Historical Timeline

1907 January

A disaffected group of parishioners from

St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church (Bridgeport, Conn.) decides to invite Bishop-elect Francis Hodur (Scranton, Pa.) to speak to them about the Polish National Catholic Church.

1907 February 18

At a rented hall on Willard and Hallet Streets in Bridgeport, Bishop-elect Francis Hodur meets with a group of 500 Polish Catholics displeased with the Roman Catholic bishop; the group votes to organize and build a Polish National Catholic Church called St. Joseph's; a committee is elected to file documents with the state and to raise funds.

1907 February 19

The Bridgeport Evening Post reports that during a mass meeting at Sadler's Hall, Father (Bishop-elect) Francis Hodur explained that people in the PNCC "handle their own money, select the priest they wanted and keep him as long as they desired and all the church property would be in their own name.  They would not be under the rule of the Vatican, but in all other respects the religion would be the same."

1907 February 28

Francis Sniadecki, Peter Kobus and Anthony Wolski apply to the state on behalf of the parish for a certificate of organization.

1907 March 5

St. Joseph Polish National Church is recognized by the State of Connecticut; Francis Sniadecki is the first parish chairperson.

1907 Spring

Two houses and a lot for the construction of a church are purchased on California Street, which today is an empty lot across the street from the Pequonnock Yacht Club in Bridgeport.

1907 Spring

Bishop-elect Hodur assigns to St. Joseph's the first priest, Father Anthony Plucinski; Holy Mass is celebrated at St. Paul's Episcopal Church hall until the parish church is built.

1907 August 15

A six-acre plot of farmland is purchased for $1,200 in the Lordship section of Stratford, Conn., for use as a parish cemetery.

1907 November 28

Prime Bishop Francis Hodur consecrates the parish cemetery.

1908

The parish organizes its own Women's Society for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

1909 July 18

The new church building at 45 California Street is dedicated six months after receiving a new pastor, Father Alexander Sosnowski.

1910

The parish organizes the Julius Slowacki Society, Spojnia Branch No. 33 (Polish National Union of America).

1929 July 23

An 11,336-square-foot lot on the corner of Barnum Avenue and Harriet Street is purchased in the Washington Park neighborhood of Bridgeport for the building of a larger church; Father Jacob Zielonka is pastor.

1932

The parish celebrates its 25th anniversary; there are 50 children in the Polish School; 35 in the Women's Society; 175 in Spojnia Branch 33;
45 in the Morning Star Choir; 25 in the Drama Society, which was started five years earlier; the church and rectory property is valued at $15,000 and the cemetery is valued at $12,000; Father F. Miklaszewski is pastor; J. Mener is parish chairperson.

1935

A building committee is elected: Ludwig Dolega, chairperson; Joseph Murdzia, Joseph Stodolink, Frank Lisiak, Alexander Olow, J. Wlasnowolski; Father Peter Latas, pastor; and a $20,000 fund-raising campaign is begun. 

1936 July 20

The cornerstone for the $30,000 new church is laid by Bishop John Jasinski of Buffalo, N.Y.; Father Francis Tolcz is pastor and Vincent Czerwonka is parish chairperson.

1937 July 4

The new church is consecrated by Bishop John Misiaszek of Scranton, Pa.; the parish chairperson is Bernard Rainke.

1944 March 12

The mortgage is burned with Eastern Diocese Bishop Joseph Lesniak attending; Father Senior Leopold Dabrowski is pastor and Vincent Czerwonka is the parish chairman. 

1945 October 28

The church is rededicated by Bishop Joseph Lesniak after a total redecoration of the interior and the installation of new altars and furnishings; Joseph Mikita is the organist.

1953

Francis Kolwicz is ordained a priest in the PNCC.

1957 May 5

The parish celebrates its 50th anniversary with Eastern Diocese Bishop Joseph Soltysiak and Bishop Joseph Lesniak; the pastor is Father Senior Leopold Dabroski; Stanley Wilk is parish chairperson. 

1982 October 16

The parish celebrates its 75th anniversary with Prime Bishop Francis Rowinski and Eastern Diocese Bishop Thomas Gnat; Father Anthony Kopka is pastor and Walter Shandrowski is the parish chairman.

1986 February 19

The state certifies the parish name change to:

St. Joseph Polish National Catholic Church of Bridgeport, Conn.

1987 May 31

The parish votes to relocate the parish and rectory to Stratford and to build a new church on an acre site at the parish cemetery. 

1987 August 5

A new parish rectory is purchased for $228,000 at 275 York Street in the Lordship section of Stratford; Jean Macionus is the rectory relocation committee chairperson.

1988 February 6

$69,000 is raised toward a $135,000 goal and the new church plans are displayed at a dinner dance to kick off the capital funds campaign; Karen Lasecki is the fund-raising committee chairperson.

1988 June 30

Out of 13 construction bids, one for $657,000 is selected by the building committee, which is chaired by Raymond Krasko.

1988 July 9

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new church is held with Eastern Diocese Bishop Thomas Gnat; Walter Shandrowski is parish chairperson.

1988 November 30

The parish rectory and church in Bridgeport are sold to Emanuel First Hispanic Baptist Church for $645,000; Gerald Smith is the negotiating committee chairperson.

1989 January 1

The new church is opened and the first Holy Mass is celebrated by Father Anthony Kopka; Karen Lasecki is the organist.

1989 June 25

The new church/hall complex is dedicated by Prime Bishop John Swantek and consecrated by Eastern Diocese Bishop Thomas Gnat; the dedication committee is chaired by Dolores Smith; Father Anthony Kopka is pastor; Walter Shandrowski is the parish chairperson; $100,000 is donated by parishioner Estelle Scalzi.

1991 January 23

The state certifies the parish name change to:

St. Joseph's of Stratford (Conn.) Polish National Catholic Church.

1998 March 8

The new classroom addition is dedicated; Kenneth Salvagno is the building committee chairperson, Helen Krasko is parish chairperson and Father Anthony Kopka is pastor.

2000 September

Ramzi Musallam enrolls in Savonarola Theological Seminary of the PNCC in Scranton, Pa.

2001 June

Michael Masulli enrolls in the Eastern Diocese Deacon Program.

2004 January 26

Cleric Ramzi Musallam is ordained a deacon at the parish by Prime Bishop Robert Nemkovich.

2004 April 14

Deacon Ramzi Musallam is ordained a priest at Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral PNCC by Prime Bishop Robert Nemkovich.

2004 April 18

Father Ramzi Musallam celebrates his very first Holy Mass, it is offered at the parish.

2006 March 12

On the Solemnity of the Institution of the PNCC the parish inaugurates its 100th year of existence with a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Father Anthony Kopka in the morning; an Inaugural Worship is led by Eastern Diocese Bishop Thomas Gnat in the afternoon and followed by a banquet in the parish hall with 170 people in attendance.

2006 April 2

Cleric Michael Masulli receives the Minor Orders of Blesser and Acolyte from Eastern Diocese Bishop Thomas Gnat at the parish.