History Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. One Hundreth Anniversary Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Braddock, PA. CAP at Orchard Lake.

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1 History Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. One Hundreth Anniversary Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Braddock, PA. CAP at Orchard Lake. The first Polish settlers of Braddock in 1884 were members of St. Michael's Parish in Braddock. In 1895, a group of Polish settlers united under the name of St. Adalbert Society and appointed a committee of three members: Tomasz Polanski, Ludwig Wlazlinski, and Antoni Pater, to take the necessary steps toward formation of a Parish. Through their efforts and with the aid of Rev. Anthony Smelsz, Pastor of St. Hedwig Church in Duquesne, the Most Rev. Richard Phelan, Bishop of Pittsburgh, granted permission, in January 1897, to purchase a lot (site of two wooden structures) situated on Sixth Street below Talbot Avenue. One of the wooden structures became the first church of the Sacred Heart and was dedicated in February 1897, by Rev. Anthony Smelsz, who became the first Pastor. When, under the guidance of Father Smelsz, the new parish membership grew rapidly and the wooden structured church became inadequate, the lot at the corner of Talbot Avenue and Sixth Street was purchased and the erection of a new church was started in The second church was completed under Rev. Anthony Tarkowski, the second pastor in The cornerstone was blessed by the Most Reverend Archbishop F. A. Symon, Papal Delegate from Rome to the Polish American Catholics in the United States. The new building of Spanish-Missionary architecture was declared an Architectural Landmark in a 1967 publication of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. Rev. John Rykaczewski was named Pastor of the Parish in May The first Sacred Heart School was organized in 1897, but in the ensuing decade the need for larger accommodations became apparent. During Father Rykaczewski's pastorate, both the old church and school buildings were sold, and the construction of the new school building began in 1908 and was completed in Early lay teachers were eventually replaced by the Felician Sisters who assumed full scale teaching of both Polish and American studies. In the early days of the Parish, Pastor's residences were rented homes. A permanent rectory adjacent to the church was built in The former rectory on Talbot Avenue became the 1

2 Felician Sister's convent. The years following the First World War found the parishioners growing in number and becoming more active in cultural, civic and social affairs. In addition to the fourteen societies which were formed before the war, assistant Pastor Father Szwed started the Young Men's Dramatic Club, and Father Napieralski started the Filaret Club. In 1929, all fourteen societies of the Parish united into the United Polish Societies of Braddock. To this day, the United Polish Societies continue with their charitable and civic activities. The year 1947 was the fiftieth anniversary of the Sacred Heart Parish. However, the observance of the fiftieth anniversary was postponed because of post-war conditions and the approaching fiftieth anniversary of Father Rykaczewski's ordination. The Double Jubilee, which combined the fiftieth anniversary of the Sacred Heart Parish and the fiftieth anniversary of Father Rykaczewski's ordination was observed on June 15, Three years later on June 15, 1955, the parish was saddened by the death of the Pastor, Rev. Fr. John A. Rykaczewski, who spent essentially his entire priesthood serving the Sacred Heart Parish. The Most Rev. John H. Dearden officiated at the funeral Mass. Rev. Fr. Francis Kuczynski, the last assistant of the Parish, served as administrator until July 15, 1955, the date that Rev. Fr. Joseph A. Stankiewicz assumed his duties as the new Pastor of the Sacred Heart Church. In 1956, with appropriate ceremonies, Father Stankiewicz accepted for the parish, the Italian marble Statue of Christ, which was donated and erected by the United Polish Societies of Braddock in memory of all the men and women of this Parish who served in the First and Second World Wars. The Pastor, Rev. Fr. Joseph A. Stankiewicz, observed his twenty- fifth anniversary of ordination to the Priesthood on May 21, Father Stankiewicz instituted the Sacred Heart Church College Scholarship Fund in During the College Fund's thirteen year existence, Father Stankiewicz awarded grants totaling $22, to 199 applicants. He also was instrumental in introducing into the Parish an ethnic (Polish) mass, which is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month and at the weekly mass on Wednesday. Finally, in 1970, after a seventy-three year existence, the Sacred Heart Parochial School was closed because of steadily declining enrollment. The Sacred Heart Church Diamond Jubilee was celebrated on Sunday, October 29, The observance included a Solemn High Mass celebrated by Bishop Vincent M. Leonard with assistance from cocelebrants including the Pastor, Rev. Fr. Joseph Stankiewicz, and priests ordained from the Parish. The Diamond Jubilee Banquet held at the Churchill Valley Country Club was attended by more than 500 guests. 2

