Pause for a moment and imagine the sounds of hammers. Imagine the pride of Polish immigrants echoing through the air. We are standing before Saint Michael Polish National Catholic Church. It is a testament to faith and community in Chicago.
Saint Michael Polish National Catholic Church stands as a reminder of the Polish immigrants. They sought solace and community in a new land. Founded in 1892 it addressed overcrowding at Immaculate Conception parish. The church quickly became a focal point for Polish steelworkers. They lived and worked in South Chicago.
Bishop Paul Peter Rhode served as pastor. He was the first Polish auxiliary bishop in Chicago. He led the congregation from 1897 until 1915. He later became bishop of Green Bay. Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki also served at Saint Michael’s. He was a priest and associate pastor here.
Note the architectural style of Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. It exemplifies the Polish Cathedral style with its grand scale. William J. Brinkmann designed it. Construction spanned from 1907 to 1909. The design pays homage to the Marian Basilica in Cracow. Notice the Gothic Revival facade and the uneven steeples.
U.S. Steel made a significant donation. The company provided steel for the structure. About 90% of the parishioners worked at the steel mills. The main altar reredos features butternut and bird’s eye maple wood. The central statue shows Michael the Archangel defeating Lucifer. Talented hands sculpted and painted it. The communion rail is carved in oak. A white marble top adds to its beauty. Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church could seat approximately 2,000 people.
Music enthusiasts might find this interesting. The church once housed a grand piano. Ignace Jan Paderewski the famed composer owned it. Inside the sanctuary, you will find a shrine. It is dedicated to the Black Madonna of Czestochowa. This is the National Patron of Poland. Craftsmen constructed it in Poland in the early 1960s.
The stained glass windows are stunning. F. X. Zettler of Munich Germany created them. The transept windows are especially noteworthy. The eastern window depicts the Pentecost event. The western transept window portrays Saint Michael at the Last Judgement.
Saint Michael Polish National Catholic Church closed in 2021. It remains a landmark. It is a symbol of Polish heritage in Chicago. It stands as a reminder of faith and community.