St. Stanislaus Kostka in Chicago
Encyclopedia
The St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (pol.
Kościół Świętego Stanisława Kostki) is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
located in the Pulaski Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.
St. Stanislaus Kostka Church is the 'mother church' of all other Polish
churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style
' of churches in both its opulence and grand scale. Along with St. Hyacinth Basilica, St. Mary of the Angels
, and St. Hedwig's
, it is one of the many monumental Polish
churches visible from the Kennedy Expressway
.
has administered the Parish since 1869, and they went on to found many other Polish parishes in Chicago. Because of this St. Stanislaus Kostka is often referred to as the "mother church" of Chicago's Polish community.
The original church building survived the Great Chicago Fire
but was demolished to make way for the present church. The current church, located on the southeast corner of Noble and Evergreen Streets, was built between 1871 and 1881 by noted Roman Catholic ecclesiastical architect Patrick Charles Keely of Brooklyn, New York. At the end of the 19th century it was one of the largest parishes not only in the city but in the whole country with over 35,000 parishioners in 1908.
Along with Holy Trinity Polish Mission
, St. Stanislaus Kostka was the center of Chicago's Polish Downtown giving rise to one of the neighborhood's former nickname of "Kostkaville". Much of this was due to Saint Stanislaus Kostka's first pastor, Reverend Vincent Michael Barzynski, who is described as as “one of the greatest organizers of Polish immigrants in Chicago and America”. Barzynski was responsible, in one way or another, for founding 23 Polish parishes in Chicago, along with six elementary schools, two high schools, a college, and orphanages, newspapers, St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital as well as the national headquarters of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America
.
The church lost one of its two belfries that was "so reminiscent of Cracow or Lodz
from a lightning strike in 1970" The church was slated to be demolished to make room for the construction of the Kennedy Expressway
, but thanks to intense efforts by Chicago Polonia in the late 1950s, the planned right-of-way was shifted east to avoid demolishing St. Stanislaus's parish buildings. The parish remained predominately Polish through most of the 20th century, but since the 1970s it has also had a significant number of Latino
parishioners. Mass is now celebrated in English, Polish
and Spanish.
of Brooklyn
(who also built Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral
). The building's Renaissance
style recalls the glory days of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th century. Its interior is 200 feet long and 80 feet wide with seating for 1500. The painting over the altar
by Tadeusz Żukotyński
depicts Our Lady placing the infant Jesus in the arms of St. Stanislaus Kostka. Zukotynski, who came to Chicago in 1888, was considered one of Europe's foremost painters of religious subjects. Other artistic treasures in the church include the Stained glass windows by F.X. Zettler of the Royal Bavarian Institute in Munich
and the chandeliers in the nave by the studios of Louis Tiffany. The southern cupola
was destroyed by lightning in 1964, and the northern cupola
was rebuilt with a more simplified profile in 2002.
In addition to the church, the two-block physical plant of the Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish complex contained a large hall for performances, a convent
and rectory
, a gym
nasium and a two year commercial school for girls, staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame
. In 1906, a fire destroyed the school, convent
as well as an auditorium
that was under construction. Two years later, the school had been rebuilt with 54 classrooms, three meeting halls, making it the largest elementary school in all of the United States when it opened in 1908.
St Stanislaus Kostka is also the future home of the planned Sanctuary
of The Divine Mercy
. The sanctuary will have an adoration chapel
and outdoor prayer garden enclosed by a surrounding wall of stone
to help define the space as sacred. Within the enclosure there will be no liturgies or vocal prayers, either by individuals or groups. The space is strictly meant for private meditation and contemplation. Various religious iconography will be found in the Sanctuary of The Divine Mercy
. At the heart of the chapel
will be the Iconic Monstrance
of Our Lady of the Sign
which will be the focus of 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration
.
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
Kościół Świętego Stanisława Kostki) is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
located in the Pulaski Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.
St. Stanislaus Kostka Church is the 'mother church' of all other Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style
Polish Cathedral style
The Polish Cathedral architectural style is a North American genre of Catholic church architecture found throughout the Great Lakes and Middle Atlantic regions as well as in parts of New England...
' of churches in both its opulence and grand scale. Along with St. Hyacinth Basilica, St. Mary of the Angels
St. Mary of the Angels in Chicago
Saint Mary of the Angels - historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.Located at 1850 North Hermitage Avenue in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, it is an example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style' of churches. Along with St. Stanislaus Kostka, St....
