Beneath the unassuming facade of an old church lies a vibrant history. Our Lady Queen of Poland/Saint Maxmilian Kolbe Parish is a paradox. It stands as a testament to faith, community, and the enduring spirit of Polish immigrants in the Washington D.C. area.
Established in 1983, Our Lady Queen of Poland is young for a Polish ethnic parish. Most Polish parishes sprouted between 1880 and 1920. This parish’s story intertwines with American Catholic history. The church sits in Forest Glen. Father John Carroll celebrated Mass here before becoming the first Catholic bishop in the United States in 1789.
A mission church thrived here under Jesuit care. In 1813, it became a mission of St. Mary’s Church in Rockville. A new chapel arose in 1850, named St. John’s Church. Father Charles Rosensteel emphasized the link to John Carroll in the late 19th century. He built the current stone church, completed in 1894. He served as pastor until 1936. His memory lives on through Rosensteel Avenue and the Father Rosensteel Council of the Knights of Columbus.
Today, the building serves two parishes. St. John the Evangelist built a new church nearby in 1962. The old St. John’s hosts the Saturday vigil Mass at 5:30 pm. Then came the Poles.
Washington D.C. never had a large Polish-American community like Chicago or Detroit. Poles came to those cities for factory jobs. Washington, however, is a government town. This shaped its Polish community. There are government employees, policy researchers and embassy staff.
In the 1960s and 70s, Washington Polonia gathered to celebrate Polish Constitution Day and the millennium of Polish Christianity. Father Phil Majka united Washington’s Polish Catholics. Visits by a Polish bishop changed everything.
Archbishop Karol Wojtyla of Krakow visited in 1969 and 1976. He discussed the need for pastoral care for the Polish community. He raised the issue with Cardinal William Baum. In 1977, a Polish Mission began. The Society of Christ, served the Polish diaspora. Old St. John’s was chosen as a permanent venue. Mass began there in 1977. The mission became Our Lady Queen of Poland Parish in 1983.
Saint Maximilian Kolbe became a co-patron. Pope John Paul II canonized him in 1982. Kolbe sacrificed his life for a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz. He died on August 14, 1941. Mary, Queen of Poland is the other patroness. In 1983, Poles celebrated the 300th anniversary of King John Sobieski’s victory over the Turks in Vienna. He prayed before the Black Madonna in Czestochowa. She was declared Queen of Poland in 1656.
Our Lady Queen of Poland Parish is vibrant. Washington Polonia gathers every Sunday. There are traditional Polish devotions. “Bitter Lamentations” is sung during Lent. St. Nicholas visits school children in Advent. You might see Lech Walesa praying during Polish holidays.
After Mass, people linger for coffee and news. Children play in the rectory. “A guest in the house is God in the house” says a Polish motto. Our Lady Queen of Poland celebrates American and immigrant heritage. The relics of Maximilian Kolbe toured the U.S. including a stop at Catholic University of America in Washington for several days. The reliquary holds strands from St. Maximilian’s beard. He grew it to help his missionary work in Japan. Our Lady Queen of Poland stands as a reminder of faith and sacrifice. It honors Polish heritage and welcomes all.