious freedom belonging the original. Upon his return Father Stanowski proudly observed that now the third shrine of our Lady of Czestochowa would be located in Saint Louis in the side altar of the new church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka.
On May 29, 1885 a nominating decree was issued by the Prior of the Franciscan Brothers in Saint Louis appointing Father Urban Stanowski pastor of Saint Stanislaus. The new pastor served the parish on Sundays, Holy Days, and one additional day of the week. The remainder of his time was spent at the Franciscan Monastery on Meramec Street some distance away. This arrangement was not particularly to the liking of the Saint Stanislaus parishioners who, having worked so hard to build their church, now wished to have a full-time pastor. Unfortunately, there was not then a Polish priest under the jurisdiction of the Saint Louis Archdiocese. However, after repeated requests, Archbishop Kendrick petitioned Rome to release Father Stanowski from his vows. With the granting of this request Father Stanowski began the over four decades of service to the parish which were to prove among the greatest years of its growth and prosperity.
Father Stanowski moved quickly to reduce the financial obligations of the parish. Having accomplished this by 1887, he purchased an adjacent lot to the church on which was constructed a rectory, completed in 1888. The spiritual growth of the parish was equally impressive. During September of 1888 over 1,200 faithful received Holy Communion during a Holy Mission held by Reverend Sebastian of the Society of Jesus. By 1892 over 2,000 received Holy Communion during a Forty Hour Devotion at Lent. In the same year Archbishop Kendrick confirmed some 320 parishioners.
With the growth of the parish, the church and school facilities became inadequate. Additional lots were purchased at 20th and 21st Streets. Part of this was designated for a new church, while the rest was resold to parishioners for their own houses. Thus a Polish ethnic community came into being along these two streets adjacent to and around the church. Over the years it formed the nucleus for an expanded neighborhood as the former Irish residents in the area moved out to be replaced by ever increasing numbers of Poles.
By 1891 the Franciscans had relinquished rights to the parish and Father Stanowski became a secular priest under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese. It is only against the backdrop of events in Polish communities in other cities at the time that subsequent actions taken by Father Stanowski and the Archdiocese can be fully appreciated. Fierce disputes over whether being Polish meant first of all being Catholic, or identifying with ones ethnic heritage and land of origin, had led to an open split in many congregations with open hostility to (and even separation from) the Roman Catholic hierarchy. At the center of the controversy was the ownership of church properties.
On May 2,1891, with the advice and consent of the Archbishop, the parish was incorporated in the State of Missouri as the "Polish Roman Catholic Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish." While the incorporation placed the ownership of the parish in the hands of its secular directors, the use of the name "Roman Catholic" underscored the continued relationship of the parish with the Archdiocese, a connection not sought under similar conditions in other cities. The fact that Father Stanowski remained under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop while serving as the first president and treasurer of the corporation was most significant. This kind of arrangement would have been considered anathema to nationalists elsewhere who wished to take financial control of parishes away from both bishops and priests. Such was the compromise of 1891, which by-and-large has served the parish well down to the present day.
Throughout the subsequent decades it was the unique personality of Father Stanowski which held the key to the delicate balance of interests achieved at the time of incorporation. The swift movement of events after May 2, 1891, indicates his ability to cultivate the nationalistic and ethnic identity of his parishioners while at the same time fostering good relations with the church hierarchy. Over the years Saint Stanislaus was to continue to receive both the praise and the support of prominent figures in the church hierarchy within the city.
On May 6, 1891, the first meeting of the trustees was held, perhaps only coincidentally three days after the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the Polish National Constitution. Father Stanowski had himself been responsible for organizing a celebration of the event at the church. At the same gathering a protest was heard against the imprisonment by the German government of a Polish editor who had defended the Catholic faith and rights of the Polish people.
Construction was begun on the new church in July of 1891. By September of the following year, when it was completed, $60,000 of its total cost of $92,000 had already been raised. This testimony to the unity and devotion of the parish was noted in the local press as well as at the dedication of the church itself.
The dedication ceremony was a significant event in the Archdiocese. Clergy from many parishes throughout the city attended. It was also an occasion for demonstrating that it was possible to be a Polish Roman Catholic rather than having to choose between being either a Pole or a Roman Catholic. United States, Papal and Polish flags flew in abundance. Contemporary reports of the event drew attention to the inscription on the cornerstone which named Pope Leo XIII, Archbishop Kenrick, and Father Stanowski.
Vicar General Muehlsiepen blessed the church inside and out. Afterwards he delivered a sermon in which he praised the parish exclaiming among other things: "Saint Stanislaus Kostka parish is one of the luckier ones. In a short time, you Poles have built the most beautiful church in Saint Louis. This is proof of your devotion to the church. The results of your work brings joy to other ethnic groups. You are an example for others to follow, a proof that much can be accomplished in a short time when properly motivated. You have earned God's greater praise than what I can express."
Father Hessoun, who some twelve years before had encouraged the then small community of Poles in the basement of Saint Patrick's school, celebrated the first mass in the new church. Father Victor Barzynski delivered the homily in Polish. Father Barzynski's presence was of particular significance. He had first come to public attention in 1874 when he assumed control of the Polish mother church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka in Chicago. From that time until his death a quarter century later, he more than any other man in America personified Polish Roman Catholicism. During 1891-1892 Father Barzynski was an advocate of clerical leadership in promoting ethnic awareness and nationalistic patriotism, a policy already pursued by Father Stanowski in Saint Louis.
Polish, German and English newspaper accounts of the day expressed the tremendous excitement and admiration of the entire city over the appearance of the new church. Designed by the firm of Wessbecher and Hummel with the guidance of Father Stanowski, its monumental towers on the front elevation and an imposing cylindrical apse created a profile recalling Polish churches dating to the period when Christianity was introduced into the first independent Polish state. Its majestic dome, brilliantly sheathed in copper, soared heavenward, a symbol proudly proclaiming the devotion and faith of the Polish community. This impressive exterior, coupled with a spacious, beautifully lit and sumptuously ornamented interior, a Greek cross plan, made Saint Stanislaus among the outstanding churches of the entire Archdiocese.
In the summer of 1893, Father Stanowski returned to Poland for the avowed purpose of praying at the most hallowed shrine of Poland, the Mother of God Church of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa. Although thwarted from fulfilling his vow because he was blacklisted by the Russian occupying authorities, he was able to obtain a late eighteenth century replica of the famous icon of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa and its marble altar from the Paulist monastery of Cracow. At the time this image was claimed to be one of only two copies that had been made and, as such, it accrued the potent symbolism of Polish nationalism and religious freedom belonging the original. Upon his return Father Stanowski proudly observed that now the third shrine of our Lady of Czestochowa would be located in Saint Louis in the side altar of the new church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka.
New (and current) church building of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. It was consecrated on September 18, 1892.
The spirit of Polish nationalism remained high in the parish during the following years. For example, in 1895 the church was draped in mourning and resolutions were made to abstain from entertainment in commemoration of the failure of the Polish Revolution of 1795. But along with this responsiveness to the Polish national cause and the encouragement of ethnic pride among his parishioners, Father Stanowski also sought to facilitate their assimilation into American society by further developing the resources of the parish. In 1896 he opened an English language evening class. More importantly he moved to set the affairs of the parish school in order. The nuns who were teaching there had no permanent place of resident. In 1901, with the help of Father Stanowski they established their own Order, The Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, with their mother house located in the parish. Starting with Only three Polish Sisters dedicated to the teaching of Polish children, the Order has grown over the years, extending its good works around the world. Following the ceremony of final vows for the new order attended by many clergy from the Archdiocese, Father Stanowski purchased a spacious new building to provide for the needs of the Provisional First Polish Convent.
The spiritual life of the parish flourished as well. On June 15, 1902, Father Simon Zielinski was ordained and celebrated his First Holy Mass. On this occasion he also received appointment as the parish's assistant pastor. Later that year in October a Forty Hour Devotion was held in the church. The young Father was greatly moved on this occasion by faith and joy of his parishioners. He later recalled that over 1,800 had gone to confession from five until late at night. But more impressive still was the reaction of German clergy in attendance. They were greatly excited by the singing which they witnessed. Later they wondered why, in their own parishes, except for the choirs, no one sang during Mass. Father Stanowski apparently provided the answer. While even a young sparrow learns to sing from an old one, at Saint Stanislaus old sparrows learned from the young. In elementary school children received uniform songbooks, memorized their lessons well, and then were turned loose among their reluctant elders in church. Since 1901 Father Stanowski had provided Polish Hymnals for his parishioners which contained religious hymns which had been carried in their memory from the mother land. Thus traditional expressions of devotion were kept alive and passed on to a younger generation, while at the same time providing joy and comfort to their elders in the present.
