History Of St.Stanislaus Kostka Parish

One of the first problems which concerned Bishop Peter J.Muldoon when he became the first Bishop of the Rockford Diocese was that of caring for foreign born Catholics, many of whom did not as yet understand or speak the lenguage of their new land. As with other nationalities, so it was the Polish.
Father Julius Grzezinski, ordained for the diocese, came to Rockford late in 1909 to work among the Polish Catholics as a distinct group. For three months he worked here, gathering them together to attend a regular Sunday Mass of their own at St.James Pro-Cathedral.
The Polish population gradually increased and by 1911 it became evident that soon they would need a church of their won. In September of that year, Bishop Muldoon purchased two lots at the corner of Buckbee and Magnolia Streets. The following January 12 1912 he called a meeting of the Polish Catholics in the Hall of St.James School at which he told them of his plans for their parish. Another meeting was held on January 21 to plan for the raising of the necessary funds. On February 4, he issued a letter advising that Joseph Bondick, Joseph Wisniewski and John Wilgiert had been appointed as members of a committee to collect funds for the new parish church. So enthusiastic was the fund raising efforts that ground was broken for the church on April 6 and completed early in August that year.
On the Feast of the Assumption the new church was dedicated by Bishop Muldoon. Three altars were donated by St.Patrick's Parish in Amboy. The Catholic Women's League donated the linens and St.Mary's parish, Durand, presented the organ. A house, located on Magnolia Street, diagonally across from the church, was purchased in the spring of 1913 for use as a rectory. A parochial school was built in 1923 and classes were begun in 1924.
Father Julian Burzynski of Chicago became the first pastor of the parish on June 6 1912 largely trough the efforts of Bishop Muldoon. Father completed organization of the parish and also served as chaplain of St.Anthony Hospital. He served St.Stanislaus faithfully for over 15 years and died on November 15, 1927, after a short illness Father Ladizlaus Jasinski was the next pastor ans was assisted for two years by Father Joseph Rzeszotko, a newly ordained son of the parish. In 1931, failing heatlth caused Father Jasinski to retire. Because of the scarcity of Polish Clergy. Bishop Hoban invited the Franciscan Conventual Fathers Clemens Kacprzynski, O.F.M.Conv., was appointed pastor on May 24,1931, to begin a long unbroken line of Franciscan priests to serve as pastors.
When the parish was established in 19912, the membership consisted of some 30 families. It had grown to 380 families. With this substantial growth, and the old church seating about 170 people. His Excellency Bishop Lane gave permission for the construction of a new church and rectory on May 26,1959. Permission to tear down the old church was granted in Julay,1960 and on April 23,1961, Bishop Lane performed the blessing and laying of the cornerstone of the new church to be erected on the site of the original church. The present church seats 500 and the Friary adjoins the church on the east. The first Mass in the new church was celebrated Christmas Eve,1961. School children of St.Stanislaus continued to attend classes until June,1973, at which time the students of St.Stanislaus, St.Peter and Paul and St.Anthony were combined into one school in honor of the teaching order of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, whose memberrs staffed all three parish school system in 1965 and students were free to enroll in any parochial school of their choice.
In August 2005, St.Stanislaus had a change from the Conventual Franciscans of the St.Bonaventure Province after 74 years, to the Conventual Franciscans of the St.Anthony of Padua and Blessed James of Strepa Province from Krakow, Poland. Ft.Peter Sarnicki was installed as the first pastor from this province along with Brother Jan Pawlik.
Dozens of dedicated parishioners have devoted untold hours the past 25 years to present a one-day Polish Fesr each August.