The Society of St. Stanislaus Kostka

The Polish settlement began with Anthony Zynger, the first Pole to come to Wyandotte. After the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, he emigrated to the United States and eventually came to Wyandotte where he found employment in one of the many factories.

In 1868, Anthony Lesczynski emigrated to the United States and came to Wyandotte. In the course of time, he opened a grocery store at the intersection of Oak and 4th Streets in Wyandotte. On November 22, 1870, a mission was preached at the grocery store by Rev. Fr. Xavier Szulak, S.J., and it was during this mission that Anthony Lesczynski established the Society of St. Stanislaus Kostka. By this time, there were several Polish families living in Wyandotte and membership soon reached 37 members. In 1872, during the dedication of St. Albertus Catholic Church in Detroit, this society was officially represented by Anthony Zynger and Anthony Lesczynski.

In 1875, hard times struck the laboring classes of Wyandotte. Living conditions soon became so intolerable that during an 1876 depression many of the first Polish families were forced to leave Wyandotte and moved to Arkansas and other western states. This depression turned out to be temporary. The 1876 depression lifted the following year. Consequently, many new Polish families began to arrive in Wyandotte. However, these new arrivals found security there only for a short time. Living conditions again became very bad and many of these new families soon left for the neighboring cities of Ecorse and Detroit. Owing to this forced emigration, the Society of St. Stanislaus Kostka could not survive and dissolved for lack of membership.

In 1888, when more members could be counted upon, the society was revived by Francis Michalak who was elected President by the 47 new members. The Board of Directors consisted of: Francis Michalak, President; Joseph Kasprzyk, Vice-President; Stephan Zalewski, Secretary; M. Ozowski, Cashier; and Martin Grabarkiewicz, Cashier Protector.

The society attended Mass regularly at the Irish church of St. Patrick's and at the German church of St. Joseph's, both in Wyandotte. Once a month, a Polish priest administered to their spiritual needs. This was rendered very often by Rev. Fr. Vitold Buchaczkowski from SS. Cyril and Methodius Polish Seminary (formerly of Detroit) in Orchard Lake, Michigan. A special feature of this service was an annual indulgence imparted to them on Easter Sunday and on the feast day of St. Stanislaus Kostka.

From 1888 to 1898, 150 Polish families emigrated to Wyandotte and settled a small village west of Wyandotte called Glenwood, Michigan. At first, they attended Mass at St. Joseph Church, but because they were discriminated against, they transferred to St. Patrick Church.

Although only partially organized, the Poles began to plan to establish a parish in which they could be ministered to in the Polish language. A committee was organized by the society to make the initial steps toward organizing and pushing the matter to its desirable conclusion with the approval of the Bishop of Detroit. They consisted of: Martin Grabarkiewicz, Thomas Biniasz, Michael Sawinski, Frank Lybik, Martin Ignasiak, and Michael Dolinski.

1920s – 1940s

On April 7, 1921, Fr. Jarecki was shot by an unknown assailant upon answering the door of the rectory. Fr. Jarecki died en route to the John F. Eilbert Memorial Hospital in Wyandotte. 5,000 people attended his Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church including 250 clergymen from across the United States. The body was escorted through the streets of Wyandotte to Mount Carmel Cemetery by a procession of hundreds of people. Fr. Jarecki installed and christened the three church bells in use. They were christened: St. Stanislaus Kostka, The Holy Angels, and Our Lady Queen of Poland. In 1921, Rev. Fr. Peter S. Kruszka was appointed as pastor.

Fr. Kruszka built an addition to the elementary school, installed a heating plant, and enlarged the convent. He opened a complete high school in 1928. In 1938, due to failing health, Fr. Kruszka went on sabbatical, and Rev. Fr. Boleslaus Parzych was appointed as administrator in June, 1938. Fr. Kruszka never regained his health and died on March 26, 1939. During Fr. Parzych's time as administrator, the interior and exterior of the elementary school building was painted, the church roof was repainted, and the interest rate of the parish debt was reduced. On June 10, 1939, Rev. Fr. Ladislaus A. Krych was appointed pastor.

When Fr. Krych became pastor, there were 520 students enrolled in the elementary school. In 1940, he organized a school band and orchestra, supplying it with the necessary instruments and band uniforms from his own personal savings. In 1941, a kindergarten class was added. The elementary school enrollment for the 1948–49 school year was 737 students. in 1942, Fr. Krych began remodeling the church. The crumbling masonry was covered with lead and the church windows were reinstalled and properly encased. New ventilation was installed and the church was rewired and reequipped with a modern lighting system. The church organ was repaired and reconstructed. In January, 1942, the interior of the church was cleaned and repainted at the cost of $9000 (equivalent to $161,193 in 2022).

