HISTORY of ST. JOSEPH's PARISH, FLORIDA, NEW YORK Golden Jubilee 1895-1945 St

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH, FLORIDA, NEW YORK Golden Jubilee 1895-1945 St. Joseph’s Parish, Florida, NY, p. 27-41, 45 Fifty years of faithful, persevering, unremitting labor and of unstinting sacrifices, inspired by the fear and love of God and the deep attachment to their Polish heritage—such is the terse characteristic of the long and glorious history of St. Joseph's Parish, Florida, Orange County, New York. Half a century of great accomplishments for the greater honor and glory of Almighty God and the salvation of immortal souls, achieved through the wholehearted and generous cooperation of both clergy and laity, rightly deserve our commemoration on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the founding of our parish. St. Joseph's Parish was organized in 1895. However, the Poles had settled much earlier in the environs of Florida and as each year saw the arrival of new families, a small colony was soon formed. The earliest colonists, it is said, were Ignatius Brink and Joseph Wozniak. After them followed John Kurowski, Michael Kosnowski, John Radoms, and others. Henceforth our people emigrated to this section in ever increasing numbers. Desiring to keep united, they organized a society "Towarzystwo Krakusow." Their organization's meetings were held in the home of Joseph Wozniak residing in Durlandville. Many difficulties were encountered by this small group of settlers. The language barrier was the first and greatest handicap. For a devout and religious people, the necessity of a Polish priest who would minister to their spiritual needs was apparent. Our people at this time attended Mass at St. John's Church, Goshen, N. Y. In time they petitioned the pastor to provide them a Polish priest for Confessions. Therefore, at intervals the Rev. Jerome Klimecki, the Rev. Francis Fremel, and the Rev. John H. Strzelecki of New York City came to Goshen, and later to St. Edward's Mission, Florida, bringing religious consolation. In the meantime other important religious offices were performed in St. Stanislaus' Church, New York City. Here they contracted marriages, sought Baptism for their children, and received the Sacraments. When the settlement had increased sufficiently, Father Fremel suggested to the Poles that they obtain a Polish priest and organize their own parish. With the common consent a conference was called at the residence of Joseph Wozniak. A committee of collectors to solicit the necessary funds was elected: Joseph Wozniak, Ignatius Brink, John and Bernard Dulski, Anastasius Lipecki, John Radoms, Joseph Armanski, Joseph Andryszak, and John Majorowski. In a short time almost $2,000 was collected and with the permission of the ecclesiastical superiors the ground for the Church building was purchased on Glenmere Avenue, Florida, N. Y. The committee petitioned His Excellency, Archbishop Michael A. Corrigan, Ordinary of the Archdiocese of New York for permission to build a church and to appoint a Polish pastor. The Archbishop received favorably their request, gave his consent for the building of the church, and immediately appointed a young, energetic, greatly esteemed, and incomparably sympathetic priest in the person of Rev. Stanislaus J. Nowak. Rev. Stanislaus J. Nowak was born April 22, 1867 in Kościanach, palatinate of Posen. He pursued his early studies in Głogowie and later in Cracow, Poland. He came to America as a young man and finished his theological studies in St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, N. Y. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood May 19, 1894. His first appointments were as curate in English speaking parishes in Shokan and Kingston, N. Y. To the great joy of the local Poles, Father Nowak arrived in Florida July 2, 1895, and immediately undertook the construction of the church. According to the financial records, he had on hand $2,145.45. The first Mass was celebrated by him in the upper room of the Florida Fire House on July 7, 1895. That Sunday's collection amounted to $5.05. In a short time, on September 8, the cornerstone of the new church was blessed by the Very Rev. Dean Penny of Newburgh, N. Y. The Rev. Thomas Misicki delivered a Polish sermon. Also present at this ceremony was a former resident of Florida, the Rev. Joseph Dulski, of Baltimore, Md. Now the faithful gathered for Holy Mass in the basement of the rising church. The building of the church progressed rapidly, because on the 10th of November of the same year, Florida witnessed the beautiful and touching ceremony of the blessing of a new House of God. The blessing was performed by His Excellency, Archbishop Michael A. Corrigan, assisted by the pastor, Father Nowak, Rev. Dr. M. Barabasz, Rev. J. McCarry, Rev. M. Connoly, Rev. Dean