St. Mary of Czestochowa in Cicero
Encyclopedia
St. Mary of Częstochowa in Cicero - historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
located in Cicero, Illinois
.
It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style
' of churches in both its opulence and grand scale. A sculpture of Christ the King
by famed sculptor Professor Czesław Dźwigaj, who also cast the monumental bronze
doors at St. Hyacinth's Basilica
in Chicago stands in front of the church. The church is also well known as the site where Al Capone's
sister Mafalda was married in 1930.
The parish of St. Mary of Częstochowa
serves a diverse population. A number of parishioners, still actively involved, lay claim to having parents and grandparents who pioneered the parish. A young Polish
immigrant population, although not living in the area, have strong ties to the Black Madonna
and call St. Mary of Częstochowa their spiritual home. Just as great numbers of Poles and Germans
settled in the Hawthorne neighborhood of Cicero over a hundred years ago, so today large numbers of people from Mexico
have settled here, and the Hispanic
presence is very much part of the parish. St. Mary of Częstochowa offers mass in Polish, Spanish
and English and is currently home to 1,450 families.
was founded as a Polish parish in 1895, but the Polish community in Hawthorne in Cicero, Illinois dates from the 1880s when the area was still prairie
. The Polish settlement in Hawthorne centered around the Dolese & Shepherd lime and stone quarry
at 31st and Cicero Ave. Hawthorne's Polish Catholics walked over five miles to St. Adalbert's
at 16th and Allport St. in Chicago in order to attend Mass in their native tongue. With the formation of St. Casimir Church at 22nd and Whipple St in 1890, their trip was shortened to three and a half miles, yet they longed for a parish of their own. The only Catholic parish in Cicero was then St. Dionysius at 4852 W. 29th St., established as a mission of Holy Trinity Church in Chicago in 1889, St. Dionysius was a predominantly German parish.
On March 27, 1892, Polish Catholics of Hawthorne held a meeting to discuss plans for a parish. By May 1893, the group was able to purchase six lots at 30th St. and Linden (now 49th) Ave. at a cost of $2,250. Subsequently, a delegation was sent to Archbishop Patrick A. Feehan to petition for a parish. Archbishop Feehan granted the request and appointed Rev. Casimir A. Slominski as pastor. A former assistant at St. Adalbert's
, Father Slominski began his work in Cicero on May 30, 1895.
Stephen Bartoszek, one of the pioneer parishioners, transformed his hall at the northwest corner of Jessamine (now 48th Ct.) and 30th St. into a combination church-school and he offered the rear flat as living quarters for the pastor. In this temporary church, Father Slominski celebrated Mass and administered the sacraments until a frame church was built a few months later. In July 1898, Father Slominski directed the construction of a one-room frame building behind the church. This structure, known as the parish hall, also served as a school.
When Father Slominski resigned because of poor health in 1899, Rev. Leo Wyrzykowski was named pastor of St. Mary of Częstochowa Church. Father Slominski later organized St. Ann Church at 18th Pl. and Leavitt St. in Chicago where he served as pastor from 1903 to 1921.
In 1902, the mission of St. Attracta was established at 13th St. and 48th Ct. for English-speaking Catholics who lived in the northeast section of Cicero, then known as the Grant Works area. In 1903, the Western Electric Company opened a plant in Hawthorne at 22nd St. (Cermak Rd.) and Cicero Ave. and it quickly became the largest employer in Cicero. Over the years, the Western Electric
Company provided jobs for thousands of immigrants of many nationalities.
Following Father Wyrzykowski's appointment as pastor of St. Mary of Gostyń Church in Downers Grove, Illinois
(now in the Joliet
diocese) in July 1904, Rev. Bronislaus Czajkowski was named pastor of St. Mary of Częstochowa Church. Prior to this assignment, he had served as an assistant at the Polish parish of St. Mary of Perpetual Help in Chicago.
The new pastor found that the frame church and school had become inadequate and as a temporary measure, the parish hail behind the church was converted into two classrooms. In August 1904, the Sisters of St. Joseph
of the Third order
of Francis of Assisi
began their work in the parish school which previously had been staffed by lay teachers.