, and St. Hedwig's
St. Hedwig's in Chicago
St. Hedwig's Church is an historic parish church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in Chicago, Illinois. Constructed in traditional grand Polish architecture and design, it is one of the many monumental Polish churches visible from the Kennedy Expressway...
, it is one of the many monumental Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
churches visible from the Kennedy Expressway
Kennedy Expressway
The John F. Kennedy Expressway is a long highway that travels northwest from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport. The expressway is named for the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy. The Interstate 90 portion of the Kennedy is a part of the much longer I-90...
.
History
St. Stanislaus Kostka Church was founded in 1867 as the first Polish parish in Chicago. The Resurrectionist OrderResurrectionist Order
The Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ is an international Institute of Consecrated Life of men within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1836 by three men, Bogdan Jański, Peter Semenenko and Hieronim Kajsiewicz in Paris on the heels of the Polish Great Emigration...
has administered the Parish since 1869, and they went on to found many other Polish parishes in Chicago. Because of this St. Stanislaus Kostka is often referred to as the "mother church" of Chicago's Polish community.
The original church building survived the Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
but was demolished to make way for the present church. The current church, located on the southeast corner of Noble and Evergreen Streets, was built between 1871 and 1881 by noted Roman Catholic ecclesiastical architect Patrick Charles Keely of Brooklyn, New York. At the end of the 19th century it was one of the largest parishes not only in the city but in the whole country with over 35,000 parishioners in 1908.
Along with Holy Trinity Polish Mission
Holy Trinity Polish Mission
Holy Trinity Church - historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style' of churches, in both its opulence and grand scale. Along with such monumental religious edifices as St. Mary of the Angels, St. Hedwig's or St...
, St. Stanislaus Kostka was the center of Chicago's Polish Downtown giving rise to one of the neighborhood's former nickname of "Kostkaville". Much of this was due to Saint Stanislaus Kostka's first pastor, Reverend Vincent Michael Barzynski, who is described as as “one of the greatest organizers of Polish immigrants in Chicago and America”. Barzynski was responsible, in one way or another, for founding 23 Polish parishes in Chicago, along with six elementary schools, two high schools, a college, and orphanages, newspapers, St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital as well as the national headquarters of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America
Polish Roman Catholic Union of America
The Polish Roman Catholic Union of America is the oldest Polish American organization in the United States. Its history spans notable periods in the development of the Polish American ethnic group, from the time of early settlement by immigrants from Poland through their development of ethnic...
.
The church lost one of its two belfries that was "so reminiscent of Cracow or Lodz
Lódz
Łódź is the third-largest city in Poland. Located in the central part of the country, it had a population of 742,387 in December 2009. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is approximately south-west of Warsaw...
from a lightning strike in 1970" The church was slated to be demolished to make room for the construction of the Kennedy Expressway
Kennedy Expressway
The John F. Kennedy Expressway is a long highway that travels northwest from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport. The expressway is named for the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy. The Interstate 90 portion of the Kennedy is a part of the much longer I-90...
, but thanks to intense efforts by Chicago Polonia in the late 1950s, the planned right-of-way was shifted east to avoid demolishing St. Stanislaus's parish buildings. The parish remained predominately Polish through most of the 20th century, but since the 1970s it has also had a significant number of Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
parishioners. Mass is now celebrated in English, Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
and Spanish.
Architecture
The church was completed in 1881 and designed by Patrick KeelyPatrick Keely
Patrick Charles Keely was an Irish-American architect based in Brooklyn, New York and Providence, Rhode Island...
of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
(who also built Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral
Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago
Holy Name Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of the Holy Name, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, one of the largest Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States. It is also the parish church of the Archbishop of Chicago...
). The building's Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
style recalls the glory days of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th century. Its interior is 200 feet long and 80 feet wide with seating for 1500. The painting over the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
by Tadeusz Żukotyński
Tadeusz Zukotynski
Polish count, professor, and painter Tadeusz Żukotyński was born in what is today the region of Podolia in Ukraine. One of Europe's foremost painters in religious subjects...
depicts Our Lady placing the infant Jesus in the arms of St. Stanislaus Kostka. Zukotynski, who came to Chicago in 1888, was considered one of Europe's foremost painters of religious subjects. Other artistic treasures in the church include the Stained glass windows by F.X. Zettler of the Royal Bavarian Institute in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and the chandeliers in the nave by the studios of Louis Tiffany. The southern cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
was destroyed by lightning in 1964, and the northern cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
was rebuilt with a more simplified profile in 2002.
