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THE HISTORY of ST. LUKE's PARISH Buffalo, NY. Diamond Jubilee 1908-1983, P

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THE HISTORY of ST. LUKE's PARISH Buffalo, NY. Diamond Jubilee 1908-1983, P THE HISTORY OF ST. LUKE'S PARISH Buffalo, NY. Diamond Jubilee 1908-1983, p. 11-15 It was a far different world in 1908 than we know today. Life was more difficult, primitive and quite uncertain for those who found homes in the "new land." The Polish colony was one group of immigrants that grew rapidly after 1881. This alone caused the organization of many parishes before and shortly after 1900. The natural growth of population, and the continuous arrival of new immigrants, convinced Bishop Charles Colton that still another parish was needed to accommodate the growing numbers of Polish Catholics in this area of the Diocese of Buffalo. Bishop Colton appointed Rev. Leopold Stein, who at the time was pastor of Assump-tion Church in Albion, N.Y., to become rector of the new church on June 19, 1908. From what we have gleaned from sketchy parish archives, Father Stein went right to work build- ing his parish. Property was purchased immediately ... eight lots between Miller Avenue and Oberlin Street fronting Sycamore Street. A two-story house with a store front was bought on the corner of Oberlin and Sycamore as a temporary school. Midway between Miller and Oberlin was built a one-story frame building that would serve as a temporary church. It was erected in five days and was a very humble building measuring only 24 x 60 feet. The sacristy of the church measured 8x10 feet, and the overall height of the building was 12 feet. At 8:30 A.M. on July 19, 1908, the Most Rev. Charles Colton blessed the tem¬porary church and offered the first Mass, a low Mass, assisted by Rev. James Wojcik. Bishop Colton also donated $1,000 towards the new parish. The Pastor, Rev. Stein, celebrated the high Mass that same day in the Bishop's presence. We are most fortunate to have a parishioner share her memories of that time: "I remember playing on the empty lots the day Father Stein and Father Wojcik came to look over the land on which the parish would be built. I was a young girl at the time and remember there were very few homes near the parish proper. There were dirt roads; no sidewalks or street lights. "There were quite a few orchards in the area, and people got around by horse and wagon or by walking. Farmland would be the best way to describe it. I remember the church was small and simple with a wooden altar and a cross at the main altar. I was at the first Mass offered there. The church was not used very long and was torn down when the brick building was open. Polish was the language spoken and used. Religion was much stricter at that time." On August 5th, ground was broken for the building of a combination brick and stone structure that was to be used as the church and school on the corner of Miller Avenue and Sycamore Street. 1 The church was on the first floor, the school and convent on the se¬cond floor, with a large hall in the basement. This building is still in use today. The architect was Mr. W.H. Zawadzki who built many public buildings in the city of Buffalo. On August 20, masons began work on the new building and, on August 30, 1908, at 4 P.M., Bish- op Charles Colton blessed the new church bell, which he christened "Saint Luke." The Rev. John Pitass, founder of Polonia's mother church, St. Stanislaus, B/M, preached the homily. September, 1908 saw the opening of the temporary school at 1296 Sycamore St. corner of Oberlin St. There were 74 children enrolled in two classes taught by Felician Sisters, Sister Mary Anunti- ata and Sister Mary Boromea. On this date, Father Stein organized the Rosary Society and the St. Luke Society. Practicaly all of East Buffalo turned out to witness Bishop Colton bless the corner-stone of the new building on September 27, 1908. Rev. James Wojcik preached the sermon on this very special occasion. And, on October 14th, the parish filed a paper of incorporation according to the laws of New York State. Thus, "St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church Society of Buffalo, New York" was born. It was to be- come one of the last Polish parishes founded in the city, and one of the most beautiful. On the fourth Sunday in Advent, December 20,1908, the first Mass in the new church was offered. We can only try to understand the great joy and love of faith that was shared by the new parishio- ners in their new church, and imagine what the first "Pasterka" must have meant to them. The school children moved into the upper floor of the new building on February 8,1909. Most