With the generous support of his parishioners, Father Czajkowski was able to make plans for a new combination church-school building, the cornerstone of which was laid on July 2, 1905. This imposing brick structure was completed at the southeast corner of 30th St. and Linden (49th) Ave. In 1908, the Sisters moved from their living quarters in the school building into a new convent which had been constructed at 3009 S. 49th Ct.
The Polish population of the South Lawndale
area of Chicago, which adjoined Cicero on the east, increased to such an extent that in 1907, Good Shepherd parish was organized at 28th and Kolin Ave. from portions of St. Mary of Częstochowa and St. Casimir parishes. In 1911, the national parish of St. Valentine was organized at 13th St. and 50th Ave. by Polish families who formerly belonged to St. Mary of Częstochowa. On July 24, 1915 800 employees of the Western Electric Company died as the Eastland
excursion boat capsized in the Chicago River
. Twenty-nine parishioners lost their lives in that tragedy and were remembered in a memorial Mass.
In June 1916, ground at the southwest corner of 48th ct. and 30th St. was broken for a magnificent Gothic
structure. When the cornerstone of this edifice was laid on October 29, 1917, work was nearing completion on the present rectory at 3010 S. 48th Ct. Archbishop George W. Mundelein dedicated St. Mary of Częstochowa Church on March 10, 1918.
Hundreds of Poles gathered in the silver-bedecked church of St. Mary on May 31, 1920 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of their parish. Membership then numbered 800 families with 900 children enrolled in the school. A history of St. Mary of Częstochowa parish written in 1920 contained the information that "At present this parish consists of the church with its contents worth $135,000.00; school, worth $85,000.00; rectory, which is worth $30,000.00; convent, worth $25,000.00; frame ex-church [the parish hall]... worth $3,000.00; and lots worth about $25,000.00. Total worth,$303,000.00"
Father Czajkowski continued to serve as pastor throughout the Great Depression
, a hard time for his parishioners who keenly felt the effects of factory
closings in Cicero. He died October 13, 1939 at the age of 65. Rev. Francis Nogajewski served as administrator of the parish until July 1940, when Rev. Theodore F. Langfort was named pastor. A former assistant at St. Mary of Częstochowa parish, Father Langfort had served as pastor of St. Valentine Church in Cicero and as pastor of the Polish parish of Assumption, BVM in Chicago.
The new pastor carried out a program of reconstruction and expansion. Under his direction all of the parish buildings were repaired and remodeled and the church was redecorated in preparation for the golden jubilee, which was celebrated on May 6, 1945. In its 50th year, St. Mary of Częstochowa parish numbered more than 1,600 families and the parish supported 43 societies.
Father Langfort continued to serve as pastor of this large Polish parish until his death on November 27, 1956 at the age of 73. In January 1957, Rev. Ignatius S. Renklewski was named pastor. A former assistant at St. Mary of Częstochowa parish, he returned to Cicero from Chicago where he had been serving as administrator of the Polish parish of St. Ann.
Father Renklewski made plans for an addition to the convent which was completed early in 1958 and he also purchased a statue of Our Lady of Częstochowa
which was placed in front of the rectory. This outdoor shrine was dedicated on September 16, 1959 in ceremonies which included a procession of religious groups singing Marian songs. On February 7, 1960, Father Renklewski was invested as a Domestic Prelate with the title Right Reverend Monsignor
.
On November 13, 1960, the Chancery Office granted permission for a Youth Center to be constructed on the site of the old Hawthorne school at 5004 S. 31st St. A dream come true for the parish, this one-story building was financed in large part by the proceeds from carnivals held in the parish from 1946 to 1960. Albert Gregory Meyer laid the cornerstone of the Youth Center on February 19, 1961; while work was underway on this structure, a program of renovation was begun on May 28, 1961. The church was modernized and expanded and the school and rectory were also refurbished. Since the dedication of the $300,000 Youth Center on September 17, 1961, this building had provided the finest of facilities for the young people of the community.
Msgr. Renklewski died on March 26, 1965 at the age of 76. In his obituary, The New World noted that: He was a former member of the Archdiocesan school board completing his term in 1961; was chaplain of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America
, a member of the board of the Polish Roman Catholic cemetery association, and a Fourth degree member of Garcia Moreno council, Knights of Columbus
(Harvey
).
