THE HISTORY OF SACRED HEART PARISH 50th Anniversary Sacred Heart Church, Chicago, p ; 33-38

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1 THE HISTORY OF SACRED HEART PARISH 50th Anniversary Sacred Heart Church, Chicago, p ; THE BIRTH AND GROWTH OF OUR PARISH The History Book of Sacred Heart Parish opens with a letter dated July 1, It was written by the Archbishop of Chicago, His Excellency James E. Quigley, to the Reverend Francis J. Karabasz, at that time assistant pastor of St. Peter and Paul Church. This letter reads as follows: ARCHBISHOP QUIGLEY'S LETTER My Dear Father Karabasz: I hereby appoint you to organize a new parish in the present territory of St. Joseph's Parish. The limits of this new parish will be announced after consultation with the Committee on Division of Parishes and the Rev. Pastor of St. Joseph's. You may begin work at once so as to be able to report to me your views of what the boundaries should be at your earliest convenience. You may take up your residence at St. Joseph's with Father Cholewiński, or remain where you are until you shall have provided a church and a residence for yourself in the new territory. I am very glad to be able to appoint you to this new parish because I am sure that you will be acceptable to the people of the territory and the new pastor of St. Joseph's. Wishing you the blessings of God and much success, I remain, Yours truly in Christ, J. E. Quigley, Archbishop. ESTABLISHING A NEW PARISH Upon receiving this letter, Father Karabasz asked the newly appointed pastor of St. Joseph's, the Reverend Stanislaus Cholewiński, for temporary residence at that rectory. He was graciously received at St. Joseph's, and from there began the job of organizing the new parish. Soon the following boundaries for the new parish were defined: 47th Street on the South, 43rd Street on the North, Ashland Avenue on the East, and Western Avenue on the West. At the request of Father Karabasz, the Archbishop gladly permitted that the new Parish be named and have for its patron the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Then the actual work of establishing the parish began. The first step was to select and obtain a site for the parish building. The only suitable site available was a tract of land consisting of 19 lots on 1

2 Wolcott, 46th and Honore Streets. There already were five homes on this site which were purchased together with the lots for $26, It was decided that the first building to be erected on the newly purchased site would be a combination Church and School. A census showed that there were some 660 families and about the same number of children of school age. From these figures it was decided that the Church should have a seating capacity of about 1000, and that the School consist of 10 class rooms. Then Mr. John Flizikowski was hired as the architect for the new building. FIRST PARISH MEETING AT ST. JOSEPH'S After these preparations Father Karabasz requested of the pastor of St. Joseph's the use of that Church for the parishioners of Sacred Heart. Once again Father Cholewinski graciously co-operated and allowed the nine o'clock Mass on Sundays to be celebrated for the newly formed neighboring parish of Sacred Heart. This arrangement was announced on August 7, and on that same day a meeting of Sacred Heart parishioners was held. At this first official meeting of Sacred Heart Parish, the Archbishop's letter was read, and the parishioners were informed of the preliminary work already accomplished: the setting of the parish boundaries, the selection and purchase of the site for the parish buildings, the plans for the new Church and School. To help Father Karabasz in his work, a Parish Committee and Church Ushers were selected. The following men, then, served on the first Parish Committee fifty years ago: Thomas Bartkowiak, John Brzezinski, Konstanty Czapek, Andrew Kozlowski, Jacob Pacer. CONSTRUCTION OF FIRST PARISH BUILDINGS In the meantime the architect's plans were drawn up, and after their approval by the Archbishop, the actual work on the construction of the building started on the 17th of September, Within one month the foundation was completed, and on October 9, 1910 the corner-stone was blessed and put into place by His Excellency, Bishop Paul Rhode. In order to keep a watchful eye on the progress of the construction, and to be able to consult with the contractors regularly, Father Karabasz decided to move closer to the center of activity. He had two of the small homes from the original purchase combined to form the first Sacred Heart Rectory, located at 4613 South Wolcott. He moved into his own home on October 1, 1910, where he lived until 1915 when a new rectory was built at the cost of $24,500. It was hoped that the Church building would be sufficiently completed by Christmas of that year to allow for the celebration of Holy Mass on that Holyday. But obstacles in the form of inclement weather and in the supply of building material delayed construction. So the Sacred Heart parishioners had to celebrate their first Christmas in their mother Church of St. Joseph. NEW CHURCH OPENS FOR SERVICES It was not until a few months later that the church part of the new building was suitably finished for Divine Services. And so on March 19, 1911 the Reverend Pastor, with the permission of Archbishop Quigley, privately blessed his church and was able to celebrate Holy Mass for the first time in Sacred Heart Church for his parishioners. 2

