The parish of St. Mary of Czestochowa in New Kensington

PARISH HISTORY

St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish history begins with our parish patroness. In 1892, a small group of Polish immigrant families desired to worship God in their own language. They approached Father Ladislaus Miskiewicz, Pastor of St. Adalbert Church, South Side, Pittsburgh, begging him to intercede with Bishop Phelan (Diocese of Pittsburgh) on their behalf. It was through Father Miskiewicz's guidance that the Society of Our Lady of Czestochowa was formed.

In 1893, men of the society sought help from the Burrell Improvement Company and two lots located on Kenneth Avenue were donated. A small frame church was constructed, and St. Adalbert's clergy continued to minister to the needs of the newly formed parish. In November of 1893, the Diocese of Pittsburgh assigned our first resident pastor, Father Henry Cichocki. Our first annual report noted 63 families, 259 parishioners, 29 baptisms, 8 marriages, 3 deaths and 30 children receiving catechetical instructions.

The parish continued to grow, and in three years, an addition to the church structure was built with basement classrooms for a school. Over the years, additional lots were purchased under the guidance of the various clergy. Construction of the present church building began in 1911 under the pastorship of Father Francis Pikulski and was completed in 1912 under the pastorship of Father Francis Poszukanis. Once again, four classrooms were furnished in the church basement.

The school was originally staffed by lay teachers and in 1913 Father Poszukanis petitioned the Felician Sisters for help to staff the school. A convent was built and a year later, the Sisters had full charge of the school. In February of 1914, a fire slightly damaged the new church, but the old structure (which had been used as a parish social hall) and the rectory were completely demolished. As a result of the fire, a new rectory and a new eight classroom school (present structure) were built. The school was dedicated in 1922. The Diocese closed the school in 1994.

Inside view of church In 1927 the parish acquired land for our present cemetery under the leadership of Father Anthony Baron. Father Casimir Orlemanski began the grand task of liquidating the parish debt in 1942 and added an addition to the convent. In 1957 Father Edward Sierocki oversaw the building of the present rectory. In the 1970's, Father Anthony Wozniak undertook the church renovation. In 1986, Father Thaddeus J. Kaczmarek came to St. Mary's and served as pastor in the centennial year. Father Richard Karenbauer presently serves as pastor of St. Marys.

The parish has seen many changes and challenges. We have survived a dissent which formed the present St. Peter and Paul Polish National Catholic Church. We ministered to a mission parish in Harwick, Our Lady of Victory. We opened our doors to house the Hungarian Community, who as St. Elizabeth's Parish sought worship in their own tongue. We sent our Sisters to provide religious instruction for students at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Natrona Heights and students at All Saints Church, East Vandergrift, Pennsylvania.

mens choir

FIRST ROW (seated l. to r.) - J. Bentlejewski, A. Kowal, Fr. Orlemanski, J. Grzelewski, J. Cebula
SECOND ROW (l. to r.) - J. Janosky, C. Wroblewski, F. Perdeus, S. Golon, unknown, J. Dibas, A. Masnick, S. Koscianski, Sr., S. Kasprzyk
THIRD ROW - I. Siuta, T. Stanek, J. Dawidowski, V. Staniszewski, C. Dudzinski, T. Koscianski, T. Sowol

Director: Joseph Konkolewski

Parish Polish Glee Club at a performance on the old stage in Friendship Hall, February 19, 1950. The "bride" (seated, L center) is Dorothy Kordzi (Perdeus) and the "groom" (seated, R center) is Frank Perdeus. Mother-of-the-bride (left of bride) is Bernice Tracz.

Pre 1979 photo
This is how the sanctuary looked decorated for Christmas, prior to the 1978 renovation. The pillars in line with the front pews are where the sanctuary now begins. The main altar was two steps higher than it is now, and contained the plaster relief sculpture of the Last Supper that is part of the present altar table. The metal altar rail replaced the original wooden one. Photo credit: Bobshosky Studios

1912

This is how the altar looked during a parish mission in 1912, when the present church was newly-built. Note the wooden altar rail and the hanging perpetual light.

1993 organ information

MORE PICTURES TO COME

History of the Parish