Rev. Joseph C. Przybylowicz, former pastor of St. Isidore Church in Blue Island, Illinois
, was appointed pastor of St. Mary of Częstochowa
parish on March 4, 1966. Under his leadership, plans were made for the parish's 75th anniversary.
On October 11, 1970, Bishop Aloysius J. Wycislo of Green Bay, Wisconsin
. officiated at the special diamond jubilee Mass. A graduate of St. Mary of Częstochowa
school, Bishop Wycislo had served as Auxiliary Bishop
of Chicago prior to his appointment as Ordinary of the Green Bay Diocese in 1968. At the time of the 75th celebration, 16 young men from St. Mary of Częstochowa
parish had been ordained priests, and 28 young women had entered religious orders. A dinner catered and donated by Mrs. Frances Wilary was held in the parish hail following the jubilee Mass for all clergy, religious, choir members, Knights of Columbus, and special guests. A civic observance, a commemorative dinner-dance honoring the faithful members of the parish, was held on October 25, 1970 at Richard's Banquet room, 3243 S. Harlem Ave. in Berwyn, Illinois
.
On January 1, 1979, Father Przybylowicz was named pastor emeritus and Rev. Thaddeus J. Makuch was appointed pastor of St. Mary of Częstochowa
Church. Prior to this appointment, Father Makuch had served as associate pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Church at 37th and Paulina St. in Chicago for five years.
On July 1, 2003 priests of the Redemptorist Congregation
arrived to Cicero. The Polish Redemptorists began serving the spiritual need of this trilingual parish. Custom and language are part of celebrations, and St. Mary's celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Częstochowa in August with special Masses, procession through the neighborhood, ethnic food, and the final gathering for the ice cream social. On December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
begins with Mañanitas at 5:00 a.m., a special Mass with the distribution of roses, and a social gathering enjoying hot chocolate. Many couples choose St. Mary's for their wedding and a bouquet will be placed before the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe or Our Lady of Częstochowa all honor our Blessed Mother, but each following custom and tradition.
The church and school combination built in 1905 is still used today for the parish school and religious education programs. The convent
building today houses the chancery for the Syro Malabar Eastern Rite congregation for the Diocese of the United States and Canada. The Youth Center building now called The Social Center provides a place for the school's physical education classes, athletic program, an active senior group, and the public school preschool program.
For over 100 years St. Mary of Częstochowa Parish has provided a basic spiritual need by offering daily Mass, Sunday Masses and special services in three languages, novenas, missions, a place for the adoration of Christ in the Holy Eucharist and a sacred and beautiful space to celebrate the reception of the sacraments.
style, was completed in 1918. The twin towers of this church, which rise 200 feet above the ground, are visible from many points in Cicero. In 1927, beautiful Gothic altars, a pulpit, and a communion rail-all crafted in Italy of Carrara marble-were installed in the church. High atop the main altar, which was dedicated to Our Lady of Częstochowa
, was placed a copy of the celebrated "Black Madonna", the miraculous icon
ascribed to the evangelist
St. Luke. Shrines to Our Lady of Guadalupe
and Our Lady of Ludźmierz were recently installed to celebrate the traditions of the parishes numerous Mexican and Góral
parishioners.
on Jasna Góra in Poland.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
located in Cicero, Illinois
Cicero, Illinois
Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator....
.
It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style
Polish Cathedral style
The Polish Cathedral architectural style is a North American genre of Catholic church architecture found throughout the Great Lakes and Middle Atlantic regions as well as in parts of New England...
' of churches in both its opulence and grand scale. A sculpture of Christ the King
Christ the King
Christ the King is a title of Jesus based on several passages of Scripture. It is used by most Christians. The Roman Catholic Church, together with many Protestant denominations, including the Anglican Churches, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Methodists, celebrate the Feast of Christ the King on the...
by famed sculptor Professor Czesław Dźwigaj, who also cast the monumental bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
doors at St. Hyacinth's Basilica
Basilica of St. Hyacinth
St. Hyacinth Basilica, formally the Basilica of St. Hyacinth, - historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, located in Chicago, Illinois....
in Chicago stands in front of the church. The church is also well known as the site where Al Capone's
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
sister Mafalda was married in 1930.