After a period of particularly bitter internal quarreling the parish belatedly celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1910. By this time Saint Stanislaus was one of five Polish parishes in the metropolitan area, but still the most important. Father Stanowski, who also celebrated his Jubilee at the same time, remained very much the leader of a reunited congregation. As an expression of their gratitude his parishioners raised $3,000 which they offered the Jubilarian for his private use. Instead he used it to retire the parish debt.
In 1913 the first of what were to be a number of calamities struck the parish. The great dome, so long a symbol for the entire community, began to leak causing serious structural damage to the church interior. Since nothing could be done to rectify the leaking, it was reluctantly decided to remove the dome. To this day the loss of this glorious crown is still felt by many, as is the absence of the wonderful shower of light with which it flooded the interior of the church.
The spiritual life of the parish flourished as well. On June 15, 1902, Father Simon Zielinski was ordained and celebrated his First Holy Mass. On this occasion he also received appointment as the parish's assistant pastor. Later that year in October a Forty Hour Devotion was held in the church. The young Father was greatly moved on this occasion by faith and joy of his parishioners. He later recalled that over 1,800 had gone to confession from five until late at night. But more impressive still was the reaction of German clergy in attendance. They were greatly excited by the singing which they witnessed. Later they wondered why, in their own parishes, except for the choirs, no one sang during Mass. Father Stanowski apparently provided the answer. While even a young sparrow learns to sing from an old one, at Saint Stanislaus old sparrows learned from the young. In elementary school children received uniform songbooks, memorized their lessons well, and then were turned loose among their reluctant elders in church. Since 1901 Father Stanowski had provided Polish Hymnals for his parishioners which contained religious hymns which had been carried in their memory from the mother land. Thus traditional expressions of devotion were kept alive and passed on to a younger generation, while at the same time providing joy and comfort to their elders in the present.
After a period of particularly bitter internal quarreling the parish belatedly celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1910. By this time Saint Stanislaus was one of five Polish parishes in the metropolitan area, but still the most important. Father Stanowski, who also celebrated his Jubilee at the same time, remained very much the leader of a reunited congregation. As an expression of their gratitude his parishioners raised $3,000 which they offered the Jubilarian for his private use. Instead he used it to retire the parish debt.
In 1913 the first of what were to be a number of calamities struck the parish. The great dome, so long a symbol for the entire community, began to leak causing serious structural damage to the church interior. Since nothing could be done to rectify the leaking, it was reluctantly decided to remove the dome. To this day the loss of this glorious crown is still felt by many, as is the absence of the wonderful shower of light with which it flooded the interior of the church.
Interior of St. Stanislaus Church, circa 1892. It is easy to notice the light coming through the main dome, which was later demolished in 1913.
In 1921 Father Stanowski became seriously ill. As his health deteriorated so did his parishioners' spiritual devotion. In 1923 Archbishop Glennon came to administer Confirmation to some 335 persons. He admonished the congregation to unite, calling for renewed harmony and faith. Aware of adverse parish conditions and the doubtful recovery of Father Stanowski, the Archbishop appointed Father Victor Gorzel as assistant to the parish in January of 1924.
Father Gorzel assumed his responsibilities under very difficult circumstances. But through his dedication and hard work the young priest began to earn the respect and devotion of his congregation.
Many who had drifted away to other parishes returned, despite the uncertain situation of the parish throughout all of 1925.
In 1926 Father Theodor Kubin, the distinguished Bishop of the Czestochowa Diocese, while attending the Eucharistic Congress in Chicago made a visit to Saint Stanislaus. He celebrated Mass and delivered a moving sermon in which he praised the congregation for having accomplished so much in such a short time. In November of the same year, because Father Stanowski's condition had deteriorated even further, Father Gorzel was made administrator of the parish by Archbishop Glennon.
With the sudden death of Father Stanowski on January 23, 1927, not only the parish of Saint Stanislaus, but the Archdiocese as well, lost an outstanding leader. Several years later the Golden Jubilee Book of Stanislaus Kostka remembered him as "one of the oldest activists in the province of national civic affairs, an organizer of great talents, a model manager, who was able from meager means to organize a powerful Polish settlement in Saint Louis and build a beautiful, magnificent church and construct other buildings, all monuments of his accomplishment." Whatever differences some in the Polish community may have had with him over the years, all acknowledged that his motives were beyond reproach. He had always worked for the good of his parishioners. His funeral services were led by Archbishop Glennon himself.
Over the next two years Father Gorzel worked hard to restore a parish which seemed to be slipping into decline. By 1928 his efforts were bearing fruit. Religious devotion was at a new high and the parish was welcoming many new members. The church itself was repainted and restored. Once again Saint Stanislaus stood first among Polish parishes in the city.
Disaster struck suddenly on February 3, 1928. A fire engulfed the church, caused by defective wiring below the main altar. Despite all efforts to prevent it, the sanctuary was completely destroyed. Total losses were over $60,000, only part of which was covered by insurance.
Once again Father Gorzel led his parishioners in a renewed effort to restore the church. The very next day he said mass at the side altar and within two days a temporary altar had been erected in the middle of the church. Though the windows of the church had been broken in the fire, with no electricity available, parishioners continued to attend masses in great numbers despite the cold of winter. Always offering words of encouragement, himself continuously working, within five months Father Gorzel saw the work of rebuilding the church completed. In November of 1929 Archbishop Glennon returned to Saint Stanislaus to administer Confirmation. At the time he voiced the opinion that it stood second. only to the Saint Louis Cathedral as the most majestic church in the Archdiocese. Once again the devotion and faith of the people of Saint Stanislaus parish had overcome the most difficult of circumstances.
Almost all the original interior decoration of the church had been destroyed in the fire, thus almost all of what now constitutes its ornamentation originated with the restoration of 1928. At that time a copy of the world's largest painting of the crucifixion was installed in the blind arcade of the apse. The original work, Golgotha a panorama with two thousand figures by the Polish artist Jan Styka, had been painted for exhibition at the Saint Louis World's Fair of 1904. Artists who had worked with Styka on the original helped in executing this one for Saint Stanislaus.
At a cost of about $10,000, all the windows of the church were replaced. Designed by Michael Olszewski, they are among the most beautiful in the city. On the right side of the church above the altar there is an image of Christ the King designed by Father Gorzel. To the left is the altar of Saint Stanislaus Kostka with an image above of the Saint adoring the Holy Mother. Fortunately the shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa survived the fire unharmed. Above the three domes of the church were painted in azure, intended to represent Faith, Hope and Love, three virtues for which the parish was well known.
With the work of restoration just completed, the city authorities declared the old school building unsafe for use and a fire hazard. Once again the parish responded and at a cost of $45,000 it was repaired and remodeled into a structure which still serves it today. Altogether the restoration of the church and remodeling of the school probably cost as much as the original building project of 1892 and was accomplished by the parish in an equally short time.
It was with great satisfaction and profound gratitude that the parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1930. In the Jubilee Book thanks were given and hope offered for the future: thanks for the efforts and the dedication of those who had built the church, and the hope that their example would encourage devotion to work and prayer in the young, so that they might follow in the footsteps of their ancestors.
In 1951 Father Gorzel was transferred to Saint Aloysius parish in Spanish Lake. Over the years the neighborhoods surrounding Saint Stanislaus had begun to change, as indeed had the whole inner city of Saint Louis. In many ways the parish had achieved one of its important goals all too well. Several generations of Poles, drawing on its spiritual and community resources, finding both strength and support in its fostering of ethnic identity, had successfully entered the mainstream of American life. In the face of deteriorating neighborhood conditions, many reluctantly were moving away from the parish into the outlying suburbs of the city.
It was under these circumstances that Father Joseph Pawlowski was assigned to succeed Father Gorzel. Formerly the pastor of Saint Casimir's, over one hundred families from the parish followed him to Saint Stanislaus. In the years immediately following, Father Pawlowski saw to it that the parish debt was paid off and he proceded with much needed renovations of the parish buildings. The back of the church was waterproofed and the entire interior was repainted. Both the Sisters' convent and the rectory were repaired and repainted. In 1961 the exterior of the church was renovated at a cost of $52,000. With customary generosity the parishioners paid off this cost within the year.
On Sunday November 11, 1956 the parish was able to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee, with Bishop Leo Byrne presiding at the Jubilee Mass. That evening an elaborate program was held in the Parish Hall. Still holding true to its Polish heritage, in 1959 Father Pawlowski led the first Saint Louis tour to Poland. This trip was followed by another in 1962. In 1964 Father Pawlowski was made a Monsignor. His investiture by Cardinal Joseph Ritter took place at Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church.
An eventful day in the life of the parish was October 18, 1969, when Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, now Pope John Paul II, visited Saint Louis. After a short visit with Cardinal John Carberry and a tour of the city, he spent many hours at the rectory of Saint Stanislaus. At the evening church service he warmly thanked the people for welcoming him and for the generosity to their brethren overseas. The warmth, lovableness, and compelling personality of the future Pontiff on this occasion created a great impression on all those present. Ties of friendship between the Polish motherland and the Poles of Saint Louis were cemented even further by this most generous of all spirits.
In 1968, for personal reasons, Monsignor Pawlowski applied for a leave of absence from pastoral work. It was granted in July of 1970 and Father Robert Szydlowski was then assigned to the parish. A short time later in 1971 Father Jerry Jakle was appointed pastor of the parish. With Father Jakle's arrival still another important chapter in the history of the parish began.
For almost two decades the neighborhoods of the near north side of Saint Louis had been dramatically deteriorating. The parish of Saint Patrick from which Father Jakle came to Saint Stanislaus had once been the largest in the city, but now was reduced to almost nothing. The church of Saint Patrick's the symbol of Irish Catholics in the city, was demolished and Saint Joseph's the mother church of German Catholics, was facing a similar fate. Most Poles who had formerly lived in the neighborhood around Saint Stanislaus had long since moved away. The church itself was badly in need of repairs. But once again the faith and the generosity of her people set an example for the entire Archdiocese.
Father Jakle, working with a dedicated Board of Directors began the long and often difficult task of restoring the church. With the support of parishioners, the church council, other Polish organizations and help from others in the community, fund raising began in earnest. In 1976 Stanislaus Kostka was recognized as a City Landmark. In 1979 the church most deservedly was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. But more importantly, through a series of church picnics and the institution of Polka Masses, the spirit of celebration, song, pride, and faith which had been so much a part of the parish's heritage from the very beginning once again moved through the Polish community and began to attract the attention and the admiration of the entire city. Through hard work, self-reliance, and dedication it was possible to raise over $200,000 by 1979 and the physical restoration of the church was completed. In this, its centennial year, the church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka has been beautifully restored to its condition as of 1930. In remembrance of the three years in which the struggling young parish first began, a 19th century statue of Saint Patrick, perhaps all that now remains to commemorate both that parish and the place where the Polish community of Saint Louis first was united, has now been installed in the church. It is a most fitting symbol both of the support which the Polish community received from other ethnic groups over the First century of its existence and an expression of its gratitude for that support.
The Centennial Year [editorial comment by RCK: of the founding of the first parish church compared to founding of the Parish as a separately owned entity in 1891] has been a most memorable one. On May 25, 1980 Archbishop May officiated at a magnificent Jubilee Mass. His warm and affectionate praise for the congregation bore witness to their long efforts and great faith. On June 8, 1980, the Archbishop returned once again to help celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Monsignor Pawlowski. On both occasions services were followed by large dinners where the Polish community could justly celebrate still another period of accomplishment in the history of the parish.
Today the Church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka stands proudly as a symbol of Polish achievements in the city of Saint Louis and as a testimony to the faith of many generations. By her example she has shown to the entire city that even under the most difficult of circumstances the work, the love, and the devotion of the past, embodied in the bricks and stones of a beautiful temple erected to the glory of the Almighty, need not be abandoned, destroyed, and forgotten. In the Church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka there is preserved a witness to the faith of the past, the devotion of the present, and a hope for the future. May the prayers and the songs of her people still be heard one hundred years from now.
* Based on: Fr. John S. Mysliwiec, C.R., Fr. L. Siekaniec, O.F.M. Ph.D. & "100th Anniversary of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church"
Father Gorzel assumed his responsibilities under very difficult circumstances. But through his dedication and hard work the young priest began to earn the respect and devotion of his congregation.
Many who had drifted away to other parishes returned, despite the uncertain situation of the parish throughout all of 1925.
In 1926 Father Theodor Kubin, the distinguished Bishop of the Czestochowa Diocese, while attending the Eucharistic Congress in Chicago made a visit to Saint Stanislaus. He celebrated Mass and delivered a moving sermon in which he praised the congregation for having accomplished so much in such a short time. In November of the same year, because Father Stanowski's condition had deteriorated even further, Father Gorzel was made administrator of the parish by Archbishop Glennon.
With the sudden death of Father Stanowski on January 23, 1927, not only the parish of Saint Stanislaus, but the Archdiocese as well, lost an outstanding leader. Several years later the Golden Jubilee Book of Stanislaus Kostka remembered him as "one of the oldest activists in the province of national civic affairs, an organizer of great talents, a model manager, who was able from meager means to organize a powerful Polish settlement in Saint Louis and build a beautiful, magnificent church and construct other buildings, all monuments of his accomplishment." Whatever differences some in the Polish community may have had with him over the years, all acknowledged that his motives were beyond reproach. He had always worked for the good of his parishioners. His funeral services were led by Archbishop Glennon himself.
Over the next two years Father Gorzel worked hard to restore a parish which seemed to be slipping into decline. By 1928 his efforts were bearing fruit. Religious devotion was at a new high and the parish was welcoming many new members. The church itself was repainted and restored. Once again Saint Stanislaus stood first among Polish parishes in the city.
Disaster struck suddenly on February 3, 1928. A fire engulfed the church, caused by defective wiring below the main altar. Despite all efforts to prevent it, the sanctuary was completely destroyed. Total losses were over $60,000, only part of which was covered by insurance.
Once again Father Gorzel led his parishioners in a renewed effort to restore the church. The very next day he said mass at the side altar and within two days a temporary altar had been erected in the middle of the church. Though the windows of the church had been broken in the fire, with no electricity available, parishioners continued to attend masses in great numbers despite the cold of winter. Always offering words of encouragement, himself continuously working, within five months Father Gorzel saw the work of rebuilding the church completed. In November of 1929 Archbishop Glennon returned to Saint Stanislaus to administer Confirmation. At the time he voiced the opinion that it stood second. only to the Saint Louis Cathedral as the most majestic church in the Archdiocese. Once again the devotion and faith of the people of Saint Stanislaus parish had overcome the most difficult of circumstances.
Almost all the original interior decoration of the church had been destroyed in the fire, thus almost all of what now constitutes its ornamentation originated with the restoration of 1928. At that time a copy of the world's largest painting of the crucifixion was installed in the blind arcade of the apse. The original work, Golgotha a panorama with two thousand figures by the Polish artist Jan Styka, had been painted for exhibition at the Saint Louis World's Fair of 1904. Artists who had worked with Styka on the original helped in executing this one for Saint Stanislaus.
At a cost of about $10,000, all the windows of the church were replaced. Designed by Michael Olszewski, they are among the most beautiful in the city. On the right side of the church above the altar there is an image of Christ the King designed by Father Gorzel. To the left is the altar of Saint Stanislaus Kostka with an image above of the Saint adoring the Holy Mother. Fortunately the shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa survived the fire unharmed. Above the three domes of the church were painted in azure, intended to represent Faith, Hope and Love, three virtues for which the parish was well known.
With the work of restoration just completed, the city authorities declared the old school building unsafe for use and a fire hazard. Once again the parish responded and at a cost of $45,000 it was repaired and remodeled into a structure which still serves it today. Altogether the restoration of the church and remodeling of the school probably cost as much as the original building project of 1892 and was accomplished by the parish in an equally short time.
It was with great satisfaction and profound gratitude that the parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1930. In the Jubilee Book thanks were given and hope offered for the future: thanks for the efforts and the dedication of those who had built the church, and the hope that their example would encourage devotion to work and prayer in the young, so that they might follow in the footsteps of their ancestors.
