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St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Woonsocket, RI

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St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Woonsocket, RI St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Woonsocket, RI. Diamond Jubilee 1905-1980 St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Woonsocket, RI. CAP at Orchard Lake. With the discovery of America, missionaries joined the explorers in order to convert the "heathen" savage from his pagan ways. The attempts at Christianizing the Indians were successful in many instances, but, at times, the missionary fell upon persecution. As in Roman times, the Christian suffered under the persecutions; so too, did the early American-monk suffer and shed his blood in preaching the Gospels. As evidence, one only has to remember the North-American Martyrs, honored at Auriesville, New York. But even with adversity and suffering, the "seeds" of God's Word were nurtured. As the colonies established themselves, many of the boundaries were drawn on religious grounds. Not being able to practice their beliefs in Europe, ousted sects colonized different areas, i.e., the Pilgrims In Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Dutch Reformists in New York Colony, the Quakers in Pennsylvania Colony, the Catholics in Maryland Colony, to name a few. Some colonies allowed a blending of religious freedoms within their boundaries. One such colony was Rhode Island. Rhode Island, in the charter set up by Roger Williams, provided a freedom in religious "discernment". His ideals were for a religious freedom which would allow all religions to practice their rites without fear of oppression. But with many idealistic philosophies, there are those who want to alter the intent. With the Charter of 1715, the hope of Roger Williams, to provide religious freedom, came to mere words. For it decreed that all religious denominations were welcomed to the colony of Rhode Island "except Roman Catholics". Pennsylvania, in 1706, was the only colony, outside of Maryland, which would accept those who wished to practice the Catholic Faith. And so the nurturing seed of Catholicism took awhile to implant itself in Rhode Island. The first evi- dence of any Catholic service, performed in Rhode Island, occurred on December 12, 1789. A Mass was said on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the Rev. Abbe French. This Mass was said on behalf of General Rochambeau's army, which was then stationed in Newport, Rhode Island. One can only conjecture that there were Polish officers amongst the army of General Rochambeau. Many Polish soldiers joined Napoleon's army to aid in establishing the independence of America, as well as in establishing the independence of Poland. One only has to recall General Casimir Pulaski and Taddeusz Kosciuszko's efforts during the Revolutionary War. With the elevation of the Rt. Rev. John Carroll (1789-1815), as the first Archbishop of the United States, Catholicism's seed began to grow and establish itself. His first task was to allocate dioceses 1 throughout this vast territory of thirteen newly independent states. The Rt. Rev. Jean Louis de- Cheverus (1810-1825) was elevated as the first bishop of all the New England States. The Rt. Rev. Benedict J. Fenwick (1825-1846) became the second bishop of New England. It was this bishop who was responsible for establishing the first Catholic Church in Rhode Island, i.e., St. Mary's in Pawtucket, Christmas Day, 1829. St. Mary's first pastor, the Rev. Robert D. Woodley, extended his ministry into Providence, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket. The first Mass, said in Woonsocket, was at the home of a liberal-minded Quaker, Mr. Walter Allen (circa 1828). The house still stands in Union Village and is presently known as the "Osborne House". With the growth of the Catholic population in the states, new dioceses were established. In 1843, the Rt. Reverend William Tyler became the first bishop of the Hartford-Providence diocese, asked Rome for an auxiliary bishop. Rome answered his request by establishing a new diocese in Provi- dence, comprising the state of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. The first bishop, to be elevated to the new diocese, was the Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Henaricken (1872-1886). Catholicism grew in Woonsocket with the immigration of the Catholic-Irish. The Industrial Revo- lution in America was drawing many a speculator into the country. The Irish sought a better life in this country, and they were followed by many other immigrants, including the Poles. Michael Reddy, the first Irish settler in Woonsocket, was most influential in having the Rev. R. Woodley say the first Mass in Woonsocket. He saw that religion was just as important as material gains. Through Mr. Reddy's efforts and other Irish settlers, St. Charles Church was established and incorporated in 1846, as