The parish of St. Mary of Częstochowa
Black Madonna of Czestochowa
The Black Madonna of Częstochowa is a revered icon of the Virgin Mary housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland.-The icon:The origins of the icon and the date of its composition are still hotly contested among scholars...
serves a diverse population. A number of parishioners, still actively involved, lay claim to having parents and grandparents who pioneered the parish. A young Polish
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...
immigrant population, although not living in the area, have strong ties to the Black Madonna
Black Madonna
A Black Madonna or Black Virgin is a statue or painting of the Virgin Mary in which the Virgin Mary is black. The term was especially applied to those created in Europe in the medieval period or earlier...
and call St. Mary of Częstochowa their spiritual home. Just as great numbers of Poles and Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
settled in the Hawthorne neighborhood of Cicero over a hundred years ago, so today large numbers of people from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
have settled here, and the Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
presence is very much part of the parish. St. Mary of Częstochowa offers mass in Polish, Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and English and is currently home to 1,450 families.
History
The parish of St. Mary of CzęstochowaBlack Madonna of Czestochowa
The Black Madonna of Częstochowa is a revered icon of the Virgin Mary housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland.-The icon:The origins of the icon and the date of its composition are still hotly contested among scholars...
was founded as a Polish parish in 1895, but the Polish community in Hawthorne in Cicero, Illinois dates from the 1880s when the area was still prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
. The Polish settlement in Hawthorne centered around the Dolese & Shepherd lime and stone quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
at 31st and Cicero Ave. Hawthorne's Polish Catholics walked over five miles to St. Adalbert's
St. Adalbert's in Chicago
St. Adalbert Church is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in Chicago, Illinois.It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style' of churches in both its opulence and grand scale. The church is located on 17th Street between Paulina Street and...
at 16th and Allport St. in Chicago in order to attend Mass in their native tongue. With the formation of St. Casimir Church at 22nd and Whipple St in 1890, their trip was shortened to three and a half miles, yet they longed for a parish of their own. The only Catholic parish in Cicero was then St. Dionysius at 4852 W. 29th St., established as a mission of Holy Trinity Church in Chicago in 1889, St. Dionysius was a predominantly German parish.
On March 27, 1892, Polish Catholics of Hawthorne held a meeting to discuss plans for a parish. By May 1893, the group was able to purchase six lots at 30th St. and Linden (now 49th) Ave. at a cost of $2,250. Subsequently, a delegation was sent to Archbishop Patrick A. Feehan to petition for a parish. Archbishop Feehan granted the request and appointed Rev. Casimir A. Slominski as pastor. A former assistant at St. Adalbert's
St. Adalbert's in Chicago
St. Adalbert Church is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in Chicago, Illinois.It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style' of churches in both its opulence and grand scale. The church is located on 17th Street between Paulina Street and...
, Father Slominski began his work in Cicero on May 30, 1895.
Stephen Bartoszek, one of the pioneer parishioners, transformed his hall at the northwest corner of Jessamine (now 48th Ct.) and 30th St. into a combination church-school and he offered the rear flat as living quarters for the pastor. In this temporary church, Father Slominski celebrated Mass and administered the sacraments until a frame church was built a few months later. In July 1898, Father Slominski directed the construction of a one-room frame building behind the church. This structure, known as the parish hall, also served as a school.
When Father Slominski resigned because of poor health in 1899, Rev. Leo Wyrzykowski was named pastor of St. Mary of Częstochowa Church. Father Slominski later organized St. Ann Church at 18th Pl. and Leavitt St. in Chicago where he served as pastor from 1903 to 1921.
In 1902, the mission of St. Attracta was established at 13th St. and 48th Ct. for English-speaking Catholics who lived in the northeast section of Cicero, then known as the Grant Works area. In 1903, the Western Electric Company opened a plant in Hawthorne at 22nd St. (Cermak Rd.) and Cicero Ave. and it quickly became the largest employer in Cicero. Over the years, the Western Electric
Western Electric
Western Electric Company was an American electrical engineering company, the manufacturing arm of AT&T from 1881 to 1995. It was the scene of a number of technological innovations and also some seminal developments in industrial management...
Company provided jobs for thousands of immigrants of many nationalities.