In 1951 Father Gorzel was transferred to Saint Aloysius parish in Spanish Lake. Over the years the neighborhoods surrounding Saint Stanislaus had begun to change, as indeed had the whole inner city of Saint Louis. In many ways the parish had achieved one of its important goals all too well. Several generations of Poles, drawing on its spiritual and community resources, finding both strength and support in its fostering of ethnic identity, had successfully entered the mainstream of American life. In the face of deteriorating neighborhood conditions, many reluctantly were moving away from the parish into the outlying suburbs of the city.
It was under these circumstances that Father Joseph Pawlowski was assigned to succeed Father Gorzel. Formerly the pastor of Saint Casimir's, over one hundred families from the parish followed him to Saint Stanislaus. In the years immediately following, Father Pawlowski saw to it that the parish debt was paid off and he proceded with much needed renovations of the parish buildings. The back of the church was waterproofed and the entire interior was repainted. Both the Sisters' convent and the rectory were repaired and repainted. In 1961 the exterior of the church was renovated at a cost of $52,000. With customary generosity the parishioners paid off this cost within the year.
On Sunday November 11, 1956 the parish was able to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee, with Bishop Leo Byrne presiding at the Jubilee Mass. That evening an elaborate program was held in the Parish Hall. Still holding true to its Polish heritage, in 1959 Father Pawlowski led the first Saint Louis tour to Poland. This trip was followed by another in 1962. In 1964 Father Pawlowski was made a Monsignor. His investiture by Cardinal Joseph Ritter took place at Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church.
An eventful day in the life of the parish was October 18, 1969, when Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, now Pope John Paul II, visited Saint Louis. After a short visit with Cardinal John Carberry and a tour of the city, he spent many hours at the rectory of Saint Stanislaus. At the evening church service he warmly thanked the people for welcoming him and for the generosity to their brethren overseas. The warmth, lovableness, and compelling personality of the future Pontiff on this occasion created a great impression on all those present. Ties of friendship between the Polish motherland and the Poles of Saint Louis were cemented even further by this most generous of all spirits.
In 1968, for personal reasons, Monsignor Pawlowski applied for a leave of absence from pastoral work. It was granted in July of 1970 and Father Robert Szydlowski was then assigned to the parish. A short time later in 1971 Father Jerry Jakle was appointed pastor of the parish. With Father Jakle's arrival still another important chapter in the history of the parish began.
For almost two decades the neighborhoods of the near north side of Saint Louis had been dramatically deteriorating. The parish of Saint Patrick from which Father Jakle came to Saint Stanislaus had once been the largest in the city, but now was reduced to almost nothing. The church of Saint Patrick's the symbol of Irish Catholics in the city, was demolished and Saint Joseph's the mother church of German Catholics, was facing a similar fate. Most Poles who had formerly lived in the neighborhood around Saint Stanislaus had long since moved away. The church itself was badly in need of repairs. But once again the faith and the generosity of her people set an example for the entire Archdiocese.
Father Jakle, working with a dedicated Board of Directors began the long and often difficult task of restoring the church. With the support of parishioners, the church council, other Polish organizations and help from others in the community, fund raising began in earnest. In 1976 Stanislaus Kostka was recognized as a City Landmark. In 1979 the church most deservedly was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. But more importantly, through a series of church picnics and the institution of Polka Masses, the spirit of celebration, song, pride, and faith which had been so much a part of the parish's heritage from the very beginning once again moved through the Polish community and began to attract the attention and the admiration of the entire city. Through hard work, self-reliance, and dedication it was possible to raise over $200,000 by 1979 and the physical restoration of the church was completed. In this, its centennial year, the church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka has been beautifully restored to its condition as of 1930. In remembrance of the three years in which the struggling young parish first began, a 19th century statue of Saint Patrick, perhaps all that now remains to commemorate both that parish and the place where the Polish community of Saint Louis first was united, has now been installed in the church. It is a most fitting symbol both of the support which the Polish community received from other ethnic groups over the First century of its existence and an expression of its gratitude for that support.
The Centennial Year [editorial comment by RCK: of the founding of the first parish church compared to founding of the Parish as a separately owned entity in 1891] has been a most memorable one. On May 25, 1980 Archbishop May officiated at a magnificent Jubilee Mass. His warm and affectionate praise for the congregation bore witness to their long efforts and great faith. On June 8, 1980, the Archbishop returned once again to help celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Monsignor Pawlowski. On both occasions services were followed by large dinners where the Polish community could justly celebrate still another period of accomplishment in the history of the parish.
Today the Church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka stands proudly as a symbol of Polish achievements in the city of Saint Louis and as a testimony to the faith of many generations. By her example she has shown to the entire city that even under the most difficult of circumstances the work, the love, and the devotion of the past, embodied in the bricks and stones of a beautiful temple erected to the glory of the Almighty, need not be abandoned, destroyed, and forgotten. In the Church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka there is preserved a witness to the faith of the past, the devotion of the present, and a hope for the future. May the prayers and the songs of her people still be heard one hundred years from now.
* Based on: Fr. John S. Mysliwiec, C.R., Fr. L. Siekaniec, O.F.M. Ph.D. & "100th Anniversary of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church"
Interior of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church before the 1928 restoration.
[Chapter Two]** Father Pawlowski left the Parish in 1970 primarily because of health matters. He was succeeded as noted above by Fr. Robert Szydlowski who remained at the Parish for only a short time. In turn he was succeeded by Father Jeremiah Jakle who was also the Chaplain for the St. Louis Fire Department. As mentioned previously Fr. Jakle was the primary force in moving the Parish back into vitality. After he was diagnosed with lung cancer Fr. Jakle retired and died shortly thereafter. His impact on the Parish is felt to this very day. Following Fr. Jakle was Father Shaw who was at the Parish for only one month when he died. Next in the line of succession as pastor to the Polish flock was the young Father Michael Sheridan who was destined to become the Bishop of Boulder, Colorado. Again this pastor's stay at St. Stanislaus was short and he was followed by then Father Ted Wojcicki who also stayed but a short time as pastor but who would return for a fourteen year reign as Pastor. The beloved Father Vincent Mogelnicki came to the parish as pastor in 1981 and remained until his retirement to Florida in 1989 where he died while preparing to say Mass.
Father Joseph Lukaszczyk replaced Father Mogelnicki but he too remained at the parish for only a short time, 1989-1990. He requested to be reassigned to St. Joseph's Hill Infirmary, the site of the Shrine of the Black Madonna in Eureka, Missouri after he was unable to successfully cope with the demands of the new immigrant community.
In 1990 Father Ted Wojcicki returned as pastor. The next year the founding of the Parish as a separate legal entity, a corporation, known as the Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish was celebrated. It was in 1891 that Richard Kenrick Archbishop of St. Louis, through the civil court of the City of St. Louis, transferred clear and unfettered title to the property of the Parish to the newly formed corporation. Archbishop John May was the celebrant at the Mass and festivities of this historic Centennial event, 1891-1991. His actions and the actions of all preceding Archbishops of St. Louis back to Abp. Kenrick affirm the legal status of the Parish that Abp. Burke would later seek to vitiate.
Fr. Ted led the Parish through a period of growth and relative harmony while he also held significant duties at the Chancery Office, first as Superintendent of Catholic Schools and later as the Archdiocesan Director of Planning & Development. During this time he was named a Monsignor. It was during his reign that the parishioners began a development campaign which resulted in the building of the Polish Heritage Center with substantial gifts from the parishioners, businesses and even members of the Jewish community. Over a two year period of time over $2.7 million dollars was raised and the entire structure completed, debt free.
Archbishop Justin Rigali approved the project, dedicated the ground and later presided over the blessing and dedication of the new center for Polish community life in St. Louis. Sadly for the Parishioners whom he had lead so successfully, the Parish was notified in 2002 that Msgr. Wojcicki was named Rector and President of the Kenrick Glennon Seminary, the major seminary in Missouri. His leaving was a bitter sweet day for the Parish which at once was happy for Msgr. Ted's promotion and sad at losing a beloved Pastor.
