Boston’s Polish Parish: Our Lady of Czestochowa (1893)

Last updated on: November 4, 2010 at 5:29 am by Pat McNamara

Boston’s Polish Parish: Our Lady of Czestochowa (1893) 2010-11-04T05:29:00-06:00 Pat McNamara

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THE POLISH CHURCH AND CONGREGATION
It is claimed that there are about 2,000,000 Poles in the United States. This is probably an exaggeration, but there is no doubt that the number of those within the Catholic fold has largely increased in the last fifteen years. The fact is more evident in Chicago, where they are more numerous than in any other city.

Until quite recently, the Polish Catholics of Boston and vicinity made no sign in our religious life. On May 28, 1893, the Rev. John Chmeilinski, a native of Russian Poland, having been sent from Piacenza, Italy, to join the Congregation of St. Charles, in charge of the Church of the Sacred Heart, in North Square. He was not here long when some of his fellow-countrymen learned of his presence. The knowledge seems to have inspired them immediately with the idea of organizing a congregation, with Father Chmeilinski for rector. On consulting him, they learned that the five years for which he had been bound to the Congregation of St. Charles had ended and that he was free to accept rectorship of the proposed congregation should he be appointed to it. Thereupon, they held a meeting in a hall on Hanover Street to consider the best course to adopt in order to attain their wish. Here, after pledging themselves to properly support Father Chmeilinski, who was present, they appointed a delegation to wait on Archbishop Williams and ask him to authorize the young priest to organize them into a congregation. Prominent men in this delegation were Stephen Hoppe and Charles Reed. His Grace saw fit to grant their request. Soon after, the new congregation placed $3,000 in the hands of Father Chmeilinski to enable him to buy a site for a church. The site was quickly found. It was a lot of land, measuring about 28,000 feet, extending from Boston Street to Dorchester Avenue, and having a frontage of 120 feet on each thoroughfare. It was bought from William T. McKechnie for $6,896, half being paid in ready money. Ground was broken for the church on June 5. Its exterior is already finished. It is a substantial frame structure capable of seating 650 persons. Its design is simple, and it is built over a brick basement 11 feet in height. The rector hopes to have it finished in time to have it dedicated on November 18.

Besides performing his other priestly duties, the rector, since his appointment, has offered Mass for his congregation at 10 A.M. on Sundays in the German Church of the Holy Trinity. Occasionally, on other days of the week, he celebrates Mass in St. Margaret’s Church, Dorchester. His authority as rector extends to Providence. He estimates the number of his congregation at 2,000. The larger portion live in South Boston, some having residences in “the Village,” and in Bowen, Silver, Athens, Second, and Fourth Streets. Father Chalupka, of Webster, who has charge of the Poles in the Diocese of Springfield, is the only other priest of the Polish nationality in New England.

Father Chmeilinski was born November 13, 1868, in Masiak, province of Przasnycz, Russian Poland. His early education was received in the gymnasium of the city of Plock. He then went to Piacenza, where he joined the Congregation of St. Charles, and was subsequently admitted to Holy Orders, on Pentecost, in 1892.

James S. Sullivan, ed., One Hundred Years of Progress; A Graphic, Historical and Pictorial Account of The Catholic Church of New England: Archdiocese of Boston (1895).

Note: Father Chmielinski was 25 years old when he started at the parish. He served as pastor for 41 years. Our Lady of Czestochowa was the first Polish parish established in the Archdiocese of Boston. It is the only Polish parish in the City of Boston. Today it continues to minister to Polish Catholics in the area of South Boston known as the “Polish Triangle.”

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