Following Father Wyrzykowski's appointment as pastor of St. Mary of Gostyń Church in Downers Grove, Illinois
Downers Grove, Illinois
Downers Grove is a village in Downers Grove and Lisle Townships, DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 48,724 at the 2000 census, with an official estimated population of 49,250 in 2008.-History:...
(now in the Joliet
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
diocese) in July 1904, Rev. Bronislaus Czajkowski was named pastor of St. Mary of Częstochowa Church. Prior to this assignment, he had served as an assistant at the Polish parish of St. Mary of Perpetual Help in Chicago.
The new pastor found that the frame church and school had become inadequate and as a temporary measure, the parish hail behind the church was converted into two classrooms. In August 1904, the Sisters of St. Joseph
Sisters of St. Joseph
The title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
of the Third order
Third order
The term Third Order designates persons who live according to the Third Rule of a Roman Catholic religious order, an Anglican religious order, or a Lutheran religious order. Their members, known as Tertiaries, are generally lay members of religious orders, i.e...
of Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
began their work in the parish school which previously had been staffed by lay teachers.
With the generous support of his parishioners, Father Czajkowski was able to make plans for a new combination church-school building, the cornerstone of which was laid on July 2, 1905. This imposing brick structure was completed at the southeast corner of 30th St. and Linden (49th) Ave. In 1908, the Sisters moved from their living quarters in the school building into a new convent which had been constructed at 3009 S. 49th Ct.
The Polish population of the South Lawndale
South Lawndale, Chicago
South Lawndale is located on the west side of the city of Chicago, Illinois, is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas. The neighborhood is predominantly Mexican.- Little Village :...
area of Chicago, which adjoined Cicero on the east, increased to such an extent that in 1907, Good Shepherd parish was organized at 28th and Kolin Ave. from portions of St. Mary of Częstochowa and St. Casimir parishes. In 1911, the national parish of St. Valentine was organized at 13th St. and 50th Ave. by Polish families who formerly belonged to St. Mary of Częstochowa. On July 24, 1915 800 employees of the Western Electric Company died as the Eastland
Eastland
The SS Eastland was a passenger ship based in Chicago and used for tours. On 24 July 1915 the ship rolled over while tied to a dock in the Chicago River...
excursion boat capsized in the Chicago River
Chicago River
The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of that runs through the city of the same name, including its center . Though not especially long, the river is notable for being the reason why Chicago became an important location, as the link between the Great Lakes and...
. Twenty-nine parishioners lost their lives in that tragedy and were remembered in a memorial Mass.
In June 1916, ground at the southwest corner of 48th ct. and 30th St. was broken for a magnificent Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
structure. When the cornerstone of this edifice was laid on October 29, 1917, work was nearing completion on the present rectory at 3010 S. 48th Ct. Archbishop George W. Mundelein dedicated St. Mary of Częstochowa Church on March 10, 1918.
Hundreds of Poles gathered in the silver-bedecked church of St. Mary on May 31, 1920 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of their parish. Membership then numbered 800 families with 900 children enrolled in the school. A history of St. Mary of Częstochowa parish written in 1920 contained the information that "At present this parish consists of the church with its contents worth $135,000.00; school, worth $85,000.00; rectory, which is worth $30,000.00; convent, worth $25,000.00; frame ex-church [the parish hall]... worth $3,000.00; and lots worth about $25,000.00. Total worth,$303,000.00"
Father Czajkowski continued to serve as pastor throughout the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, a hard time for his parishioners who keenly felt the effects of factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
closings in Cicero. He died October 13, 1939 at the age of 65. Rev. Francis Nogajewski served as administrator of the parish until July 1940, when Rev. Theodore F. Langfort was named pastor. A former assistant at St. Mary of Częstochowa parish, Father Langfort had served as pastor of St. Valentine Church in Cicero and as pastor of the Polish parish of Assumption, BVM in Chicago.
The new pastor carried out a program of reconstruction and expansion. Under his direction all of the parish buildings were repaired and remodeled and the church was redecorated in preparation for the golden jubilee, which was celebrated on May 6, 1945. In its 50th year, St. Mary of Częstochowa parish numbered more than 1,600 families and the parish supported 43 societies.
Father Langfort continued to serve as pastor of this large Polish parish until his death on November 27, 1956 at the age of 73. In January 1957, Rev. Ignatius S. Renklewski was named pastor. A former assistant at St. Mary of Częstochowa parish, he returned to Cicero from Chicago where he had been serving as administrator of the Polish parish of St. Ann.