With the departure of Msgr. Ted there began a tumultuous and heartbreaking period which has to this day not yet been resolved. The Archdiocese facing large liabilities attendant to sexual abuse accusations and actual criminal convictions of some priests decided to reorganize parishes within the Archdiocese into separate corporations in an attempt to shield the Archdiocese from these liabilities. The Board of Directors of Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish, the body that holds legal and equitable title to the Parish's property, were notified that they were to turn the property over to a new corporation controlled solely by the Archbishop. The Archdiocese placed a young priest and canon lawyer in charge of the Parish as Parochial Administrator, Father Philip Bené. His aloofness and general disregard for the spiritual life of the Parish, e.g., he never heard confessions, soon made him an unwelcome traitor in our midst. He ignored the Board of Directors and successfully divided the Parish generally along the lines of the second and third generation Parishioners who had financially supported the Parish over the years and the more newly arrived immigrants who, although financially able, never provided financial support to the Parish.
The Board of Directors through their attorneys tried to petition both the Vatican to halt what amounted to an illegal takeover of parish property and Archbishop Raymond Burke personally.
The Congregation for the Clergy which took jurisdiction over the case filed with the Vatican in May 2004 issued a decree in November 2004, that it did not recognize the Board of Directors as representatives of the Parish and summarily dismissed the petition. Abp. Burke would later state that decree was based upon the merits of the case, but this was clearly not the case.
During the early stages of this ordeal the Parish found one friend in Rome who had the courage to stand by the people of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Abp, Szczepan Wesoly, the head of the John Paul II Foundation and the former Bishop of Polonia throughout the world. He has labored tirelessly for the Parish and has endured the criticism of Abp. Burke and no doubt other Prelates. His successor as the Bishop of Polonia, Ryszard Karpinski, on the other hand has ignored common decency and supported Abp. Burke's unlawful claims against St. Stanislaus Parish. He went so far as to come to St. Louis to dedicate a "New Polish Apostolate" and further divide the Polish community and create rancor among the Polish Catholic flock.
On the civil law front Parish attorneys met with representatives of the Archdiocese on several occasions in sincere attempts to reach a settlement. Abp. Burke never made an effort to meet with the Board of Directors after the initial meeting when he "laid down the law." All subsequent meetings were with his representatives. These sessions always ended with the Archdiocese coming back with a plan in which total control was always vested in Abp. Burke. Generous offers by the Directors were rejected out-of-hand.
After the Board of Directors was notified by Fr. Bené that the Parish operating funds and a never before touched emergency fund (~$60,000) had been exhausted by him and for which he refused to account, the Directors took charge of the Sunday collections. At this point, Abp. Burke declared that such treatment of Fr. Bené was untenable; he withdrew the priests from the Parish. Thus began a seventeen month period when the Parishioners were denied the Sacraments in their own church. Abp. Burke said he would allow funerals but he reneged on this promise at the first opportunity. He also took the opportunity to Interdict the Board of Directors, a form of minor excommunication to punish them. The Parishioners carried on as best they could with Roman Catholic services used when a priest is not available. In August 2005, a priest who would later become our Pastor and who was stationed at St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield, Missouri got permission from his bishop to celebrate a Mass for the Parishioners of St. Stanislaus. The Board of Directors arranged to have buses to take the Parishioners to Springfield for this Mass. When Abp. Burke heard of this, he ordered Bishop Leibrecht of Springfield to withdraw permission for the Mass. Again, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was used as a weapon to punish the Parishioners.
Through the Advisor to the Board of Directors and Director Robert Zabielski secret negotiations began in August 2005 with Father Marek Bozek, a courageous, young Polish born priest who said his Mass of Thanksgiving in December of 2000 at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. When it became clear that Abp. Burke was not going to move from his position of absolute control, the Advisor and Mr. Zabielski went into the final stages of discussions with Fr. Bozek. Father believed that the people were suffering because they were being denied the Sacraments in the Church in which their families had worshipped for generations. Finally, in mid-December an agreement was reached and Father Bozek asked his bishop for permission to take a leave of absence to come to St. Stanislaus to minister to the spiritual needs of the people while the property dispute was negotiated. He was denied this permission. Father then gave notice that he was leaving the Springfield Diocese for St. Stanislaus. He arrived here on December 23, 2005 and celebrated Christmas Mass to a huge crowd of worshipper that overflowed into the Polish Heritage Center where the Mass was being televised. It is estimated that the crowd was nearly 2,500 people. Abp. Burke then excommunicated the members of the Board of Directors, declared Fr. Bozek to be automatically excommunicated and suppressed the Parish and further declared the actions of Father and the Board to be an act of Schism. He said that anyone who received Holy Communion at the Parish would be committing a mortal sin.
The Board then hired Rev. Tom Doyle, O.P.M, J.C.D. a noted canon lawyer to appeal the declarations of Abp. Burke. At the same time, the St. Joseph Foundation of San Antonio, Texas, a group dedicated to the study of canon law and the rights of individual Roman Catholics was asked for research assistance. Both agreed that no act of Schism took place, certainly nothing to warrant the actions of Abp. Burke. Father Doyle on March 10, 2006 filed a timely appeal of the Archbishop's actions by both hand delivery to the Apostolic Papal Nuncio in Washington, DC and by mail to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the tribunal which is to decide the fate of the Parish. To this date there has been no word from the CDF.
Not satisfied with the damage he had already wrought upon St. Stanislaus Parish, Abp. Burke through Bp. Leibrecht sought to have Fr. Bozek's visa revoked by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. If the visa would be revoked, Fr. Bozek would be deported from the United States again inflicting further injury on the good and faithful Roman Catholic parishioners of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. This attempt to sabotage Fr. Bozek is also being appealed through the proper channels and we are optimistic that there will be a favorable outcome for Father and the Parish.
The members of the Board of Directors throughout this ordeal were: William Bialczak, Chairman of the Board; Joseph Rudawski, Ph.D., Treasurer; Robert A. Zabielski, Secretary; Edward Florek; John Baras and Stanley Novak. The depth of their sacrifice cannot be adequately described.
This narrative which is written contemporaneously with the events described is necessary to protect the integrity of the facts as they actually took place. There is no doubt that "historians" of the Archdiocese will paint a different but factually incorrect picture to cover up the wrongs inflicted upon the Parishioners by the local Hierarchy and acquiesced in by those whose consciences have been warped by repeated acts of indifference and callous disregard for the Laity.
May Almighty God, His Son Jesus the founder of our Holy Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Spirit the guide of our Church show us mercy and return us to our rightful place in the Church.
** Based on: Roger C. Krasnicki, "History of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church & Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish Corporation 1878-2006"
[Chapter Three]*** St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish has been in existence since 1880, when it was created as a personal parish for Polish immigrants in St. Louis. In 1891 members of the congregation formed a corporation under civil laws of the state of Missouri with the name “Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish.” The corporation was, and remains today, a religious, charitable, not-for-profit corporation. After the corporation was created, Archbishop Kenrick of St. Louis transferred legal title to the property to the newly-formed Parish Corporation. Since then the Parish has been financially self-sustaining. The new church was financed and built in 16 months. As years went by the Parish Corporation acquired adjoining parcels of property. The original church was later renovated, and new construction was financed and accomplished, including a $2 million Polish Heritage Center.
On December 17, 2005 the Pastor and members of the Board of Directors of St. Stanislaus Parish were excommunicated. In January 2006 Archbishop Burke (now Cardinal Burke) officially suppressed the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka in St. Louis. The disputes between St. Stanislaus Parish and St. Louis Archdiocese are all about money, property, asset protection, control, and a belief by one man that he had absolute power to do as he wanted in his position as Archbishop. From 1891 to early 2004, the parishioners of St. Stanislaus lived in relative harmony with past Cardinals and Archbishops, who lead the Archdiocese of St. Louis. For example, on October 18, 1969, then Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, later to be Pope John Paul II, visited St. Louis and spent many hours at the rectory of St. Stanislaus and celebrated Mass later that evening, in 1991 Archbishop May celebrated the historic Centennial event of the deeding of the church property by Archbishop Kenrick to St. Stanislaus, in 2003, Cardinal Rigali blessed the newly completed Polish Heritage Center. What then happened thereafter to impact these harmonious relationships between St. Stanislaus and the past leaders of the Archdiocese?