of the second floor was used as the school, and a smaller section for the sisters convent. On February 14, 1909, Bishop Colton blessed and dedicated the Parish of St. Luke. The history you have read thus far is the chronological history of the very beginning of our Parish as sketchily recorded. It was our hopes that those reading this history would gain a greater insight of our rich heritage. The ensuing years of Father Leopold Stein's pastorship are equally as sketchy, for very little is recorded. Unfortunately, there is no known photograph of him. Except for those who were there — at the very beginning — one must have to paint a mental image of this most dynamic man. Unable to administer the parish any longer because of age and illness, Father Stein resigned from St. Luke's Parish at the age of seventy. Rev. Stanislaus Fimowicz was installed as St. Luke's next pastor on January 29, 1914. His denture (36 years) proved to be the longest, and most productive, in the parish's history. Much of what we see and enjoy today in the school and church were the result of his efforts and leadership. This included ail the sacrifices, spiritual, and temporal support of his parishioners, who proved them- selves equal to the huge task which lay ahead. It was 1914 that saw the beginning of Father Stanislaus Fimowicz's inspiration, or what today is still affectionately called "Father Fim's Whim." On July 6th, Father Fimowicz purchased and ren- ovated a house at 268 Miller Avenue and moved the sisters from the school building where they had been living up to that time. And, due to rapidly expanding enrollment, needed classrooms were quickly added. He then bought two lots at the corner of Walden and Miller Avenues. A house at 311 Walden Avenue was also purchased and was used as the rectory during 1916. A new rectory was started and com-pleted in 1917. This building, still used as the rectory at the corner of Walden 2 and Miller Avenues, was built at the cost of $42,000. The priests' old residence was then recon- structed and served as the sisters convent. Land was also purchased on Oberlin Street in 1919, in anticipation of the new church. Groundbreaking for this new church took place on October 30, 1927, and the cornerstone was laid on June 3, 1928. Bishop William Turner dedicated the new church in June of 1929. The vacated space in the combination building was reconstructed into classrooms to accommodate the increasing school enrollment, which, in 1928, reached its peak registration with 641 pupils. Father Fimowicz was greatly loved and respected by all of his parishioners during his thirty-six years as pastor. And, in October of 1933, he was there to celebrate St. Luke's Silver Jubilee. Con- stantly working and guiding his parish, Father Fimowicz took little credit for his work, reserving the credit for his clergy, sisters and faithful parishioners. Thus, it was a very sad day for all when his death was announced on March 28, 1950. But, to us all, Father Stanislaus Fimowicz had given us his legacy ... the beautiful church of St. Luke's. On April 10, 1950, the Rev. John Szmytkowski was installed as pastor. Because of the continuing influx of families into the parish, the school was again renovated and remodeled to accommodate the increasing population. Fr. Szmytkowski also started the fund to replace the main altar but, unfortunately, did not remain at St. Luke's to see its installation. Following Rev. Szmytkowski, Msgr. Max- imillian Bogacki assumed the pastorate on June 2, 1954. During his three years, the main altar was installed, the church remodeled and painted. Msgr. Bogacki also organized the committees and workers for St. Luke's upcoming Golden Jubi- lee. Father Peter C. Hoffman, appointed pastor October, 1957, celebrated the 50th An-niversary of St. Luke's Parish which ran from October, 1957 to November, 1957. Bishop Joseph Burke celebrated a Pontifical Mass on October 27, 1957, opening the jubilee observance before the entire spiritual family of St. Luke's. And, on November 2, 1957, Bishop Leo Smith offered a solemn Pontifical Mass to close the observance. Again the parish of St. Luke's, in gratitude of God's blessing on them, could display their continu- ing devotion, not only in their faith and their beautiful house of worship, but more importantly, in the fruits of the ongoing harvest of clergy and nuns who were graduates and parishioners of St. Luke's. The shepherd's role of St. Luke's flock was assumed by the Rev. Milton Kobielski on September 5, 1961. In 1964, he purchased three houses on Walden Avenue between the rectory and the old convent acquiring more room for future expansion.
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