History of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church Centennial Anniversary 1880-1980 St
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History of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church Centennial Anniversary 1880-1980 St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Saint Louis, MO, p. 7-28. CAP at Orchard Lake. Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish has much to be proud of in the hundredth year of 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 she 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. 1 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 dis- advantage 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 mem- bers 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 arti- cles 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 Caracus, some forty families in all. Most of these newcomers as well as countless others down to the end of the century 2 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 effot 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. 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. 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.