MACHELSEA-L Archives

Archiver > MACHELSEA > 2003-11 > 1068089704


From:
Subject: [MACHELSEA] http://olgp.net/chs/church/stan.htm
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2003 22:35:04 EST


SAINT STANISLAUS CHURCH

Between the years of 1870 to 1914, nearly two million Polish immigrants
arrived in the United States. Many of these immigrants settled in Chelsea during
the city's industrial growth years. The Polish immigrant proved to be family
oriented, devoutly adherent to the church and full of patriotic love for the
adopted land. Being very industrious, they worked at the hardest and most ill
paying jobs, still believing life here was better than the one they left.
A mass meeting of the Polish residents was held on October 20, 1903 at which
plans were formulated for a Polish parish. In an act of consolidation, the
Chestnut Street Congregational Church, one of three Congregational Churches in
Chelsea, was put up for sale. On July 2, 1905 the church building was purchased
by the Polish residents of Chelsea. The first mass was celebrated by Rev.
William Power, pastor of the St. Rose Church. One week later, Rev. George
Jaskolski, OFM, was installed as the first Pastor for the Polish parish of Chelsea.
April 12, 1908, the devastating Chelsea Fire, swept through the city leveling
everything in it's path. All parish property, including the church and
rectory, was destroyed. The massive steeple that acted like a beacon, toppled to the
ground in a mass of flames. All the labor of the past few months, was lost in
a matter of minutes.
After the fire mass was held at the Scenic Temple on Second Street, corner of
Chestnut Street. Fr. Jaskolski worked tirelessly, to rebuild the church,
damaging his health in the process. During this time Fr. Jaskolski was living in
the basement of 72 Broadway, and later 4 Chestnut Street. By 1910 Fr.
Jaskolski's health had deteriorated so badly he had to leave the parish. Rev. George
Jaskolski passed away, a very young man.
Rev. Alphonse Figlewski succeeded Fr. Jaskolski, and in 1912 the new church
was dedicated. Fr. Cyprian Adamski took over as pastor in 1914, remaining until
his death, May 31, 1939. During his span of forty five years as pastor, he
built a school in 1919, and a new convent in 1922. Fr. Adamski created many
organizations within the church. One of these organizations was instrumental in
the dedication of a park in Chelsea Square. In 1931, the park in Chelsea Square
was dedicated to a hero of the American Revolution, General Casimir Pulaski.
The "Father Adamski Memorial Highway," a section of the Northeast Expressway
running through Chelsea, was dedicated to the pastor's memory.
Fr. Adamski was succeeded by Rev. Marcel Szymanski OFM. Fr. Szymanski passed
away, four years after taking over from Fr. Adamski. Rev. Callistus Szpara OFM
served as pastor for the next seventeen years. Succeeding Rev. Szpara as
pastor, Rev. Jerome A. Holubowitz, built a recreational area for children near the
church.
Through the efforts of a dedicated and faithful Polish parish community the
St. Stanislaus Church continues to celebrate weekly masses. The St. Stanislaus
community successfully emerged through an archdiocesan reorganization and
potential closing. The school was rented for a time to the City of Chelsea as the
Williams School Annex. The school is closed today, but the church continues to
function as an integral part of the Chelsea Polish community.

<A HREF="http://olgp.net/chs/index.htm">Return to Main Page</A>




This thread: