Parish Events

December 28, 2011

Caroling

Wednesday, December 28th for the very first time in our parish we organized an evening of caroling. The evening began with a potluck dinner and the singing of carols. We also had visiting friars, who took care of the children, singing and playing games with them. The evening went by quickly and pleasantly by the sounds of beautiful polish carols.

December 24, 2011

Midnight Mass

Before midnight mass, the choir sang Polish and English carols while we staged a living scenery of Bethlehem outside. Mass began with the procession of the holy family, angels, and shepherds to the church and the placing of Baby Jesus in the manger by the priest. This year’s mass was celebrated by Fr. Zbigniew Zajchowski.

December 4, 2011

St. Nick

The most popular and most liked saint by all children, St. Nick, visited our parish on Sunday, December 4th. A short artistic program was presented by parents in church. Then all children were invited to Kolbe Hall for pictures with Santa and hot chocolate and cookies.

November 26, 2011

St. Andrew’s Night

On the evening of November 26th many parish families gathered together for an evening of fun. The evening began with an artistic program, in which our children presented their artistic talents. After the program Fr. Edward blessed the food and we all sat down to a wonderful meal. Then, after dinner, kids and parents started to dance and play games. The children had so much fun that they did not want to go home.

October 16, 2011

Little Red Riding Hood

Sunday, October 16th, the theater group from St. Margaret Mary Parish from Algonuqiun presented a play about Little Red Riding Hood. To our surprise, our pastor, Fr. Edward Staniukiewicz took part in the play as one of the main characters.

October 13, 2011

Fatima night

On October 13th we celebrated the Fatima Night. Over 200 faithful gather together in our church to pray and to commemorate the anniversary of the last appearance of Blessed Mother to children in Fatima. Rosary and procession with Blessed Sacrament and a statue of Our Lady of Fatima began this celebration. Girls in white dresses took part in the procession paving the way with flower petals, while boys rang bells. After procession solemn Mass was celebrated by Fr. Peter Tymko from Algonquin. At the end of the Mass all the participants were invited to Kolbe Hall for chicken and pasta dinner.

September 18, 2011

Feast of St. Stanislaus Kostka

On Sunday, September 18th, we celebrated the Feast of our Patron Saint, St. Stanislaus Kostka. During the Masses, the theater group of our parish presented a pantomime about our Patron Saint. After the masses, all present were invited to a delicious breakfast prepared by volunteers in the Kolbe Hall.

September 11, 2011

September 11th

Sunday, September 11th marked the 10th anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11. As a parish family we honored and remember the victims of this tragedy during all masses as we recited the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the moment of silence while our centennial bell rang four times.

August 21, 2011

Polish Fest

Sunday, August 21st St. Stanislaus Church celebrated its 30th Annual Polish Fest. Work for this event took many months; from getting all the necessary permits to making pierogi. That day we started our celebration with the bilingual Mass at 10:15 a.m. celebrated by the Most Reverend Bishop of Rockford, Thomas G. Doran. Holy Mass was offered as a thanksgiving for all the blessings received and as an opening ceremony of the Centennial Year of our Parish.
After the mass we welcomed thousands of people to taste Poland’s hospitality. For everyone’s enjoyment we offered dancing to two different bands, folk dance performances, a variety of ethnic foods and beer. Everyone could find something interesting to do. From a sausage and sauerkraut dinner, pierogi, potato pancakes, pastries to Bingo and Pull Tabs for adults. Children could challenge their skills on the climbing wall and many different games, or have their hair and faces painted. As in prior years, we ended the festival with a basket and cash raffle drawing.

July 24, 2011

Installation of Fr. Edward

On Sunday, July 24th, during Holy Mass in English, the solemn installation to the office of pastor was performed by bishop’s delegate, the dean of the Rockford deanery, Gerald P. Kabbeman. At the end of Mass the parishioners presented our new pastor with a symbolic key to the church. After the installation ceremony, everyone present at the mass was invited join newly installed pastor for coffee and cake.

