Did you know Saint Adalbert’s Church in the Bronx served Polish immigrants? It stands as a testament to their faith and community. The Polish Church of Saint Adalbert sits in Melrose. Its address is East 156 Street west of Elton Avenue. The church has been there since 1899.
Saint Adalbert’s Church history began a couple of years earlier. The parish was established in 1897. Its first location was at 150th Street and Robbins Avenue. It moved to its current spot in 1899. Some records show the parish started in 1898 instead. It became a national parish. Its purpose was to minister to Polish immigrants. They were settling in the area.
In 1919, Rev. Francis Mylanarski arrived. He was an armed forces chaplain. He had been at St. Stanislaus in Manhattan.
The parish of Saint Adalbert’s Church is now closed. In 2008, it disappeared from the archdiocese’s list. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal may use some buildings.
Saint Adalbert’s Church is one of two Roman Catholic Churches with the same name in New York City. The other one is located in Queens. The Saint Adalbert Roman Catholic Church is located at 52-29 83rd Street in Elmhurst, Queens, New York. It was founded in November 1892. It primarily served immigrants from Poland. These immigrants settled in Elmhurst. They also settled in Maspeth.
Saint Adalbert’s Parish in Queens is the oldest Polish parish in Queens. It is the fourth oldest Polish parish in New York. Father Jozef Fyda prepared for the new parish in December 1891. Bishop John Loughlin suggested it.
On March 1, 1892, the Society of St. Adalbert formed. Father Fyda became its chaplain. The society had fifty members. They decided to create Saint Adalbert’s Parish. A meeting occurred in St. Mary’s Parish. It was in Winfield, now Woodside, Queens. Father Fyda handled the formalities. He became the parish’s first Pastor in March 1892.
Parishioners helped Father Fyda. He raised funds to buy land. Mrs. Julianne Berheimer sold the land in Newtown, now Elmhurst, Queens. After eight months, they built a small wooden church and rectory. Bishop Charles McDonnell blessed the new church on November 13, 1892.
Initially, Saint Adalbert’s Parish had thirty-five Polish families. More Poles came as they learned about the church. They could pray in their language there. They came from Maspeth and Flushing. They came from Bayside and Blissville. People arrived from Winfield and Jamaica. Others came from Floral Park and Hempstead. Some traveled from Mineola.
As Saint Adalbert’s grew, they needed a school. Children could learn their Catholic faith there. They could also learn Polish culture. An elementary school opened on November 18, 1892. It initially had four grades. In 1914, it expanded to eight grades. Classes were in the church’s basement. Mr. Trynicki was the first teacher. The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth joined in 1896. They continue to teach there. In 1921, they built a school building. A new rectory followed in 1925.
Father Fyda resigned in 1896. Father Boleslaw Puchalski replaced him. Bishop McDonnell entrusted Saint Adalbert’s to the Conventual Franciscans. Father Feliks Baran became the first Franciscan Pastor. He served from 1896 to 1906.
In 1947, under Father Jerzy Roskwitalski, they decided to build a masonry church. Anthony DePace was the architect. Bishop Thomas Molloy blessed the new Saint Adalbert’s Church on July 3, 1949.
Saint Adalbert’s Parish in Elmhurst celebrated its 125th anniversary. Bishop Witold Mroziewski celebrated the Jubilee Year in 2016. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio celebrated the Jubilee Mass in 2017. The celebration was followed by a Gala at the Royal Elite Palace in Woodside. The current Pastor is Father Miroslaw Podymniak. He was installed on March 1, 2015.