Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish - Golden Jubilee Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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1896 ' l ZL0 TY J Bl L E U SZ Parafii-Sw. Slanislawa Kostki ffl FOREWORD The fiftieth anniversary of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Brooklyn, N. Y., signifies not only a Golden Iubilee for the parish as such, but it is at the same time a historical milestone for the thousands of settlers from Poland, who came to these shores towards the turn of the last century. Driven from the land of their fathers by persecution or want, they came here and started what is now commonly known as a little Poland in Greenpoint, a segment of American Society, faithful to the land of their adoption, yet conscious of their own glorious past. The beginnings of the parish reach back to the last decade of the 19th cen- tury when immigration from Poland was at its highest. Poland was then a par- titioned country, whose tyrannical masters, either by persecution of rel.gion and race or by ruthless economic discrimination, made normal life impossible for their subjects. Hence they came in great numbers and migrated throughout the country to begin here a better life. Quite a few remained right here in New York and Brooklyn and began to organize for their mutual assistance. None of them spoke English, in fact, because of their Slavic background, they found it all but impossible to master 'the new languageg a great many could hardly read and write. Their former governments in order to stem the tide of mass emigration tried to discredit them in the eyes of the American public and made them appear as an inferior race. lt is not surprising that they, there- fore, grouped together for self protection and held on to their tongue as this was the only means of survival in the new environment. Since all were Catholics, for reasons both religious and economic, they immediately organized parishes. Their parish priests became their spiritual and civic leaders. They built churches and schools and initiated societies of all sorts which took care of their various needs and enabled them to enjoy a normal existence. The Polish settlers of New York founded the parish of St. Stanislaus B. and M., those of Brooklyn the parish of St. Casimir. But immigra- tion continued to other parts of the city. Within the period of a few years the Rev. Leo Wysiecki, pastor at St. Casimir's, organized the parish of Our Lady of Czestochowa in So. Brooklyn and almost simultaneuosly in 1896 by per- mission of Bishop S. E. Donnell laid the foundations of ST. STANISLAUS KOSTKA in Greenpoint. T ln November of this year St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish will observe its Golden Iubilee. lt is the purpose of this book to give a faithful picture of the beginnings of the parish, of its phenomenal growth and of its various achievements. ln the first place thanks must be given to Almighty God for the many and mani- fold blessings he so abundantly showered upon this parish for the past fifty years. Furthermore, acknowledgement and appreciation is due the peoplej living and dead, who labored hard and contributed to their utmost not only at the time of the establishment of the parish but also throughout the years of its glorious development to its present dimensions. We issue this volume in tribute to them and with thanksgiving to the Lord, who crowned their efforts with such success. The editors of the Golden Iubilee Book -20 -.

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Gl6wny Oltcxrz w Starym Koiciele The Main Altar in the Old Church

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x A 4 if 31 5, 5-ff ..,f ,S Wngtrze Koisciola Interior of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church