June 26, 2011

Farewell to Fr. Peter

Immediately after the Mass and procession everyone was invited to Kolbe Hall to spend last few moments with our beloved Pastor. After delicious lunch was served, representatives from different groups of our parish prepared wonderful program dedicated to Fr. Peter and his work at St. Stanislaus Parish. It is difficult to say goodbye, this was a very emotional afternoon. Fr. Peter, we don’t say goodbye we say, we will see you again.

Corpus Christi

The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, Corpus Christi, was celebrated in our parish on Sunday, June 26th, with a bilingual Mass. This was the last Mass celebrated by Fr. Peter. Beginning July 1st, Fr. Peter was assigned as a Pastor to the St. Margaret Mary Parish in Algonquin. During the Mass representatives from the parish thanked Fr. Peter for his work at St. Stanislaus Parish and presented him with a small gift. After the Mass, according to our old Polish tradition a Eucharistic procession went on the streets of the neighborhood (our church is the only one in Rockford that practices this). All the parish organizations took part in this procession, carrying their banners. The Youth group carried a statue of St Stanislaus Kostka -our parish patron saint- and a Rosary. Little girls dressed in white and folk custumes threw flower petals before Jesus in Eucharist, while boys rang bells announcing His presents. We all thanked God for this day, especially for the gift of Eucharist.

June12, 2011

Farewell to Brother Henryk

Sunday, June 12th we celebrated Brother Henryk’s Birthday. During this Mass we also said our farewell to Brother. Fr. Peter gave him a special blessing, thanked Brother for the last three years of service for St. Stanislaus church and wished him all the best in his new ventures in Poland. After the Mass everyone was invited to Kolbe Hall for coffee and cake and to spend some time with Brother for the last time.

May 15, 2011

Children’s Mass and End of School Year/ St. Timothy Award

Sunday, May 15th, at the 11:00 am Mass, the Polish Language School thanked God for the excellent 2010/2011 school year. Children sang songs and brought sacrificial gifts to the altar. At the closing of Mass, Fr. Peter presented two outstanding young members of our community (Melissa Mazela and Peter Borowski) with the Diocesan St. Timothy Award. After the Mass everyone was invited to the school hall for the official closing of the school year. There our school children showed off their talents with skits, songs, and poems. Director of our school, Bogumila Sas thanked all the teachers, parents, volunteers, and Fr. Peter and Brother Henryk for all the work and support for the school. Children received their diplomas in the classrooms, while parents enjoyed coffee and pastries.

May 8, 2011

First Communion

First Communion was celebrated on Mother’s Day, May 8th, at 9 am Mass. Eight young members of our parish have prepared for this day for a couple of years. Fr. Peter greeted all attending Mass and during the entrance procession walked with the first communicants and their parents into the church. During Mass children carried gifts and crowned and offered flowers to the Virgin Mary. Fr. Peter gave a wonderful homily addressed to the children. Mass finished with a group photo.

May 1, 2011

Divine Mercy/ Beatification of John Paul II

Sunday, May 1, 2011, Divine Mercy Sunday and Thanksgiving for the Beatification of Pope John Paul II, was celebrated with only one Mass at 9:30 am. Thomas G. Doran, Bishop of Rockford was gracious enough to accept our invitation to preside over this special ceremony. During the Mass, Bishop Doran blessed the relief of John Paul II purchased by parishioners for this occasion. A procession of the Blessed Sacrament followed the Mass. Lunch was served in Kolbe Hall.

April 24, 2011

Easter

Easter Sunday was celebrated in a special way at both the 9 and 11 am masses. At the 11:00 am Mass children from Polish Language School took part by bearing gifts and singing. A special blessing was given by Fr. Peter and Fr. Marian as he said goodbye.

April 23, 2011

Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 23rd, children of our parish went on an Egg Hunt in the parish garden. Over 70 children took part in this event, finding eggs, making crafts, having snacks and taking pictures with the Easter Bunny.

