About Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish:
The parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka opened in 1867. Bishop Foley put the Resurrection Fathers in charge of the growing parish in 1871. As the flow of Polish immigrants continued into the neighborhood, a larger church was needed. The cornerstone of the present church building was laid in 1877 and the church was dedicated in 1881.
By 1897, St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish was the largest parish in the United States, with 8,000 families, totaling 40,000 people. There were twelve Masses each Sunday: six Masses in the upper church and another six Masses in the lower church. St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish is considered the mother church of the many Polish parishes founded by Fr. Vincent Barzynski, C.R., during his pastorate (1874-1899).
Above the high altar you can see the magnificent mural painted by the renowned creator, Tadeusz Zukotynski, in 1899. It had darkened over time, but recently has been beautifully restored to its former glory.
In the early 1950’s, the church was slated to be razed to make room for the Kennedy Expressway, but due to protests by the Polish community and the work of legislators like U.S. Representative Daniel Rostenkowski, the path of the expressway was altered and the church was saved.
Today, the parish continues to serve the spiritual needs of parishioners who come from a wide geographic area and include many different ethnic groups. Masses are said in English, Spanish and Polish. The parish continues to operate an elementary school, as well as, a strong religious education program. In September, 2011, St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish began a project of essential repair and restoration of the church building. The vision is that the parish will continue to be a beacon of hope for the next generations of Catholics of Chicago.
The Sanctuary of Divine Mercy:
In 2007, Cardinal Francis George designated St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish as the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Chicago and, in 2008, he blessed the iconic Monstrance, Our Lady of the Sign-Ark of Mercy.
The Shrine has Perpetual Adoration…24 hours per day, 7 days a week, which draws many people to the Shrine . Please note that the Blessed Sacrament is reposed during the celebration of the Mass.
Finding Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish:
Address: 1327 N. Noble St. (1 Block West of the Kennedy at Division St.), Chicago, IL 60642
Parish Office: 1351 W. Evergreen Ave., Chicago, IL 60642
Tel: +1 773-278-2470 Fax: +1 773-278-9550
email: use contact form on their website
Click here for the official website of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Chicago.
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Photos courtesy Saint Stanislaus Kostka parish.