In addition to the church, the two-block physical plant of the Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish complex contained a large hall for performances, a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
and rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
, a gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium and a two year commercial school for girls, staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame is a worldwide order of Roman Catholic nuns devoted to primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. Their life in mission centers on prayer, community life and ministry...
. In 1906, a fire destroyed the school, convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
as well as an auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
that was under construction. Two years later, the school had been rebuilt with 54 classrooms, three meeting halls, making it the largest elementary school in all of the United States when it opened in 1908.
St Stanislaus Kostka is also the future home of the planned Sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
of The Divine Mercy
Chaplet of Divine Mercy
The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion based on the visions of Jesus reported by Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska , known as "the Apostle of Mercy." She was a Polish sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and canonized as a Catholic saint in 2000.Faustina...
. The sanctuary will have an adoration chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
and outdoor prayer garden enclosed by a surrounding wall of stone
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
to help define the space as sacred. Within the enclosure there will be no liturgies or vocal prayers, either by individuals or groups. The space is strictly meant for private meditation and contemplation. Various religious iconography will be found in the Sanctuary of The Divine Mercy
Chaplet of Divine Mercy
The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion based on the visions of Jesus reported by Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska , known as "the Apostle of Mercy." She was a Polish sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and canonized as a Catholic saint in 2000.Faustina...
. At the heart of the chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
will be the Iconic Monstrance
Monstrance
A monstrance is the vessel used in the Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, and Anglican churches to display the consecrated Eucharistic host, during Eucharistic adoration or Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Created in the medieval period for the public display of relics, the monstrance today is...
of Our Lady of the Sign
Our Lady of the Sign
The Icon of Our Lady of the Sign is the term for a particular type of icon of the Theotokos , facing the viewer directly, depicted either full length or half, with her hands raised in the orans position, and with the image of the Child Jesus depicted within a round aureole upon her breast.The icon...
which will be the focus of 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration
Eucharistic adoration
Eucharistic adoration is a practice in the Roman Catholic Church, and in a few Anglican and Lutheran churches, in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed to and adored by the faithful....
.
See also
- Tadeusz ŻukotyńskiTadeusz ZukotynskiPolish count, professor, and painter Tadeusz Żukotyński was born in what is today the region of Podolia in Ukraine. One of Europe's foremost painters in religious subjects...
, Catholic fine art painter and mural artist - Sr. Maria Stanisia, Polish-American fine art painter and restoration artist
- Jozef MazurJozef MazurJozef C. Mazur was an Polish-American stained glass artist, painter and sculptor. His works can be found signed as Josef Mazur, Joseph Mazur, Joe Mazur, J. C. Mazur as well as a few others.-Life:...
, Polish-American painter and stainglass artist - Casimir ZeglenCasimir ZeglenKazimierz Żegleń , born in 1869 near Tarnopol , invented the first bulletproof vest. At the age of 18 he entered the Resurrectionist Order in Lwow . In 1890, he moved to the United States. In 1893, after the assassination of Carter Harrison, Sr., the mayor of Chicago, he invented the first...
, Polish-American priest at St. Stanislaus Kostka who invented the first bulletproof vest - Polish Cathedral stylePolish Cathedral styleThe Polish Cathedral architectural style is a North American genre of Catholic church architecture found throughout the Great Lakes and Middle Atlantic regions as well as in parts of New England...
churches of Chicago - Polish Americans
- Poles in ChicagoPoles in ChicagoChicago Polonia, refers to both immigrant Poles and Americans of Polish heritage living in Chicago, Illinois. They are a part of worldwide Polonia, the proper term for the Polish Diaspora outside of Poland. Poles in Chicago have contributed to the economic, social and cultural well-being of Chicago...
- Polish Roman Catholic Union of AmericaPolish Roman Catholic Union of AmericaThe Polish Roman Catholic Union of America is the oldest Polish American organization in the United States. Its history spans notable periods in the development of the Polish American ethnic group, from the time of early settlement by immigrants from Poland through their development of ethnic...
- Roman Catholicism in PolandRoman Catholicism in PolandEver since Poland officially adopted Latin Christianity in 966, the Catholic Church has played an important religious, cultural and political role in the country....