In 2004 the then-Archbishop of the Archdiocese, Raymond L. Burke, determined to put into place a plan that would shield the assets of the Archdiocese from claims asserted by victims of what has become known as the priest scandals. Thousands of persons had filed lawsuits and continue to file lawsuits, claiming that they were victims of sexual abuse by priests of various Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the United States, including the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The Roman Catholic Church and its insurers have paid millions of dollars in redress to these claimants. The threat to the solvency of these archdioceses was so compelling that some took the extraordinary step of filing for bankruptcy. Archbishop Burke's Plan in his words would be a "…revision of the form of civil law structure of parishes [of the Archdiocese, but not St. Stanislaus, a civil corporation, which unlike these other parishes owned its assets outright] to nonprofit corporations…." Because these parishes were associations, with assets owned by the Archdiocese, the assets were at risk to be used to pay the claims of the victims. By using the civil law structure of nonprofit corporations, only the assets of the particular parish where the accused priest served would be at risk to pay claims. The assets of the other parishes in the Archdiocese would not or so the reasoning went. Prior to the Plan being instituted, Archbishop Burke observed that "The parishes of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, with the exception of St. Stanislaus… are presently structured in the form of unincorporated associations." With ominously chilling candor, Archbishop Burke, confident that all of his decisions and actions would never be questioned, promised: Once the final form has been given to the proposed revision of the civil law structure of the [other] parishes, St. Stanislaus… will be asked to accept the same civil structure as every other parish in the Archdiocese. If the board of director [of St. Stanislaus] refuses to revise the present structure of civil incorporation I will be left with no other choice than to declare that the parish is no longer part of the archdiocese [sometimes referred to herein as "suppression"]. In addition, in a letter to the parishioners of St. Stanislaus the Archbishop further defined what he would demand of St. Stanislaus, stating: I must insist that [St. Stanislaus] comply with the norm of Church law, as does every other parish in the Archdiocese, in what pertains to its structure…. [St. Stanislaus] will continue to hold all of its [assets], but the administration of the [assets] will be carried out under the direction of the [Pope], [myself] and the priest [whom I appoint]…."
What Archbishop Burke did not clearly disclose in his communication with the members of St. Stanislaus is what he meant when he used the word "administration" as defined by the Church. The term "administration" in "Burkespeak" would allow the Archbishop to sell, change, and control parish property, so that while title might technically remain with St. Stanislaus the power to manage and fully control that power would be conveyed to Archbishop Burke. He backed up his demand with the threat that if St. Stanislaus did not obey he would remove it from the Archdiocese. In issuing this ultimatum Archbishop Burke ignored the covenants and provisions of the 1891 documents – documents that the Archdiocese claims govern and define the legal relationship between the Archdiocese and St. Stanislaus. Article III of the Charter expressly contradicts the power that Archbishop Burke claimed he had to compel St. Stanislaus to give him "administrative" control over its assets with these words: "The property, business, and affairs of [St. Stanislaus] shall be managed and fully controlled by a Board of Six directors... ." "In rightful reliance on secular law and promises guaranteed to it in the 1891 Charter, St. Stanislaus did not "conform" to "the Plan" and true to his word that he would"… be left with no other choice than to declare that the parish is no longer part of the archdiocese" Archbishop Burke decreed that St. Stanislaus was suppressed, a Canon Law term that describes the process by which a local parish is banished from an archdiocese. Before Archbishop Burke took this final action, he ordered the priests serving St. Stanislaus to cease serving it, later excommunicated the board of directors, and excommunicated a young Polish priest who courageously answered the call of the parishioners of St. Stanislaus to minister to their religious needs and lead them in worship, the first time on the eve of the day of the birth of Christ, 2005 before over 2000 joyful parishioners. The young Polish priest was named Father Marek Bozek. Before accepting the call to become the priest at St. Stanislaus, Father Bozek met at the Vatican with Pope John Paul II. Speaking together in Polish, Father Bozek asked the Pope to pray for him as he worked to decide whether he should accept the call from St. Stanislaus. The Pope replied that he had already been praying for Father Bozek and would continue to pray that God would bless Father Bozek's decisions and future ministry. When it was a parish of the Archdiocese, St. Stanislaus was legitimately unique, both in terms of its Polish ethnic heritage, as well as its more secular status as a parish that owned the real property, improvements, and personal property that comprised the St. Stanislaus parish – a status that has existed for over 115 years.
Archbishop Burke ordered two priests stationed at St. Stanislaus to abandon their assignment overnight without notice in August of 2004, as punishment directed to St. Stanislaus because it had not shown a willingness to implement "the Plan." Thereafter, Archbishop Burke refused to assign a new priest to St. Stanislaus and continued his campaign of coercion and punishment for "disobedience" by excommunication and suppression. He also forbade the holding of baptisms and marriages in the St. Stanislaus owned church. Stunned that the actions of Archbishop Burke did not crush and coerce St. Stanislaus to submit to "the Plan," and dismayed that St. Stanislaus, post suppression, is a growing, flourishing, and vibrant parish, the Archdiocese along with six individuals turned to the secular courts for relief, constructing a disingenuous Verified Petition that attempted to support the actions of the Archbishop based upon equity and the rule of law, when those actions instead were based upon the unilateral edict of the Archbishop, grounded in a scheme to protect the assets of the Archdiocese from civil claimants victimized by its priests, some of whom have gone to jail.
Priestless as of August, 2004, St. Stanislaus held prayer meetings on Sundays and limped along until members of the board reached out and found Father Marek Bozek. When Father Bozek agreed to serve St. Stanislaus, filling a need for a parish priest that the Archdiocese had caused, Archbishop Burke, contrary to his promise in the St. Louis Review article to provide two priests, including one who could speak Polish, took these actions against Father Bozek: excommunicated him, convinced Father Bozek's Bishop from the diocese where he served before he came to St. Stanislaus to change his mind and not grant him the leave of absence, tried to convince federal immigration officials to deport Father Bozek, brought charges to have Father Bozek laicized (defrocked as a priest). Ironically, since Father Bozek was called to St. Stanislaus, the membership rolls have increased substantially, along with attendance at Mass, baptisms, marriages, and participation in church activities.
On March 15, 2012 St. Louis Circuit Judge Bryan Hettenbach, affirmed St. Stanislaus' ownership of its property and its right to craft bylaws that limit the authority of the Roman Catholic Church over our congregation. The case came to trial after 18 months of legal wrangling, and it took Hettenbach more than a year from the end of the trial in February 2011 to rule. He ruled in favor of St. Stanislaus' Board of Directors in 10 of the case's 12 counts. In the 50-page decision, the judge ruled that "the Archbishop may own the souls of wayward St. Stanislaus parishioners, but the St. Stanislaus Parish Corporation owns its own property." In reading the ruling, one phrase repeatedly jumps out, in count after count: "Judgment is entered in favor of Defendant Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish."
On February 13, 2013 St. Stanislaus Parish and the Archdiocese of St. Louis issued the following joint statement: "The Archdiocese of St. Louis and St. Stanislaus have resolved their legal dispute. The Archdiocese will dismiss its appeal and the judgment of the trial court is now final. St. Stanislaus has agreed that it will not hold itself out as affiliated in any way with the Archdiocese of St. Louis or the Roman Catholic Church. By bringing this legal dispute to an end, we pray that this will help to initiate a process of healing."
Now that this long dispute has finally come to end, it is time to move on. St. Stanislaus lives!
*** Based on: "Our Long & Rich History", saintstan.org
Father Joseph Lukaszczyk replaced Father Mogelnicki but he too remained at the parish for only a short time, 1989-1990. He requested to be reassigned to St. Joseph's Hill Infirmary, the site of the Shrine of the Black Madonna in Eureka, Missouri after he was unable to successfully cope with the demands of the new immigrant community.
In 1990 Father Ted Wojcicki returned as pastor. The next year the founding of the Parish as a separate legal entity, a corporation, known as the Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish was celebrated. It was in 1891 that Richard Kenrick Archbishop of St. Louis, through the civil court of the City of St. Louis, transferred clear and unfettered title to the property of the Parish to the newly formed corporation. Archbishop John May was the celebrant at the Mass and festivities of this historic Centennial event, 1891-1991. His actions and the actions of all preceding Archbishops of St. Louis back to Abp. Kenrick affirm the legal status of the Parish that Abp. Burke would later seek to vitiate.
