Does the skyline of Winona, Minnesota, capture your gaze? Here, we stand before St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. It’s more than bricks and mortar. It is a testament to faith and Polish heritage.
St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish formed in 1871. Winona’s Kashubian Polish community wanted to worship in their own language. They yearned for a Kashubian or Polish pastor. Before its establishment, they attended mass at Irish or German Catholic churches. The first wooden sanctuary appeared in 1872. It stood at Fourth and Carimona Streets.
From the start, St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish was a religious and civic hub. It was central to Winona’s Kashubian Poles. Reverend Joseph Juskiewicz was the first permanent pastor. Reverend Alexander Michnowski succeeded him in 1875. Then came Reverend Jan Romuald Byzewski. He served as pastor from 1875 to 1890. Byzewski was a Kashubian-born Franciscan. He emigrated from German Poland due to the Kulturkampf.
Winona grew quickly in the 1880s and 1890s. The Kashubian diaspora fueled this boom. By 1893, St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish outgrew its sanctuary. Some considered a new Polish parish on Winona’s West End. St. Casimir would arise there in 1906. But St. Stanislaus Kostka parishioners decided to build a grander church on their site. This showed their religious and civic pride.
The Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Kostka was designed in 1893-4. The Winona firm C.G. Maybury and Son created it. They chose the Polish Cathedral Style. Some say it has Romanesque elements. Reverend Antoni Klawiter directed the old church’s demolition in 1894. Parishioners worshiped at Saint John Nepomucene during construction. Reverend Jakub W.J. Pacholski laid the foundation stone on October 28, 1894. Bishop Joseph B. Cotter dedicated the Basilica on Thanksgiving Day 1895. The golden dome dominated Winona’s skyline. It testified to the Kashubian Polish community’s piety. They built it for the exorbitant cost of $86,000.
Inside St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, stained glass windows depict saints. Inscriptions are in Polish. In 1920, the parish celebrated the Basilica’s dedication. They consecrated a marble altar with a canopy. Marble pillars supported it. Reverend Jozef Cieminski also enhanced the Basilica. He added sanctuary furniture, confessionals, and a pipe organ. He landscaped the property too. Some original furnishings are now at the Polish Cultural Institute and Museum.
Lightning struck the Basilica’s dome on June 5, 1966. Flames erupted. The dome turned bright red. After repairs, the Basilica reopened on December 11, 1966. Another renovation occurred before the parish’s centennial in 1971. From 1991 to 1992, the dome and towers were covered in metal. It now seats 1085 people.
The National Register of Historic Places listed the Basilica in 1984. It recognized its architectural significance. It was a manifestation of Minnesota’s largest Polish American community. Pope Benedict XVI designated it a Minor Basilica on November 10, 2011.
St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish School began in the early 1880s. Reverend Byzewski founded it. The first school was a one-room building. Dominik Hamerski taught classes. By 1903, almost 700 students were enrolled. A new school was built in 1905. A modern school building replaced it in 1966. This modern school still serves St. Stanislaus Elementary School.
So, as we stand here, remember the generations who built this Basilica. Consider their faith and sacrifices. St. Stanislaus Catholic Church stands as a beacon of Polish heritage. It is a testament to the enduring power of community.