Didn’t the families of the Gorki district deserve their own place to worship? These Galician Poles lived on the east side of Main-Lamphere Street in Dunkirk. For about fifty years they traveled to St. Hyacinth’s on Lake Shore Drive. The trip was dangerous. They had to walk over active railroad lines. More and more children risked their lives daily walking to school. The families started discussing creating their own parish.
Let me tell you the story of Saint Hedwig Roman Catholic Church. It began with a dangerous trek and a community’s determination.
In August 1902, a committee asked Bishop Colton to create a second Polish parish in Dunkirk. Michael Czysz, Casimir Stecki and John Gollon headed the committee. The bishop recognized the danger of the journey to church. He approved the request and Saint Hedwig’s was born. Bishop Colton sent Father Peter Szulc to take control of the new parish. Father Szulc bought a piece of property that was part of the Heyman Farm.
The first Masses of Saint Hedwig’s were held at St. Hyacinth’s church. Meanwhile, they built a temporary church. Bishop Quigley dedicated it on January 9, 1903.
Father Szulc was sent to Lackawanna in April to start St. Barbara’s. Father Thomas Stabenau took over Saint Hedwig’s. He began raising money for a permanent building. It would serve as both a church and a school. On July 4, 1904, priests from around the diocese came to Dunkirk. Bishop Colton blessed the cornerstone. Reverend John Pitass of Buffalo’s St. Stanislaus parish gave a sermon. By spring 1905, Peter Meister & Sons finished the masonry work. Frank L. Kolpien completed the carpentry. On May 30, the completed Saint Hedwig’s church and school was dedicated. In September, two Felician Sisters arrived. They began teaching 153 students in the school.
The congregation didn’t enjoy their new church for long. A fire decimated the building on December 29, 1905. Father Stabenau immediately started construction on the third Saint Hedwig’s. The budget was $16,950. E. J. Bailey of Brocton built a second combination building. The church was on the upper floor and the school on the first. The dedication took place on June 9, 1907.
In 1908, Misters Nowak, Graminski, Kozlowski, and Michalak worked to establish a parish cemetery. They purchased a site on Bennett Road in 1912. Franciszek Boldt was the first burial. It took decades for Saint Hedwig’s to pay off the debt from constructing multiple churches.
Despite not being a large parish, Saint Hedwig’s supported many organizations. These were religious and civic groups. As early as 1905, the parish had its own band. Soon it had branches of the Polish Roman Catholic Union, Polish National Alliance, and Polish Union. Many of these groups formed the Kosciuszko Polish Home Association in 1920. They had a clubhouse on Nevins Street.
Seventy years after it was established, Saint Hedwig’s built a fourth church. On May 21, 1972, they broke ground for a new church. It was completed for an Easter 1973 opening Mass. Around the same time, the parish school closed. But not before graduating Sophie Hodorowicz Knab. She became a bestselling author and Polish folklorist.
In 2008, Saint Hedwig’s and St. Hyacinth’s parishes were joined. It was part of diocesan restructuring. They created a new parish named Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska. The new parish uses both worship sites.
Saint Hedwig Roman Catholic Church stands as a testament. It shows the enduring spirit of a community. They overcame obstacles to create a place of worship and education. Its history reflects faith, resilience, and the strength of Polish heritage.