Fr. Ted led the Parish through a period of growth and relative harmony while he also held significant duties at the Chancery Office, first as Superintendent of Catholic Schools and later as the Archdiocesan Director of Planning & Development. During this time he was named a Monsignor. It was during his reign that the parishioners began a development campaign which resulted in the building of the Polish Heritage Center with substantial gifts from the parishioners, businesses and even members of the Jewish community. Over a two year period of time over $2.7 million dollars was raised and the entire structure completed, debt free.
Archbishop Justin Rigali approved the project, dedicated the ground and later presided over the blessing and dedication of the new center for Polish community life in St. Louis. Sadly for the Parishioners whom he had lead so successfully, the Parish was notified in 2002 that Msgr. Wojcicki was named Rector and President of the Kenrick Glennon Seminary, the major seminary in Missouri. His leaving was a bitter sweet day for the Parish which at once was happy for Msgr. Ted's promotion and sad at losing a beloved Pastor.
With the departure of Msgr. Ted there began a tumultuous and heartbreaking period which has to this day not yet been resolved. The Archdiocese facing large liabilities attendant to sexual abuse accusations and actual criminal convictions of some priests decided to reorganize parishes within the Archdiocese into separate corporations in an attempt to shield the Archdiocese from these liabilities. The Board of Directors of Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish, the body that holds legal and equitable title to the Parish's property, were notified that they were to turn the property over to a new corporation controlled solely by the Archbishop. The Archdiocese placed a young priest and canon lawyer in charge of the Parish as Parochial Administrator, Father Philip Bené. His aloofness and general disregard for the spiritual life of the Parish, e.g., he never heard confessions, soon made him an unwelcome traitor in our midst. He ignored the Board of Directors and successfully divided the Parish generally along the lines of the second and third generation Parishioners who had financially supported the Parish over the years and the more newly arrived immigrants who, although financially able, never provided financial support to the Parish.
The Board of Directors through their attorneys tried to petition both the Vatican to halt what amounted to an illegal takeover of parish property and Archbishop Raymond Burke personally.
The Congregation for the Clergy which took jurisdiction over the case filed with the Vatican in May 2004 issued a decree in November 2004, that it did not recognize the Board of Directors as representatives of the Parish and summarily dismissed the petition. Abp. Burke would later state that decree was based upon the merits of the case, but this was clearly not the case.
During the early stages of this ordeal the Parish found one friend in Rome who had the courage to stand by the people of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Abp, Szczepan Wesoly, the head of the John Paul II Foundation and the former Bishop of Polonia throughout the world. He has labored tirelessly for the Parish and has endured the criticism of Abp. Burke and no doubt other Prelates. His successor as the Bishop of Polonia, Ryszard Karpinski, on the other hand has ignored common decency and supported Abp. Burke's unlawful claims against St. Stanislaus Parish. He went so far as to come to St. Louis to dedicate a "New Polish Apostolate" and further divide the Polish community and create rancor among the Polish Catholic flock.
On the civil law front Parish attorneys met with representatives of the Archdiocese on several occasions in sincere attempts to reach a settlement. Abp. Burke never made an effort to meet with the Board of Directors after the initial meeting when he "laid down the law." All subsequent meetings were with his representatives. These sessions always ended with the Archdiocese coming back with a plan in which total control was always vested in Abp. Burke. Generous offers by the Directors were rejected out-of-hand.
After the Board of Directors was notified by Fr. Bené that the Parish operating funds and a never before touched emergency fund (~$60,000) had been exhausted by him and for which he refused to account, the Directors took charge of the Sunday collections. At this point, Abp. Burke declared that such treatment of Fr. Bené was untenable; he withdrew the priests from the Parish. Thus began a seventeen month period when the Parishioners were denied the Sacraments in their own church. Abp. Burke said he would allow funerals but he reneged on this promise at the first opportunity. He also took the opportunity to Interdict the Board of Directors, a form of minor excommunication to punish them. The Parishioners carried on as best they could with Roman Catholic services used when a priest is not available. In August 2005, a priest who would later become our Pastor and who was stationed at St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield, Missouri got permission from his bishop to celebrate a Mass for the Parishioners of St. Stanislaus. The Board of Directors arranged to have buses to take the Parishioners to Springfield for this Mass. When Abp. Burke heard of this, he ordered Bishop Leibrecht of Springfield to withdraw permission for the Mass. Again, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was used as a weapon to punish the Parishioners.
Through the Advisor to the Board of Directors and Director Robert Zabielski secret negotiations began in August 2005 with Father Marek Bozek, a courageous, young Polish born priest who said his Mass of Thanksgiving in December of 2000 at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. When it became clear that Abp. Burke was not going to move from his position of absolute control, the Advisor and Mr. Zabielski went into the final stages of discussions with Fr. Bozek. Father believed that the people were suffering because they were being denied the Sacraments in the Church in which their families had worshipped for generations. Finally, in mid-December an agreement was reached and Father Bozek asked his bishop for permission to take a leave of absence to come to St. Stanislaus to minister to the spiritual needs of the people while the property dispute was negotiated. He was denied this permission. Father then gave notice that he was leaving the Springfield Diocese for St. Stanislaus. He arrived here on December 23, 2005 and celebrated Christmas Mass to a huge crowd of worshipper that overflowed into the Polish Heritage Center where the Mass was being televised. It is estimated that the crowd was nearly 2,500 people. Abp. Burke then excommunicated the members of the Board of Directors, declared Fr. Bozek to be automatically excommunicated and suppressed the Parish and further declared the actions of Father and the Board to be an act of Schism. He said that anyone who received Holy Communion at the Parish would be committing a mortal sin.
The Board then hired Rev. Tom Doyle, O.P.M, J.C.D. a noted canon lawyer to appeal the declarations of Abp. Burke. At the same time, the St. Joseph Foundation of San Antonio, Texas, a group dedicated to the study of canon law and the rights of individual Roman Catholics was asked for research assistance. Both agreed that no act of Schism took place, certainly nothing to warrant the actions of Abp. Burke. Father Doyle on March 10, 2006 filed a timely appeal of the Archbishop's actions by both hand delivery to the Apostolic Papal Nuncio in Washington, DC and by mail to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the tribunal which is to decide the fate of the Parish. To this date there has been no word from the CDF.
Not satisfied with the damage he had already wrought upon St. Stanislaus Parish, Abp. Burke through Bp. Leibrecht sought to have Fr. Bozek's visa revoked by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. If the visa would be revoked, Fr. Bozek would be deported from the United States again inflicting further injury on the good and faithful Roman Catholic parishioners of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. This attempt to sabotage Fr. Bozek is also being appealed through the proper channels and we are optimistic that there will be a favorable outcome for Father and the Parish.
The members of the Board of Directors throughout this ordeal were: William Bialczak, Chairman of the Board; Joseph Rudawski, Ph.D., Treasurer; Robert A. Zabielski, Secretary; Edward Florek; John Baras and Stanley Novak. The depth of their sacrifice cannot be adequately described.
This narrative which is written contemporaneously with the events described is necessary to protect the integrity of the facts as they actually took place. There is no doubt that "historians" of the Archdiocese will paint a different but factually incorrect picture to cover up the wrongs inflicted upon the Parishioners by the local Hierarchy and acquiesced in by those whose consciences have been warped by repeated acts of indifference and callous disregard for the Laity.
May Almighty God, His Son Jesus the founder of our Holy Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Spirit the guide of our Church show us mercy and return us to our rightful place in the Church.
** Based on: Roger C. Krasnicki, "History of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church & Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish Corporation 1878-2006"
[Chapter Three]*** St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish has been in existence since 1880, when it was created as a personal parish for Polish immigrants in St. Louis. In 1891 members of the congregation formed a corporation under civil laws of the state of Missouri with the name “Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish.” The corporation was, and remains today, a religious, charitable, not-for-profit corporation. After the corporation was created, Archbishop Kenrick of St. Louis transferred legal title to the property to the newly-formed Parish Corporation. Since then the Parish has been financially self-sustaining. The new church was financed and built in 16 months. As years went by the Parish Corporation acquired adjoining parcels of property. The original church was later renovated, and new construction was financed and accomplished, including a $2 million Polish Heritage Center.