Food blessing

On Holy Saturday, April 23rd, hundreds of people brought their Easter food baskets to be blessed. Fr. Peter, after the prayer, blessed everyone and their baskets in English and Polish. This year we had a special blessing from Fr. Marian Golab, a missionary from Uganda, in his native language.

Holy Saturday

The Holy Saturday liturgy was celebrated with bilingual Mass at 7 pm. Fr. Peter blessed the light and water and a statue of Jesus was put above the tomb.

April 22, 2011

Good Friday

TheThe Good Friday Liturgy and veneration of the Cross was celebrated at 1:00 pm in English and then at 7:00 pm in Polish. After the evening Mass, we had an adoration by the Lord’s tomb.

April 21, 2011

Holy Thursday

TheThe Last Supper liturgy was celebrated with a bilingual Mass at 7 pm. Fr. Peter performed the washing of the feet in remembrance of the events of the Last Supper. To commemorate the institution of the Priesthood, Fr. Peter, Fr Marian, and Deacon Jim received flowers from parishioners. After the Mass, Deacon Jim led the participants in the Hour of Adoration.

April 17, 2011

Palm Sunday

The The Palm Sunday celebration started at the 11:00 a.m. Mass with the blessing and a procession of old fashioned palms made by the ladies of the Society of Mercy. The beautiful Mass, with our children's participation, was celebrated by Fr. Peter. This was a wonderful invitation to celebrate holy week as a parish family.

April 16, 2011

Easter Bake Sale

On the Palm Sunday weekend of April 16/17, the ladies of the St. Stanislaus Women’s League transformed Kolbe Hall into a bazaar of beautiful Easter baskets and gifts. People from our parish as well as from around the area came to buy Easter gifts, baskets, and baked goods and to visit with friends at this annual event.

April 10, 2011

Anniversary of the Tragedy in Smolensk

On SOn Sunday, April 10th at the 11:00 am Mass, our Polish community gathered together to commemorate the one year anniversary of the airplane crash in Smolensk caring 96 Polish officials. At the beginning of the Mass, a short program was presented, dedicated to the victims of this tragedy. After Mass, Fr. Peter invited everyone to Kolbe Hall to view a display of pictures of all the victims and to meet our missionary from Uganda, Fr. Marian Gołąb. Coffee and pączki were served.

April 3, 2011

Lord’s Passion -„Be not afraid”

Sunday, April 3, 2011 after Polish Mass everyone was invited to school hall to the performance of Lord’s Passion- “Be not afraid”. This was the fourth year that the adult theatrical group from our church put on this kind of play. This was an emotional and spiritual way to spend the afternoon.

March 31, 2011

Fr. John’s Funeral

Fr. Peter and a group of parishioners went to Detroit, Michigan to pay last respects to Fr. John Mikula. The funeral Mass was held on Friday, March 31st at St. Hedwig Parish in Detroit. A Memorial Mass for Fr. John was held in our church on Tuesday, April 5th.

Father John J. Mikula died Saturday, March 26, 2011, of a heart attack at his residence. Father John served the Rockford Diocese for many years. He was a pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish from 1984 to 1990. He then was named pastor of St. Anthony of Padua, also in Rockford, and again served as pastor of St. Stanislaus from 1994-2005 until he retired.

February 26, 2011

Kid’s fun night

Children and parents of our parish were invited to spend an enchanted evening Saturday, February 26th at the school hall. The Hall was transformed into a fairytale land. Everyone enjoyed food, games, dances, and skits performed by our youngest group of students from our Polish School.

January 30, 2011

Women of the Year

Annual "Women of the Year Banquet" was held at Cliffbrakers Restaurant on Sunday, January 30, 2011. This year Marzena Steigerwald represented our parish and received this prestigious award from Bishop of Rockford, Thomas G. Doran.

January 9, 2011

Nativity Play

On January 9th after the Polish Mass, the children of Polish Language School invited everyone to the school hall for their annual Nativity Play. During the traditional story of the birth of our Lord, children paid homage to the new born Savior. After the performance everyone was invited for coffee and cake. We spent a nice afternoon in good company and nice atmosphere.