St. Stanislaus Kostka Sharon PA

St. Stanislaus Kostka is a Roman Catholic church in Sharon, Pennsylvania.

We are a fellowship of believers, made in God's image and called as disciples of Christ to share the Good News with everyone through learning, listening, praying and working together actively to reach out to our communities.

We are a place to believe, belong, and become!

 

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A Brief History of St. Stanislaus Kostka Churchof Sharon, Pennsylvania.

50TH Anniversary 1931-1981 St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Sharon, PA. CAP at Orchard Lake.

Chapter I "In the beginning" 1931-1941

The parish was founded in June, 1931, after an agreement was made between Rev. Francis Bolek (a Professor of Languages at Alliance College in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania) and a church committee to incorporate and obtain a charter, following appeals from families of Polish-American descent that were settling in great numbers near and about Sharon and Farrell, Pennsylvania. Families that had need for prayers in the language of their forefathers.

Rev. Francis Bolek, a dedicated priest, who fervently worked for the prayerful spiritual growth of his parishioners, was named Administrator and the following church committee elected: Michael Holodnik, John Smolewski, Stanley Juchniewicz, Francis Wlodarski, Jacob Fil, John Brys, Paul Listo-pad, Stanley Szmyd and Hyacinth Karolewski.

A church was bought June 1,1931 at the corner of Spruce and King Streets. Slow restoration of the church lasted many years for Fr. Bolek's first priority was a great stress on education, both religious and secular.

November 4,1931, a cemetery, four-acre plot in Hickory Township, was purchased to bury the de-ceased parishioners.

In 1932 a rectory was erected adjacent to the church.

Chapter II "As it was" 1941-1966

The Coming of the Franciscan Fathers.

Through the efforts of the Very Rev. Lawrence M. Cyman, Order of Friars Minor Conventual, Pro-vincial of St. Anthony Province, with the approval of His Excellency The Most Reverend John Mark Gannon, Bishop of Erie, the Franciscan Friars took charge of the Parish July 1,1941. The Very Rev.Giles Kaczmarek was appointed as the first Franciscan pastor to help unify the parish with the Dio-cese of Erie.

After the burning of a $10,000 mortgage, Fr. Giles was succeeded by Rev. Fulgence Gorczyca in 1944.

June 7,1947, St. Stanislaus Kostka stood in the path of a devastating tornado that passed through the city. Although six windows were broken and the roof damaged by flying slates, the rest of the church was miraculously spared. A program of renovation followed.

Rev. Benign Ziemski assumed duties in 1948 followed by Fr. Hugo Bigosinski in 1952. Two years later Fr. Hugo was called to his eternal rest on August 3, 1954. He was succeeded by Fr. Cornelius Zak.

On January 18, 1960, Fr. Josephat Piasta was named pastor. The parish celebrated the 30th Anni-versary of St. Stanislaus Kostka (1931-1961) on June 11, 1961, with a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving and a festive banquet in the evening.

On January 9, 1965, a searing fire erupted within the confines of the confessional and the Baptis-mal font near the church entrance. A destructive, singeing smoke caused ruinous damage to the statues, lights and pews. Damage ran into the thousands of dollars. The priests cancelled masses for its 967 members. Regular Sunday masses were held at the Knights of Columbus Hall on East State Street, Sharon, Pennsylvania.

Chapter III "As it is" 1966-1981

The new church was erected in 1966 and Fr. Claude Iskrzak assumed pastoral duties in 1967. Six years later, May 20, 1973, a mortgage burning-liquidation of debts was celebrated by the parishioners.

That same year, 1973, Rev. Francis Kasprzak became pastor. His untimely death on September 7, 1974, saddened all who knew him.

Fr. Valentine Rajter succeeded in 1974 of the same year.

In March, 1976, Rev. Walter Mruk became the new pastor and in April, 1976, Fr. Clement Jarnot joined him as associate pastor.

Organizational additions and changes were brought into the parish life:

Formal establishment of Parish Advisory Council. Fifteen members inclusive. Five members ap-pointed by the Pastor, five members selected from parish organizations, and five members elected by the parishioners.

From: http://www.polisharchives.com/media/parish_pdf/E/e-9.1.pdf