ST. STANISLAUS KOSTA PARISH: Faith-filled and dedicated Polish immigrants who settled in Winona in the middle 19th century planted the seeds for what would become the present Church of St. Stanislaus Kostka.
After crossing the Atlantic Ocean and following the route through New York and Saint Louis, the first polish settlers arrived in the Winona area as early as 1855. For the most part, they settled in the east end of Winona, building shelters on the open prairie. Despite poverty and hardships, the pioneers wrote such glowing descriptions of the area and its opportunities that within two years family and friends began to join them, initiating a great migration of Polish settlers which continued for more than thiry years. The majority of them emigrated in the 1870’s and 1880’s to avoid religious persecution following the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. The growing population was eager to form a church where they could worship and celebrate the sacraments in their own native tongue.
The immigrants, firm in their faith and loyal to their heritage, were eager to have a church where they could worship, celebrate the sacraments, and have the word of God preached to them in their native tongue and so, they lost no time in planning for a parish of their own. On April 2nd, 1871, The Polish community, now 100 families strong, decided to organize a parish under the name and patronage name of St. Stanislaus Kostka, a popular young saint of Poland. Determined to build a church as soon as possible, they immediately began to collect money to finance the new church. The response was so enthusiastic and generous that by May 9th of 1872 they were able to purchase two lots on the corner of Fourth and Carimona Streets. By 1872 a small wooden building was built at the cost of $950 with the corporate title of Church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka.
Due to an increase of Polish immigrants from the Kashubian region in Poland they were still coming to the area to escape economic, social, and religious persecution, the church building was soon outgrown. The need for a larger place of worship was evident and the congregation had to decide between forming a new parish on Winona’s west side or remaining one parish and building a larger church. The congregation then decided to build a structure large enough to not only meet the immediate needs, but the needs of the generations to come.
In April of 1894, plans for the new church building were obtained from the architects, Maybury and Son of Winona, for $400. The cornerstone of the present red brick and stone structure was laid on October 28th, 1894. Just over a year later----Thanksgiving Day of 1895----the beautiful and imposing church was dedicated. The church was designed in Romanesque-style in the form of a Greek cross. Evaluation of the building and its equipment was $86,000 !
Since then the structure has been well maintained, respecting it as both a historic building and a house of worship. In 1991-1992, extensive repair work was done on the outside of the church and the main dome and towers were covered with metal. The church has been modernized with the installation of an elevator, effective sound and air conditioning systems as well as improving the lighting. The interior greatly differs from the original because of renovations and timely changes made to enrich the liturgical and sacramental life of the parish following the Vatican Council II.
Diversity is another change: not all of today’s parishioners are of Polish heritage. But we are one in being grateful to the immigrant founders and as we ask God’s blessings on the parish of Saint Stanislaus we pray too that we will be faithful stewards of their heritage and gifts to us.
NOTES FROM THE PAST:
1873: The arrival of the first resident pastor, Rev. Joseph Juszkiewicz. He was followed by Rev. Alexander Michmowski; Rev. Romuald Byzewski; Rev. Stanislaus Baranowski; Rev. C. Domagalski; Rev. J. H. Cieszynski; Rev. Anthony Klawiter.
1894: On September 2nd The Rev. James W. J. Pacholski became pastor and served for more than 38 years until his sudden death in 1932. The church basement is named Pacholski Hall in his memory.
1920: On Thanksgiving Day the parish celebrated the silver anniversary of the dedication of the church which included the consecration of a marble altar with a baldacino supported by four pillars.
1966: On Sunday, June 5th, a powerful lightning bolt struck the dome of the church at 7:40 pm during a severe electric thunderstorm, causing heavy damage to the dome and the interior of the church. This bolt was one of at least four that struck buildings in Winona during a one-hour period as the storm thundered through the area. When the lightning bolt struck, the dome turned a brillant red; flames almost simultaneously shot out of the windows from the interior wooden framework. Later flames broke thorugh the metal sheath of the dome in two small areas. The building was saved and repair work was begun and completed with a open house on December 11th, 1966.
1971: The 100th year jubilee of the establishment of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish was observed and celebrated with a two-day celebration on May 16th and 17th.
1994: Refurbishing of the interior began in preparation for the 100th anniversary of the church building. The anniversary was celebrated on October 8th, 1995, with a Centennial Mass and rededication of the Church.
1995: A beautiful marble statue of the Pieta was installed
ST. JOHN NEPOMUCENE PARISH: St. John’s Parish has its roots early in the history of Winona. By 1860 a number of Bohemian families had come to Winona. They attended Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church whis was the "German Church" in town. The early Bohemian families settled in the east end of Winona and soon began to plan for a parish church where they might use their own language and enjoy customs familiar to them.
On May 19th, 1880 a meeting of "The Roman Catholic Bohemians of Winona" took place for the purpose of building a church and establishing a parish. Soon land was bought on the corner of Hamilton and Broadway. On March 24, 1886 the contract for the construction of the church was given to the John Pantzner Company for $4,325. The Church building was completed in 1887
The interior of the church resembled the artwork and furnishings of churches in Old Bohemia. There were many spires on the altars with angels and stars gilmmering in a blue sky above the main altar. A statue of St. John Nepomucene was placed on the main altar since he was designated patron of the parish. Various societies were formed to carry out the work of the parish. Father Charles Mikula was named first pastor. A choir was formed and the parish began a strong tradition of good music at the liturgy which continues to this day.
St. John Nepomucene School was built in 1888 as education was alway an important need for the Bohemians of Winona. Many of them sacrificed to great lengths in order to provide their children with high school and college educations. It was a small school but rated high in academic accomplishments. The school eventually was closed and parishioners send their children to WACS (Winona Area Catholic Schools), Cotter Junior High School, Cotter High School as well as to the Winona Area Public Schools. Religious education is held in conjunction with the program at St. Stanislaus Parish.
As the years continued, the parish grew and gradually became the parish for a diverse number of people. It continues today with many people in various volunteer roles making it a welcoming, lively and friendly parish. |