3 The Parish continued under the competent leadership of Father Stankiewicz and the previous Church Committee until It was in that year that the Parish conformed to the new Diocesan requirement that the Church Committee be replaced by elected Church Councils to assist Pastors in the management of the Parish affairs. The election of the member of this first council was conducted in the spring of The organization of the Church Council occurred at a meeting of the fifteen highest elected members on June 2, The Church Council consists of the President Henry J. Zygmunt, Vice President Dr. Chester J. Chorazy, Corresponding Secretary Catherine Motkowski, Recording Secretary Stephanie Tracz, and four committees. Each committee consisted of a chairperson and two members. The four committees are: Worship, Apostolate, Educational and Temporalities. The Church Council, with Father Stankiewicz at the helm, was in existence scarcely six months when a disastrous fire, on December 19, 1975, deprived the Parish of its church building and the attached Sister's convent building. At a meeting of the Church Council, called by Father Stankiewicz a few days after the fire, he announced that arrangements were made to offer masses in the St. Michael and St. Isidore Churches. At later meetings, the Church Council was informed that Bishop Leonard suggested a merger of our Parish with one of two other Parishes in Braddock, but Father Stankiewicz and the council desired to remain a separate ethnic Parish and preserve its identity. After meetings with Father Stankiewicz and Church Council, Bishop Leonard gave formal agreement to this desire and delegated Father Stankiewicz to select a site for a new church. It was during this period once again that Bishop Leonard suggested that we sincerely consider a merger with one of the other Braddock parishes. Father Stankiewicz and the Church Council members remained steadfast in their desire to have their own church. Bishop Leonard said that he would inform the Diocesan Board of our feelings. A renewed search for a suitable site brought us finally to the present location in Braddock Hills. The purchase of the four and one-half acre site was completed in March, 1980, and the architect, Mr. Stanley Pyzdrowski, began the preparation of plans for the church and rectory. The first plans of the new church were considered to be too costly by Bishop Leonard. He recommended that the cost be reduced by approximately one-third, to a cost of 1.25 million, which the architect was able to do. The building contract was awarded to the J. F. Casey Construction and Development Company on October 16, Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on November 8, 1981, with Monsignor John Seli, Bishop's representative and Pastor, Rev. Fr. Joseph Stankiewicz officiating. During the construction period of the church and rectory, Father Stankiewicz met with the architect Pyzdrowski and members of the Church Council regularly to insure that the building of the church remained within the budget assigned by Bishop Leonard, and to decide various details of the building. 3

4 The church building and rectory were substantially completed in August, which permitted the first mass to be offered at 6:00 P.M. on Saturday, August 14, Daily masses began on Monday, December 6, Father Stankiewicz's, Church Council's, and parishioners' unwavering committment to the building of a new church culminated in the newly built Sacred Heart Church which was dedicated by Bishop Leonard on Sunday, February 13, Father Stankiewicz retired on September 27, 1985 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, having faithfully served the Parish for 30 years. On November 4, 1985 Father Edward J. Maliszewski was assigned the duties of Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish by Bishop A. Bevilaqua. Parishioners were saddened by the death of Father Joseph Stankiewicz on March 22nd A funeral mass was celebrated by Bishop Donald W. Wuerl at Sacred Heart Church, attended by many present and former parishioners and friends. On November 4th 1995, Father Maliszewski celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood with a mass of thanksgiving, followed by a dinner in the Church Hall attended by parishioners and many of his friends. Father Maliszewski retired on February 5th 1996, a few months after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 75, after fulfilling the spiritual needs of the Parish for 10 years. On February 5th 1996, Bishop Wuerl assigned Father Albert L. Zapf the duties of Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, with Father Robert J. Zajdel as Parochial Vicar. These responsibilities were in addition to their duties at Good Shepherd Church in Braddock. Sons of Sacred Heart Parish: REV. MSGR. LADISLAUS KRZYZOSIAK REV. THADDEUS WISNIEWSKI BROTHER PETER DZERMAJKO REV. MSGR. STANLEY T. GORAK REV. MSGR. H. A. PODOWSKI REV. STANLEY J. ZOLNIERZAK REV. RICHARD ZULA REV. JOHN GETSY, O.F.M., C.A.P. REV. DAVID DZERMEJKO 4

5 Daughters of the Sacred Heart Parish: SR. M. JOSEPH JAKIELA SR. M. MELANIA KOBYLAŃSKI SR. M. JEREMIAH WISNIEWSKA SR. M. DAMIEN JABŁONOWSKI SR. V. MARIE KLONOWSKI SR. M. REGIS AUGUSTYNOWICZ SR. M. BONAVENTURE KULUS SR. M. MODESTA KOTLOWSKA 5