Sweeney of Kingston, N. Y. A Solemn High Mass, the first celebrated in the newly blessed church, was sung by the Rev. Dean Sweeney, assisted by Father McCarry as deacon, and Father Nowak as subdeacon. The Archbishop preached an English sermon, while the Polish sermon was delivered by the well known speaker, Father Barabasz, of Baltimore, Md. A choir from Kingston sang the Mass in four parts. Miss Helen Wozniak and Miss Pauline Majorowski sewed the first cassocks for the Altar boys serving Mass. The church was completed, but there still was no rectory for the pastor. It was necessary for him to reside in rented apartments a distance from the church. Consequently the construction of a home for the pastor was begun beside the church. In 1896 a section of land in the locality known as Union Corners was purchased for $300 from D. Parkhurst and set aside as a Catholic cemetery. It was solemnly blessed October 24, 1897. After such exacting organizational work, Rev. Stanislaus J. Nowak departed for New York City in 1898 in order to assume the pastorate of St. Adalbert's parish in the Bronx, and to build a new brick church on 156th Street. He also had charge of the St. Joseph's Polish Immigrant Home on Broad Street, New York City. In the meantime in St. Joseph's Parish, Florida, first, the Rev. Michael Słupek and next the Rev. Joseph Kloss functioned as pastor. In the year 1902, Father Nowak returned to Florida as pastor of St. Joseph's and renewed his indefatigable labors on behalf of the flock committed to his care. He purchased from Fred Heinzelman the house and lot beside the rectory for $2,800, to be used as a home for the organist. Since the present church building proved too small for the growing parish, which during the span of thirteen years increased amazingly, an addition was built in 1908. For that reason our church has such great length for its width. Two years later, Rev. Ignatius J. Bialdyga was appointed the first curate of the parish to assist Father Nowak. Because St. Joseph's Parish could not satisfy the religious needs of the numerous Poles residing around Pine Island, it was decided, with the counsel and aid of Father Nowak to have a church of their own. On June 29, 1912, a parcel of land was bought for $500, and the construction of a new Temple of God was begun. St. Joseph's Parish lent St. Stanislaus' Parish $4,750 without interest. To the credit of that small and scattered handful, it must be mentioned that the debt was paid in three years. The blessing of the Church of St. Stanislaus B.M. in Pine Island, took place May 18, 1913. This church was served by the priests from St. Joseph's until 1924 when His Excellency Archbishop Patrick J. Hayes, appointed Rev. Thaddeus E. Kamiński as pastor. This did not terminate the diligence of Father Nowak. In 1914 the parishioners of St. Joseph's Church contributed voluntarily $7,382.76 toward the erection of a parochial school. Among the contributors Mr. Andrew Andryszak is singled out for his gift of $4,000. A house and lot were bought from John Piasecki for $3,950. The house was prepared to serve as a Convent for the Reverend Felician Sisters, who henceforth have worked continuously and fruitfully instilling in the children a love for God and Country. The work on the school building consisting of four classrooms and an auditorium was begun. The blessing of the cornerstone took place July 11, 1915, and the solemn dedication of St. Joseph's School by His Eminence, John Cardinal Farley, followed on December 5, of the same year. The living quarters at the rectory proved inadequate for two priests laboring in the parish, and an addition of four rooms was made in 1921. Mindful of the great achievements and many sacrifices for God, the Church, and his people, the Holy See elevated the Rev. Stanislaus J. Nowak to the dignity of a Papal Chamberlain of Pope Pius XI, with the title of Very Reverend Monsignor, in 1924. In 1926 it appeared that the church needed exterior and interior repairs, improvements, and redecorating. The interior walls and ceiling were covered with a decorative tin-plate, while the outside walls were stuccoes. Thanks to the generous gifts of the parishioners new electric chandeliers were hung in the nave of the church; a new tabernacle, statues, sanctuary carpet, votive lights, etc., to embellish the sanctuary were provided. Desiring to afford the Reverend Sisters more comfortable quarters, Monsignor Nowak added in 1928 a large kitchen and five small cells to the Sisters' Convent. It was on the seventeenth day of November, 1929, that the Angel of Death summoned the Very Reverend Monsignor Stanislaus J. Nowak to his eternal reward. Sixty-two years of age, he spent 32 years of his priestly life laboring in the Master's Vineyard in Florida, New York.

Load more