Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, Boston
Encyclopedia
Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish - designated for Polish immigrants
at Dorchester Ave
Dorchester, Massachusetts
, was founded in 1893.
This is one of Polish-American Roman Catholic parishes in New England
in the Archdiocese of Boston
.
of many ethnic groups, who come to the United States
at the end of the nineteenth century, there was a significant number of Poles
, who for various reasons left their homeland. Relatively many of them settled in Boston
, especially in the southern part of the town of Dorchester.
In 1893 to the Italian Sacred Heart Parish in Boston
, arrived Polish priest, Fr. Jan M. Chmieliński
Polish immigrants are selected from among their representatives, who went to Archbishop John J. Williams, with the reequest that he authorize Fr. Chmieliński to organize a Polish congregation. Archbishop John J. Williams has appointed Fr. Chmieliński, to attend the Polish Catholics of Boston
, Salem
and elsewhere.
In the meantime, a number of parish-related organizations were formed such as:
The architect for the 1903 building was T. Edward Sheehan of Dorchester, MA.
In 1986, Cardinal Bernard Law during pilgrimage
to the shrine
in Kraków-Łagiewniki Poland
, asked the Mother General of The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
(pol.
Zgromadzenie Sióstr Matki Bożej Miłosierdzia), Sr. Paulina Słomka, about the several sisters in Boston to establish a community of The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
. The three sisters came to Boston on September 15 1988, where they set up temporarily at the Convent in the Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish. It was the first international house founded outside of Poland. On October 10 1993, the sisters moved to the current convent near St. Ann's Parish at the Neponset Ave. in Dorchester.
In 1940 Cardinal William Henry O'Connell
entrusted the parish to the care od the Conventual Franciscans
Fathers:
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
at Dorchester Ave
Dorchester Avenue (Boston)
Dorchester Avenue is a street in Boston, Massachusetts, running from downtown south via South Boston and Dorchester to the border with Milton, where it ends...
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, was founded in 1893.
This is one of Polish-American Roman Catholic parishes in New England
Polish-American Roman Catholic parishes in New England
- Resources :# Dolores A. Liptak, "The Bishops of Hartford and the New Immigrants ", U.S. Catholic Historian, Vol. 1, No. 2 , pp. 37-53.# The Official Catholic Directory in USA# # # # # # # # # # # # # #...
in the Archdiocese of Boston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It comprises several counties of the state of Massachusetts...
.
History
Among the immigrantsImmigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
of many ethnic groups, who come to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the end of the nineteenth century, there was a significant number of Poles
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...
, who for various reasons left their homeland. Relatively many of them settled in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, especially in the southern part of the town of Dorchester.
In 1893 to the Italian Sacred Heart Parish in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, arrived Polish priest, Fr. Jan M. Chmieliński
Polish immigrants are selected from among their representatives, who went to Archbishop John J. Williams, with the reequest that he authorize Fr. Chmieliński to organize a Polish congregation. Archbishop John J. Williams has appointed Fr. Chmieliński, to attend the Polish Catholics of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
and elsewhere.
In the meantime, a number of parish-related organizations were formed such as:
- Polish National AlliancePolish National AllianceThe Polish National Alliance is the largest and one of the oldest Polish fraternal organizations in the United States, founded on 15 February 1880 in Philadelphia under the influence of Polish patriot Agaton Giller. Its first president was Juliusz Andrzejkowicz.The PNA founded a number of...
(pol.Polish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
Związek Narodowy Polski w USA), - Polish Women's AlliancePolish Women's AllianceThe Polish Women's Alliance of America is a a fraternal benefit society that was founded on May 22, 1898 in Chicago, Illinois....
of American - PWAA (pol.Polish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
Związek Polek W Ameryce), - 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...
(pol.Polish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
Zjednoczenie Polskie Rzymsko-Katolickie), - Polish FalconsPolish FalconsThe Polish Falcons of America is a Polish fraternal organization founded in 1887 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, as the American branch of the Polish Gymnastic Society Sokół. It quickly expanded among the Polish community in North America, its local lodges called nests...
(pol.Polish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
Polskie Towarzystwo Gimnastyczne "Sokół"'), - (pol.Polish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
) Macierz Polska, - (pol.Polish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
) Towarzystwo Bratniej Pomocy Studentów (pot. Bratniak, - St. Anne's SocietySt. Anne's SocietyThe St. Anne's Society is a Catholic support group for women.Anna means "grace". St. Anne is the patroness of mothers, nascent women, widows, sailors, poor schools, and Christians.The St. Anne's Society was founded in 1881 by Anna Wick as the St...
(pol.Polish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
Towarzystwo św. Anny), - Polish American Citizen Club (pol.Polish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
Polsko-Amerykański Klub Obywatelski), - Polish Army Veterans Association in America (pol.Polish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
Stowarzyszenie Weteranów Armii Polskiej w Ameryce (SWAP)), - (pol.Polish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
) Koło Dramatu i Śpiewu
The architect for the 1903 building was T. Edward Sheehan of Dorchester, MA.
In 1986, Cardinal Bernard Law during pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
to the shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
in Kraków-Łagiewniki Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, asked the Mother General of The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy , - was founded by Mother Teresa Eva Potocka in Warsaw, Poland on November 1, 1862.This was the first "Mercy House"...
(pol.
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
Zgromadzenie Sióstr Matki Bożej Miłosierdzia), Sr. Paulina Słomka, about the several sisters in Boston to establish a community of The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy , - was founded by Mother Teresa Eva Potocka in Warsaw, Poland on November 1, 1862.This was the first "Mercy House"...
. The three sisters came to Boston on September 15 1988, where they set up temporarily at the Convent in the Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish. It was the first international house founded outside of Poland. On October 10 1993, the sisters moved to the current convent near St. Ann's Parish at the Neponset Ave. in Dorchester.
Pastors
- Fr. Jan M. Chmieliński (1893-1934)
- Fr. Peter Bartula (1935-1938),
- Fr. Edward B. Naguszewski (1936-1940).
In 1940 Cardinal William Henry O'Connell
William Henry O'Connell
William Henry O'Connell was an American cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Boston from 1907 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1911.-Early life:...
entrusted the parish to the care od the Conventual Franciscans
Conventual Franciscans
The Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
Fathers:
- Fr. Michael Cieślik OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(1940-1942) - Fr. Stephen Musielak OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(1942-1957) - Fr. Angelus Zator OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(1957-1966) - Fr. Alfred Stopyra OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(1966-1967) - Fr. Edwin Agonis OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(1967-1973) - Fr. Manual Wolkanowski OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(1973-1979) - Fr. John Bambol OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(1979-1985) - Fr. Andrew Skiba OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(1985-1991) - Fr. Paul Miśkiewicz OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(1991-1994)
- In 1994 the parish was taken over by Conventual FranciscansConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
from Polish Prowincja Matki Bożej Niepokalanej in Warszawa, PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
:- Fr. Andrzej Sujka OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(1994-2000) - Fr. Miroslaw Podymniak OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(2001-2006) - Fr. Jerzy Auguścik OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(2006-2008) - Fr. Andrzej Urbaniak OFM ConvConventual FranciscansThe Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
(2008 - )
- Fr. Andrzej Sujka OFM Conv
External links
- Our Lady Of Czestochowa - Diocesan information
- Our Lady Of Czestochowa - ParishesOnline.com
- Archdiocese of Boston