the first Catholic Church in Woonsocket. With the expansive building of the textile mills in Woonsocket, more laborers were needed to work the machines. The Canadian-French were drawn to the city with the promise of good wages and an already established French colony. Later came other nationalities, i.e., the Swedes, Lithuanians, and others. The Polish immigrants came into the picture around 1883. The first Polish man to come to Woonsocket was Frank Kulasz (circa 1883], Later, around 1893, Stanley Majewski followed and established a link for other immigrants to follow. Names like, Frank Rypys, Emilia Alexandrowicz An- drew Czajka, Mary Pykos, Peter Izyk, Victoria Krajewski, John Samek, Mary Czajka, Ludwlk Poswietny, Marya Goryl, Simon Polucha, Anna Wojcik, John Rypys, Sophie Ziemienska, Stephen Janik, Carolina Latka, and many others established themselves near the mills and began their quest for a better life. A stranger to this country, the immigrant Pole found life a struggle. With only the clothes on his back, the Pole set himself to the task of making a home for his family and future generations. Though poor, the Polish home provided richness in family unity, both in work and in religion. The father worked zealously in the mills to earn the money to provide for the family. The mother kept her home, though poor in furnishings and comforts, spotless by constant attention to cleanliness. After the meals were cooked and the rooms were cleaned, the housewife would find other "part- time" work to help with the expenses. The sons and daughters, when they came of age, would help in the mills. The one goal of every Polish family was that the next generation would better itself. Through education, the son was given the opportunity to improve his lot in life. He, in turn, would help the next generation. 2 These immigrants worked diligently for survival, but also, they prayed as diligently. Religion was as much a part of their life as their daily meal. St. Charles, being the only Catholic Church in Woon- socket, was their place of worship. The Polish people of the city helped, in the best way they could, to build the present St. Charles Church. The Rt. Rev. Matthew J. Harkins, second bishop of Providence (1887-1921], recognized that the spiritual needs of the Polish people was wanting. He asked that priests from Poland be sent here to administer to the Polish flock. One of those, who answered this call, was the Reverend Thomas J. Morys. Father Morys said Sunday Masses for his people in St. Charles' church basement. For the first time, the Polish people had a priest who could speak their language. The homilies could now be under- stood, the Polish religious traditions could be carried out in the church, the home visitations were anticipated, and the people had a spokesman who could speak with authority. When the Polish immigrant came to the city, he was at a disadvantage because of language. The native Woonsocket resident was somewhat "suspicious" of this new "person" in the city. Accep- tance into the mainstream of society and city government was frowned upon. The French had less difficulty because of the large population and civic organizations already established. The Pole, too, needed some alternative to aid him in adapting to the American way of life. In October of 1902, Pawel Piekos, John Bobala, Josef Grochowski, Stanisław Majewski, Anthony, and Thomas Błażejewski obtained a Rhode Island Charter to form Lodge 665 of the Polish Nation- al Alliance. The first lodge was located on the corner of Bernon and River Streets, where the "Ye Olde English Fish and Chips" is now located. Later the headquarters was moved to Bouvier's Hall on High Street. After the demolishing of the hall, the members built a modern building, known as the Dom Polski, on River Street. The PNA was, and is still, largely an organization which helped the immigrant to adapt to his new world. They would help with the Pole's admission for U.S. citizenship, explain the "in's and out's" of government, help in the registration for voting privileges, establish an insurance company to take care of the needs of the Pole, and primarily became a "voice" for the Pole in the city. In 1905, the Reverend Thomas J. Morys felt that the Polish people of Woonsocket needed their own church. Other churches were being built in the city to take care of the needs of the ethnic people, i.e., Precious Blood - August 27,1873; St. Anne's Chapel - November 22,1891. For a number of years, Father Morys had been saying Mass in the basement of St. Charles church. In February of 1905, Masses were even held in Harris Hall on Main Street for the Poles. Father Morys asked and received permission to establish a new parish in Woonsocket. On March 1, 1905, with the blessing of the Rt. Reverend Matthew Harkins, St. Stanislaus Kostka Polish Roman Catholic Church was chartered. The parish corporation to purchase the Greene estate at 188 Harris Avenue for $10,000.
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