On December 17, 2005 the Pastor and members of the Board of Directors of St. Stanislaus Parish were excommunicated. In January 2006 Archbishop Burke (now Cardinal Burke) officially suppressed the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka in St. Louis. The disputes between St. Stanislaus Parish and St. Louis Archdiocese are all about money, property, asset protection, control, and a belief by one man that he had absolute power to do as he wanted in his position as Archbishop. From 1891 to early 2004, the parishioners of St. Stanislaus lived in relative harmony with past Cardinals and Archbishops, who lead the Archdiocese of St. Louis. For example, on October 18, 1969, then Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, later to be Pope John Paul II, visited St. Louis and spent many hours at the rectory of St. Stanislaus and celebrated Mass later that evening, in 1991 Archbishop May celebrated the historic Centennial event of the deeding of the church property by Archbishop Kenrick to St. Stanislaus, in 2003, Cardinal Rigali blessed the newly completed Polish Heritage Center. What then happened thereafter to impact these harmonious relationships between St. Stanislaus and the past leaders of the Archdiocese?
In 2004 the then-Archbishop of the Archdiocese, Raymond L. Burke, determined to put into place a plan that would shield the assets of the Archdiocese from claims asserted by victims of what has become known as the priest scandals. Thousands of persons had filed lawsuits and continue to file lawsuits, claiming that they were victims of sexual abuse by priests of various Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the United States, including the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The Roman Catholic Church and its insurers have paid millions of dollars in redress to these claimants. The threat to the solvency of these archdioceses was so compelling that some took the extraordinary step of filing for bankruptcy. Archbishop Burke's Plan in his words would be a "…revision of the form of civil law structure of parishes [of the Archdiocese, but not St. Stanislaus, a civil corporation, which unlike these other parishes owned its assets outright] to nonprofit corporations…." Because these parishes were associations, with assets owned by the Archdiocese, the assets were at risk to be used to pay the claims of the victims. By using the civil law structure of nonprofit corporations, only the assets of the particular parish where the accused priest served would be at risk to pay claims. The assets of the other parishes in the Archdiocese would not or so the reasoning went. Prior to the Plan being instituted, Archbishop Burke observed that "The parishes of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, with the exception of St. Stanislaus… are presently structured in the form of unincorporated associations." With ominously chilling candor, Archbishop Burke, confident that all of his decisions and actions would never be questioned, promised: Once the final form has been given to the proposed revision of the civil law structure of the [other] parishes, St. Stanislaus… will be asked to accept the same civil structure as every other parish in the Archdiocese. If the board of director [of St. Stanislaus] refuses to revise the present structure of civil incorporation I will be left with no other choice than to declare that the parish is no longer part of the archdiocese [sometimes referred to herein as "suppression"]. In addition, in a letter to the parishioners of St. Stanislaus the Archbishop further defined what he would demand of St. Stanislaus, stating: I must insist that [St. Stanislaus] comply with the norm of Church law, as does every other parish in the Archdiocese, in what pertains to its structure…. [St. Stanislaus] will continue to hold all of its [assets], but the administration of the [assets] will be carried out under the direction of the [Pope], [myself] and the priest [whom I appoint]…."
What Archbishop Burke did not clearly disclose in his communication with the members of St. Stanislaus is what he meant when he used the word "administration" as defined by the Church. The term "administration" in "Burkespeak" would allow the Archbishop to sell, change, and control parish property, so that while title might technically remain with St. Stanislaus the power to manage and fully control that power would be conveyed to Archbishop Burke. He backed up his demand with the threat that if St. Stanislaus did not obey he would remove it from the Archdiocese. In issuing this ultimatum Archbishop Burke ignored the covenants and provisions of the 1891 documents – documents that the Archdiocese claims govern and define the legal relationship between the Archdiocese and St. Stanislaus. Article III of the Charter expressly contradicts the power that Archbishop Burke claimed he had to compel St. Stanislaus to give him "administrative" control over its assets with these words: "The property, business, and affairs of [St. Stanislaus] shall be managed and fully controlled by a Board of Six directors... ." "In rightful reliance on secular law and promises guaranteed to it in the 1891 Charter, St. Stanislaus did not "conform" to "the Plan" and true to his word that he would"… be left with no other choice than to declare that the parish is no longer part of the archdiocese" Archbishop Burke decreed that St. Stanislaus was suppressed, a Canon Law term that describes the process by which a local parish is banished from an archdiocese. Before Archbishop Burke took this final action, he ordered the priests serving St. Stanislaus to cease serving it, later excommunicated the board of directors, and excommunicated a young Polish priest who courageously answered the call of the parishioners of St. Stanislaus to minister to their religious needs and lead them in worship, the first time on the eve of the day of the birth of Christ, 2005 before over 2000 joyful parishioners. The young Polish priest was named Father Marek Bozek. Before accepting the call to become the priest at St. Stanislaus, Father Bozek met at the Vatican with Pope John Paul II. Speaking together in Polish, Father Bozek asked the Pope to pray for him as he worked to decide whether he should accept the call from St. Stanislaus. The Pope replied that he had already been praying for Father Bozek and would continue to pray that God would bless Father Bozek's decisions and future ministry. When it was a parish of the Archdiocese, St. Stanislaus was legitimately unique, both in terms of its Polish ethnic heritage, as well as its more secular status as a parish that owned the real property, improvements, and personal property that comprised the St. Stanislaus parish – a status that has existed for over 115 years.
Archbishop Burke ordered two priests stationed at St. Stanislaus to abandon their assignment overnight without notice in August of 2004, as punishment directed to St. Stanislaus because it had not shown a willingness to implement "the Plan." Thereafter, Archbishop Burke refused to assign a new priest to St. Stanislaus and continued his campaign of coercion and punishment for "disobedience" by excommunication and suppression. He also forbade the holding of baptisms and marriages in the St. Stanislaus owned church. Stunned that the actions of Archbishop Burke did not crush and coerce St. Stanislaus to submit to "the Plan," and dismayed that St. Stanislaus, post suppression, is a growing, flourishing, and vibrant parish, the Archdiocese along with six individuals turned to the secular courts for relief, constructing a disingenuous Verified Petition that attempted to support the actions of the Archbishop based upon equity and the rule of law, when those actions instead were based upon the unilateral edict of the Archbishop, grounded in a scheme to protect the assets of the Archdiocese from civil claimants victimized by its priests, some of whom have gone to jail.
Priestless as of August, 2004, St. Stanislaus held prayer meetings on Sundays and limped along until members of the board reached out and found Father Marek Bozek. When Father Bozek agreed to serve St. Stanislaus, filling a need for a parish priest that the Archdiocese had caused, Archbishop Burke, contrary to his promise in the St. Louis Review article to provide two priests, including one who could speak Polish, took these actions against Father Bozek: excommunicated him, convinced Father Bozek's Bishop from the diocese where he served before he came to St. Stanislaus to change his mind and not grant him the leave of absence, tried to convince federal immigration officials to deport Father Bozek, brought charges to have Father Bozek laicized (defrocked as a priest). Ironically, since Father Bozek was called to St. Stanislaus, the membership rolls have increased substantially, along with attendance at Mass, baptisms, marriages, and participation in church activities.
On March 15, 2012 St. Louis Circuit Judge Bryan Hettenbach, affirmed St. Stanislaus' ownership of its property and its right to craft bylaws that limit the authority of the Roman Catholic Church over our congregation. The case came to trial after 18 months of legal wrangling, and it took Hettenbach more than a year from the end of the trial in February 2011 to rule. He ruled in favor of St. Stanislaus' Board of Directors in 10 of the case's 12 counts. In the 50-page decision, the judge ruled that "the Archbishop may own the souls of wayward St. Stanislaus parishioners, but the St. Stanislaus Parish Corporation owns its own property." In reading the ruling, one phrase repeatedly jumps out, in count after count: "Judgment is entered in favor of Defendant Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish."
On February 13, 2013 St. Stanislaus Parish and the Archdiocese of St. Louis issued the following joint statement: "The Archdiocese of St. Louis and St. Stanislaus have resolved their legal dispute. The Archdiocese will dismiss its appeal and the judgment of the trial court is now final. St. Stanislaus has agreed that it will not hold itself out as affiliated in any way with the Archdiocese of St. Louis or the Roman Catholic Church. By bringing this legal dispute to an end, we pray that this will help to initiate a process of healing."
Now that this long dispute has finally come to end, it is time to move on. St. Stanislaus lives!
*** Based on: "Our Long & Rich History", saintstan.org