Father Renklewski made plans for an addition to the convent which was completed early in 1958 and he also purchased a statue of Our Lady of Częstochowa
Black Madonna of Czestochowa
The Black Madonna of Częstochowa is a revered icon of the Virgin Mary housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland.-The icon:The origins of the icon and the date of its composition are still hotly contested among scholars...
which was placed in front of the rectory. This outdoor shrine was dedicated on September 16, 1959 in ceremonies which included a procession of religious groups singing Marian songs. On February 7, 1960, Father Renklewski was invested as a Domestic Prelate with the title Right Reverend Monsignor
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
.
On November 13, 1960, the Chancery Office granted permission for a Youth Center to be constructed on the site of the old Hawthorne school at 5004 S. 31st St. A dream come true for the parish, this one-story building was financed in large part by the proceeds from carnivals held in the parish from 1946 to 1960. Albert Gregory Meyer laid the cornerstone of the Youth Center on February 19, 1961; while work was underway on this structure, a program of renovation was begun on May 28, 1961. The church was modernized and expanded and the school and rectory were also refurbished. Since the dedication of the $300,000 Youth Center on September 17, 1961, this building had provided the finest of facilities for the young people of the community.
Msgr. Renklewski died on March 26, 1965 at the age of 76. In his obituary, The New World noted that: He was a former member of the Archdiocesan school board completing his term in 1961; was chaplain of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America
Polish Roman Catholic Union of America
The 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...
, a member of the board of the Polish Roman Catholic cemetery association, and a Fourth degree member of Garcia Moreno council, Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
(Harvey
Harvey, Illinois
Harvey is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, near Chicago. The population was 30,000 at the 2000 census.Harvey is bordered by Dixmoor, Riverdale and Blue Island to the north, Posen and Markham to the west, South Holland, Phoenix, and Dolton to the east, and East Hazel Crest to the...
).
Rev. Joseph C. Przybylowicz, former pastor of St. Isidore Church in Blue Island, Illinois
Blue Island, Illinois
Blue Island is a city in Cook County, Illinois. The population was 22,556 at the 2010 census. Blue Island was established in the 1830s as a way station for settlers traveling on the Vincennes Trace, and the settlement prospered because it was conveniently situated a day's journey outside of Chicago...
, was appointed pastor of St. Mary of Częstochowa
Black Madonna of Czestochowa
The Black Madonna of Częstochowa is a revered icon of the Virgin Mary housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland.-The icon:The origins of the icon and the date of its composition are still hotly contested among scholars...
parish on March 4, 1966. Under his leadership, plans were made for the parish's 75th anniversary.
On October 11, 1970, Bishop Aloysius J. Wycislo of Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
. officiated at the special diamond jubilee Mass. A graduate of St. Mary of Częstochowa
Black Madonna of Czestochowa
The Black Madonna of Częstochowa is a revered icon of the Virgin Mary housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland.-The icon:The origins of the icon and the date of its composition are still hotly contested among scholars...
school, Bishop Wycislo had served as Auxiliary Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Chicago prior to his appointment as Ordinary of the Green Bay Diocese in 1968. At the time of the 75th celebration, 16 young men from St. Mary of Częstochowa
Black Madonna of Czestochowa
The Black Madonna of Częstochowa is a revered icon of the Virgin Mary housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland.-The icon:The origins of the icon and the date of its composition are still hotly contested among scholars...
parish had been ordained priests, and 28 young women had entered religious orders. A dinner catered and donated by Mrs. Frances Wilary was held in the parish hail following the jubilee Mass for all clergy, religious, choir members, Knights of Columbus, and special guests. A civic observance, a commemorative dinner-dance honoring the faithful members of the parish, was held on October 25, 1970 at Richard's Banquet room, 3243 S. Harlem Ave. in Berwyn, Illinois
Berwyn, Illinois
Berwyn is a city in Cook County, Illinois, co-existent with Berwyn Township, which was formed in 1908 after breaking off from Cicero Township. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 54,016.-Demographics:...
.