3 The official and solemn blessing of the new Sacred Heart Church and its bells took place on May 28, Once again Bishop Rhode officiated. A PLACE OF WORSHIP Thus the new Sacred Heart really and truly be comes a Home of God, an Abode of Our Savior, a House of Prayer. Here the parishioners gathered regularly and united themselves with Our Savior in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Here they gave appropriate worship to Almighty God; here they thanked Him for all blessings received; here they atoned for their sins, and petitioned graces necessary for salvation. To this Church the parishioners came in order to offer their homage and love to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, and to beseech His Sacred Heart, always full of goodness and love, always enriching those who invoke Him, for all kinds of graces, and to thank Him for those already received. Here they sought God's Mercy for the forgiveness of their offenses; here in Holy Communion they nourished their souls with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and thus fortified themselves to remain on the narrow path leading to Heaven. PARISH SOCIETIES AND LODGES Here in our Church the people united themselves in various pious societies and sodalities to be able more readily to give greater honor and glory to God, to show Jesus and Mary special reverence and love. Here also were organized some twenty lodges of fraternal organizations for mutual help in life and in death. SOCIAL ACTIVITIES The parish hall became the center of social life. Often on its stage there were presented educational and entertaining programs. Frequently it was the setting for the celebration of our national and historical observances, as well as for legitimate recreation and amusements. PARISHIONERS SUPPORT NEW CHURCH As to the material needs of Sacred Heart Church, the parishioners from the very beginning showed spledid co-operation. They never refused to do their part to beautify their church. They made generous donations for the purchase of an organ, for the stained glass widows, for painting and decorating, for various improvments throughout these fifty years. In a word, they were always solicitous for their Church, that it may truly be the Home of God, the Dwelling-Place of their Savior. 3

4 PRIESTS FROM SACRED HEART PARISH REV. JOSEPH BARTKOWIAK Ordained: February 25, 1923 REV. EDWARD SKROCKI Ordained: July 13, 1931 REV. JOSEPH GIERUT, Ph.D. Ordained: May 22, 1932 REV. ANDREW TOPOR Ordained: June 10, 1933 REV. JOSEPH BUCZYNA Ordained: June 6, 1936 REV. STANISLAUS WOJCIECHOWSKI Ordained: August 15, 1937 REV. JOSEPH MROWCA Ordained: May 8, 1938 REV. LADISLAUS JANIK, OFM Ordained: June 22,

5 REV. CASIMIR KRAUKLIS Ordained: June 20, 1940 REV. AUGUST WAJKUS Ordained: October 18, 1945 REV. JEROME STANISZEWSKI, OFM Ordained: May 22, 1948 REV. CASIMIR GIERUT Ordained: April 17, 1949 REV. JOHN KWAK Ordained: May 13, 1951 REV. STANLEY ORLIKIEWICZ Ordained: May 31, 1953 REV. THEOPHILUS CHOWANIEC, OFM Ordained: June 14, 1956 REV. MATT SIENKIEWICZ Ordained: May 30, 1959 REV. THADDEUS KWAK Ordained: May 30,

6 SISTERS FROM OUR PARISH SISTER MARY MITCHELL SISTER MARY GAUDENTA SISTER MARY ROSALIA SISTER MARY MARCIANNA SISTER MARY ZITA SISTER MARY HORTULANA SISTER MARY AGNETTA SISTER MARY GERVASE SISTER MARY SALOMEA SISTER MARY EDWARD SISTER MARY GIEDYMINE SISTER MARY SEVERINA SISTER MARY MARCILIA SISTER MARY BONA SISTER MARY MERCEDES SISTER MARY STANISIA SISTER MARY LORETTA SISTER MARY DOSITHEA SISTER MARY MERICIA SISTER MARY THEODORETTA SISTER MARY LUCRETIA SISTER MARY CYPRIAN SISTER MARY ROSARIA SISTER MARY DEICOLA SISTER MARY TERENIA SISTER MARY DULCIOSA SISTER MARY ORENCIA SISTER MARY THEONIA SISTER MARY HEDWINETTE SISTER MARY THERESIA SISTER MARY FRANCETTA SISTER MARY MEYNARDA SISTER MARY GLORIETTA SISTER MARY ROSALITA SISTER MARY PASCHALITA SISTER MARY LUCY SISTER MARY LIMANA SISTER MARY FELICIS SISTER MARY ROSANNE SISTER MARY LEONARDA SISTER MARY CORRINE SISTER MARY GENEVIEVE Antonina Bragiel Stanisława Kwak Maryanna Kwak Catherine Dorsch Louise Papierz Stefania Furmanek Caroline Litwa Louise Dziwisz Josephine Kaczyczak Pelagia Klimasz Helen Wolotkiewicz Sophie Bobek Anna Sobyro Victoria Klimasz Helen Kukulski Lottie Hindelewicz Catherine Gill Clara Czamy Anna Brongiel Maryanna Stopka Sophie Stopka Caroline Pawlikowski Anna Janik Antonina Witrod Anna Ruchała Anna Kowalczyk Stephanie Krauklis Victoria Las Emily Burliga Bernice Staniszewski Evelyn Kujawa Emily Staniszewski Stella Kawalko Angela Witrod Sophie Glista Agnes Drozdz Stella Kozlowski Florence Guca Florence Klimasz Helen Staniszewski Susanne Wróbel Elizabeth Habas 6