The cornerstone of faith was laid in 1938. A tall cross marked the spot where the Church of the Holy Family would rise. This wasn’t just any church. It’s a story etched in resilience and faith.
The Church of the Holy Family stands before you today a testament to the unwavering spirit of Zacisze’s residents. Zygmunt Jorski a landowner generously donated the land before World War II. The first mass was celebrated by Father Jan Sitnik. This marked the consecration of the church grounds. The dream of a church was born. More and more families settled in Zacisze fueling the desire for a place of worship.
The war tragically interrupted the collection of building materials. But after the war the dream was reignited. In 1948 the Warsaw Metropolitan Curia approved the construction of a chapel. A committee led by Father Stanislaw Sobczak took charge. They managed to acquire a wooden military barrack from Wroclaw. Local carpenters transformed it into a 30-meter-long chapel. It was 12 meters wide and 5 meters high.
Within weeks a temporary wooden chapel stood on a foundation. A white brick facade was added. Bishop Zygmunt Choromanski consecrated the cherished chapel on December 12 1948. The Holy Family parish was established. Father Stefan Sydry became its first pastor.
A rectory was built in 1950. A small organ loft followed two years later. A parish house was constructed in 1961 thanks to the parishioners’ initiative. Between 1997 and 2002 the old rectory and parish house were extensively renovated.
Obtaining permission to build a new church proved challenging. The temporary chapel underwent major renovations twice. Its modest interior remained largely unchanged. It remained so from 1948 to 1969. That year major reconstruction began. In 1958 a painting of the Holy Family by artist Antoni Michalak adorned the altar. That same year the parish received permission for renovations.
The wooden chapel was encased in brick up to 4.7 meters. Buttresses were added for support. In 1972 higher ceilings were installed. From 1969 to 1975 the church underwent significant changes. The walls were raised to 6.5 meters. The wooden roof was replaced with a reinforced concrete ceiling supported by eight pillars. New windows and iron grilles were installed. The choir and sacristy were also rebuilt.
The renovations continued under the difficult conditions of the Polish People’s Republic. The entire church was plastered. Oak doors were installed. The external buttresses were rebuilt. The church including the attic reached a height of 7 meters.
Despite numerous obstacles the external structure and interior did not reflect a distinct architectural style. The rebuilt church consists of a presbytery and three naves separated by two rows of pillars. It could accommodate approximately 700 people. Oak pews were placed in the main nave side aisles and the presbytery.
Father Andrzej Mazanski became the pastor in 1995. He oversaw the extensive renovations of the rectory and parish house from 1997 to 2002. In 2008 a plan for church expansion was created. The church commission however requested a new church on entirely new foundations. The new design was completed by local parishioner architect Teresa Kłębkowska-Reńska in collaboration with Grzegorz Filip.
In 2010 the architecture department approved the project. Father Mazanski celebrated the final mass in the old church on July 26 2010. Construction of the magnificent new church began on August 4 2010. Parishioner Zbigniew Dłużewski’s firm was the main contractor. Father Mazanski laid the first brick.
Parishioners participated in every stage of the construction primarily through prayer. Their dedication led to remarkably swift completion. The church was put into use on December 12 2012. This was the anniversary of the parish’s founding.
The consecration of the new church in 2017 marked the culmination of years of effort. It represents the enduring faith of Zacisze’s residents. This church stands as a lasting legacy their shared gift celebrating the 70th anniversary of the parish’s establishment.