The Third Order of St. Francis and the Polish Alliance bought a new communion rail. Benefactors and patrons purchased the current high altar and the Altar Society bought the current tabernacle and the flower vases. Generous individual parishioners donated a monstrance, vestments, a pulpit, confessionals, and altar linens. The altar boys worked to buy the current shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In 1943 and 1944, improvements were made to the convent, the school buildings, and the church. The exterior of the church was washed and repaired and the brick was painted in 1945. On January 15, 1946, the parish debt of $5,000 (equivalent to $75,034 in 2022) was liquidated. This was the first time the parish had no creditors. In 1947, improvements such as a new roof for the school buildings, a new boiler, an automatic system of bell ringing and amplifiers for the church were added. In 1948, the parish purchased a strip of real estate bordering Electric Street. Electric Street closed and the land would be used for parish expansion. In 1949, the parish celebrated its 50th Anniversary. For this occasion, the church was washed and refurnished at the cost of $5,180 (equivalent to $63,710 in 2022). The interior of the school was also repainted.

1950s – 1970s

In 1950, asphalt pavement was completed between the church and the schools. In 1951, with the winning of the Catholic and Parochial City Championships in football, the parishioners built a field house for the athletes. A combination field house, consisting of a locker room, two dressing rooms, an equipment room, a utility room, and toilet facilities were built. On August 24, 1951, the cornerstone of the present rectory was blessed.

In 1951, an appeal was made by Fr. Krych for new church pews. Individual parishioners purchased pews and memorial plates were placed on each one. In July, 1953, the new pews were ordered and were installed in September, 1953. On March 17, 1956, Fr. Krych died from a heart attack. Respected by the whole community, Fr. Krych was mourned by thousands. In June, 1956, Rev. Fr. Jerome Juchniewicz was appointed pastor.

In 1960, Fr. Juchniewicz remodeled the tarnished statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He removed the statue from the center of the front of the church and placed it on the side of the church. On September 13, 1963, Father Juchniewicz suffered a fatal heart attack and died at Wyandotte General Hospital. In September, 1963, Rev. Fr. Venanty Szymanski was appointed pastor.

In 1963, a financial crisis faced the Archdiocese of Detroit. Consolidation of high schools seemed to be the answer to many parishes' financial difficulties. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish was advised to join the parishes of St. Joseph, St. Patrick, St. Helena, St. Stanislaus Kostka, and St. Elizabeth on establishing a central high school. A public meeting of the parish was held and the parishioners overwhelmingly decided to keep Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School operating and not join the consolidation. Throughout the years, the parishioners labored to a functional school.

In 1964, Fr. Szymanski began full force in building the a new elementary school building. On October 30, 1966, the cornerstone of the new elementary school was blessed. In 1967, Fr. Szymanski suffered two strokes. Throughout his rehabilitation, the parish continued to operate through the endeavors of his assistant, Rev. Fr. Stanley Redwick. In May, 1972, Fr. Szymanski resigned. Rev. Fr. Stanley Konopka was appointed as administrator. In August, 1972, Rev. Fr. Stanley Redwick (former assistant) was appointed pastor.

Monument to Pope John Paul II

Fr. Redwick saw a need for renovations in the schools and church. He remodeled the high school kitchen into a modern well-equipped facility. The rooms cannot only be used for meals but the adjoining social room can be used for society meetings. In 1972, the beginning of the parish festival was planned for the weekend before Labor Day and has continued annually. The first festival profit of $85,000 (equivalent to $594,662 in 2022) was the result of the hard work of Fr. Redwick and hundreds of parishioners who worked to make the event a success.

In 1974, the parish celebrated its 75th anniversary. Fr. Redwick initiated plans to repaint and repair the inside and outside of the church. In addition to repainting the inside of the church, the roof needed repairs. The stained glass windows were reset along with various other remodeling.

1980s–2000s

In 1993, Fr. Redwick resigned due to failing health. Rev. Fr. Walter J. Ptak was appointed pastor.

On October 31, 2004, a monument to Pope John Paul II sculpted by Czesław Dźwigaj was dedicated by Cardinal Adam Maida in the peace garden next to the church.