On January 1, 1979, Father Przybylowicz was named pastor emeritus and Rev. Thaddeus J. Makuch was appointed pastor of St. Mary of Częstochowa
Black Madonna of Czestochowa
The Black Madonna of Częstochowa is a revered icon of the Virgin Mary housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland.-The icon:The origins of the icon and the date of its composition are still hotly contested among scholars...
Church. Prior to this appointment, Father Makuch had served as associate pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Church at 37th and Paulina St. in Chicago for five years.
On July 1, 2003 priests of the Redemptorist Congregation
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
arrived to Cicero. The Polish Redemptorists began serving the spiritual need of this trilingual parish. Custom and language are part of celebrations, and St. Mary's celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Częstochowa in August with special Masses, procession through the neighborhood, ethnic food, and the final gathering for the ice cream social. On December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe , also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe is a celebrated Catholic icon of the Virgin Mary.According to tradition, on December 9, 1531 Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, had a vision of a young woman while he was on a hill in the Tepeyac desert, near Mexico City. The lady...
begins with Mañanitas at 5:00 a.m., a special Mass with the distribution of roses, and a social gathering enjoying hot chocolate. Many couples choose St. Mary's for their wedding and a bouquet will be placed before the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe or Our Lady of Częstochowa all honor our Blessed Mother, but each following custom and tradition.
The church and school combination built in 1905 is still used today for the parish school and religious education programs. The convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
building today houses the chancery for the Syro Malabar Eastern Rite congregation for the Diocese of the United States and Canada. The Youth Center building now called The Social Center provides a place for the school's physical education classes, athletic program, an active senior group, and the public school preschool program.
For over 100 years St. Mary of Częstochowa Parish has provided a basic spiritual need by offering daily Mass, Sunday Masses and special services in three languages, novenas, missions, a place for the adoration of Christ in the Holy Eucharist and a sacred and beautiful space to celebrate the reception of the sacraments.
Architecture
The church, one of the few Polish churches designed in a GothicGothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style, was completed in 1918. The twin towers of this church, which rise 200 feet above the ground, are visible from many points in Cicero. In 1927, beautiful Gothic altars, a pulpit, and a communion rail-all crafted in Italy of Carrara marble-were installed in the church. High atop the main altar, which was dedicated to Our Lady of Częstochowa
Black Madonna of Czestochowa
The Black Madonna of Częstochowa is a revered icon of the Virgin Mary housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland.-The icon:The origins of the icon and the date of its composition are still hotly contested among scholars...
, was placed a copy of the celebrated "Black Madonna", the miraculous icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
ascribed to the evangelist
Four Evangelists
In Christian tradition the Four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors attributed with the creation of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following titles:*Gospel according to Matthew*Gospel according to Mark...
St. Luke. Shrines to Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe , also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe is a celebrated Catholic icon of the Virgin Mary.According to tradition, on December 9, 1531 Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, had a vision of a young woman while he was on a hill in the Tepeyac desert, near Mexico City. The lady...
and Our Lady of Ludźmierz were recently installed to celebrate the traditions of the parishes numerous Mexican and Góral
Goral
Goral may refer to:* Three species of Asian ungulates in the genus Naemorhedus.* The Gorals, a people living in southern Poland, northern Slovakia and the Czech Republic....
parishioners.
Patron
The parish is named in reverence to the shrine of the Black MadonnaBlack Madonna
A Black Madonna or Black Virgin is a statue or painting of the Virgin Mary in which the Virgin Mary is black. The term was especially applied to those created in Europe in the medieval period or earlier...
on Jasna Góra in Poland.
External links
See also
- Polish Cathedral stylePolish Cathedral styleThe Polish Cathedral architectural style is a North American genre of Catholic church architecture found throughout the Great Lakes and Middle Atlantic regions as well as in parts of New England...
churches of Chicago - Polish Americans
- Roman Catholicism in PolandRoman Catholicism in PolandEver since Poland officially adopted Latin Christianity in 966, the Catholic Church has played an important religious, cultural and political role in the country....
- Poles in ChicagoPoles in ChicagoChicago Polonia, refers to both immigrant Poles and Americans of Polish heritage living in Chicago, Illinois. They are a part of worldwide Polonia, the proper term for the Polish Diaspora outside of Poland. Poles in Chicago have contributed to the economic, social and cultural well-being of Chicago...