St. Stanislaus Kostka
Catholic Church
History of St. Stanislaus Parish
In the second half of the nineteenth century, Polish refugees who escaped Prussian domination settled in
Bay City. In 1874 they formed a society under the patronage of Saint Stanislaus Kostka of Poland.
To fill the needs of this Polish-speaking community, a wooden church was built and dedicated on December 13, 1874.
During the pastorate of Father Marian Matkowski, this grand
Neo-Gothic church was erected at a cost of over $60,000. The cornerstone was blessed on June 24, 1890, and the church was dedicated
on July 17, 1892 by Bishop Henry J. Richter of Grand Rapids.
Later additions to the parish included a convent built in 1927, a rectory, a high school built in 1951, and a grade school. In the 1980's, a portion of the rectory was sectioned off for use by the remaining nuns, and the convent was demolished.
In the Spring of 2007, the Parish began construction of a new Parish Center, as well as site improvements and parking upgrades. As part of the Parish Campus Project, the High School building housing the former parish offices was demolished, to be replaced with additional parking. While the new Parish Center is now open, the final site work for the project is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2008.
St. Stanislaus Church itself is a registered Michigan Historic Site. Click on the picture at left to view a larger image of the historic marker, which is marked in both Polish and English.
During the pastorate of Father Marian Matkowski, this grand
Neo-Gothic church was erected at a cost of over $60,000. The cornerstone was blessed on June 24, 1890, and the church was dedicated
on July 17, 1892 by Bishop Henry J. Richter of Grand Rapids.Later additions to the parish included a convent built in 1927, a rectory, a high school built in 1951, and a grade school. In the 1980's, a portion of the rectory was sectioned off for use by the remaining nuns, and the convent was demolished.
In the Spring of 2007, the Parish began construction of a new Parish Center, as well as site improvements and parking upgrades. As part of the Parish Campus Project, the High School building housing the former parish offices was demolished, to be replaced with additional parking. While the new Parish Center is now open, the final site work for the project is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2008.
St. Stanislaus Church itself is a registered Michigan Historic Site. Click on the picture at left to view a larger image of the historic marker, which is marked in both Polish and English.
Stanislaus (Stanislaw), the second son of Malgorzata and Jan Kostka, a Polish nobleman born in Rostkow, Poland in 1550. At the age of 14, he was sent with his older brother to study at the Jesuit College, in Vienna. There he experienced much suffering due to mistreatment by his brother.
Stanislaus became very ill, and prayed to St. Barbara to help him. He had a vision in which angels brought Communion to him. The Blessed Virgin Mary cured him and asked him to become a priest in the Society of Jesus.
He left Vienna, secretly, because his father did not want him to become a priest. He walked first to Upper Germany, where St. Peter Canisius (who feared Stanislaus' father), sent him to Rome. St. Francis Borgia, General of the Society, admitted him into the order in 1567. Those who knew Stanislaus, said he performed even ordinary every day tasks in an extraordinary manner.
His novitiate was destined to last only nine months. He died August 15, 1568 in Rome. Stanislaus was buried in a chapel to the left from the main altar in the church of St. Andrew on the Quirinal Hill. He was canonized in 1726: named one of the Patrons of Poland and special Patron of youth. He became a patron saint of Polish immigrants undergoing long journeys through unknown lands.
