Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus |
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 Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus
Location in Ohio
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| 41°27′32″N 81°38′40″W / 41.458800°N 81.644575°W | |
| Location | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St. Stanislaus of Szczepanów |
| Dedicated | November 15, 1891 |
| Relics held | St. Stanislaus of Szczepanów, True Cross, St. Anthony, St. Bonaventure, St. Clare, St. Francis, St. Gemma, St. George, St. Gerard, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Ivan, St. James, St. John Vianney, St. Joseph of Leonessa, St. Julian, St. Lawrence, St. Louis, St. Nicasius, St. Pius X, St. Sebastian, St. Theodosius, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, mitre of Pope John Paul II |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Polish Cathedral style |
| Groundbreaking | 1886 |
| Completed | 1891 |
| Construction cost | $150,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 200 ft (61 m) |
| Width | 85 ft (26 m) |
| Nave width | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Other dimensions | 67 ft (20 m) ceilings |
| Number of spires | 2 |
| Spire height | built:232 ft (71 m) rebuilt:122 ft (37 m) |
| Materials | Locally made warm red brick and dressed stone. |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Cleveland |
| Province | Cincinnati |
The Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus is a Catholic church in Cleveland, Ohio. It is a very important place for Polish people in Cleveland, especially those whose families came from Warsaw. Many call it the "mother church" for the Polish community in the city.
The church is located in a part of Cleveland once known as Warszawa, which is now called Slavic Village. Both the church building and the neighborhood are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning they are important historical sites. The church and its school buildings are also recognized as a Cleveland Designated Landmark.
Contents
History of St. Stanislaus Church
The story of Polish Catholic families coming to Cleveland began in 1868. By 1873, there were enough families that the local bishop, Richard Gilmour, decided they needed their own church community. Since they were new and didn't have much money, they were allowed to use St. Mary's on the Flats, which was Cleveland's first Catholic church building. Polish Catholics used this church from 1872 to 1879.
How the Church Started
The St. Stanislaus community officially began in 1873. At first, priests from other areas helped care for the Polish-speaking Catholics. Father John A. Marschal became the first resident pastor for the Polish community in 1877.
In 1879, Father Wolfgang Janietz took over. By this time, St. Mary's on the Flats was no longer suitable for use. So, Father Janietz arranged for the Polish community to use the Franciscan Monastery Chapel.
Building the First Church
In August 1881, the church bought land where many Polish families had settled. This area was close to the Cleveland Rolling Mills, where many people worked. The land cost $3,000 and had plenty of space for church buildings.
Father Janietz built a simple wooden building on this land. The top floor was used as a temporary church, and the bottom floor was a school. This building cost $4,600 and was dedicated on November 13, 1881. The next year, the church was made bigger to fit the growing number of families.
Growth and New Parishes
In 1883, the St. Stanislaus parish had about 200 families. A school was opened at the same time as the first church. By 1903, about 1,000 students attended the school, which was run by the Sisters of St. Francis.
As the Polish community grew, some families lived too far from St. Stanislaus. In 1889, some parishioners left to form Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. In 1891, another group formed St. Casimir Church in a different part of Cleveland.
Challenges and Changes
After Father Kolaszewski left in 1892, Father Benedict Rosinski became the new pastor. He worked hard to manage the church's finances and reduce its debt.
In 1894, some former parishioners started a separate church called Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This church later joined the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland in 1908.
The 20th Century and Beyond
On April 21, 1909, a tornado hit the church and destroyed its two tall spires. They were quickly rebuilt within a year. The original spires were 232 feet tall, but the rebuilt ones are 122 feet tall.
In 1962, St. Stanislaus built a new social center and gym. In 1968, Cleveland Central Catholic High School was started at the parish. Both Cleveland Central Catholic and St. Stanislaus School hold church services in the main church building. In 1969, Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, who later became Pope John Paul II, visited the parish.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1976.
Recent Times
In 2004, St. Stanislaus finished a big renovation of the church's inside, costing $1.4 million. On May 8, 2004, it was rededicated as the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus.
In 2008, the care of the parish was transferred to a different group of the Franciscan Order, the Polish-American province.
In April 2007, some church members traveled to Kraków, Poland. They brought back a special painting called an icon of St. Stanislaus with Pope John Paul II. On April 29, 2011, a golden halo was added to John Paul's head in the icon. This was just before he was declared "Blessed" on May 1, 2011.
In 2011, after 105 years, the Franciscan order left the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus because they had fewer members.
Church Architecture and Design
The land for the church was bought in August 1881. It cost $3,000 and was a large square area with enough room for all the church buildings.
The Present Church Building
In August 1886, construction began on the foundation for the current church. It measures 85 feet wide by 200 feet long. The church was built using warm red bricks made locally and dressed stone. It was completed and dedicated on November 15, 1891.
The church is known for its beautiful Gothic architecture. It was one of the largest and most beautiful churches in the area when it was built. It cost nearly $150,000, which included the altars, pews, and statues. Some sources say it cost $250,000.
A historian named John Grabowski described the church as the largest Gothic church ever built by Catholics in Ohio. He also noted that it was second in size only to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York among Gothic churches built by Catholics in America. He said it was a symbol of the Polish people who paid for it with money earned from hard work.
In 1958, the walls of the church were repainted with new frescoes.
Special Relics and Art
In November 2010, the church hosted a special visit as part of an art exhibit. This visit highlighted the church's art and its relics. Relics are special objects connected to saints or holy events.
The church has many relics, including:
- A small piece of the True Cross.
- Relics of St. Stanislaus of Szczepanów.
- Relics of other saints like St. Anthony, St. Bonaventure, St. Clare, St. Francis, St. Gemma, St. John Vianney, and Pope Pius X.
- A mitre (a special hat worn by bishops) that belonged to Blessed John Paul II.
These relics are placed in different parts of the church, including near the entrance, in the main altar, and in a special shrine area.
See also
- List of Registered Historic Places in Cleveland, Ohio
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Church
- St. Casimir Church
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
