Our History — 1936 to 1989

A New Home
On July 20, 1936, the Rt. Rev. John Jasinski of Buffalo, N.Y., laid the cornerstone of the new St. Joseph's church. The cost of the brick edifice was $30,000. A new pastor was the spiritual leader for the relocated parish, the Rev. Francis Tolcz. The parish chairman at the time was Vincent Czerwonka and one member who was instrumental in in keeping the building project progressing was Frank Kogut.

A year later, on July 4, the new church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. John Misiaszek, Bishop of the Central Diocese. As in the case of the laying of the cornerstone, the Eastern Diocese did not yet have a bishop, but an administrator in the Very Rev. Joseph Lesniak of Springfield, Mass. In 1937, the pastor was still Father Tolcz and the parish chairman was Bernard Rainke.

It was not until March 12, 1944 that St. Joseph's parish was able to burn the paid-off mortgage on the church property. Leading the ceremony was the pastor, the Very Rev. Leopold Dabrowski and parish chairman Czerwonka. The bishop of the Eastern Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Joseph Lesniak, was also present.

Only one year after the mortgage burning, St. Joseph's church was rededicated on Oct. 28, 1945 by Bishop Lesniak after a total redecoration of the interior was completed. The parish had new floors laid, new altars and a new confessional built, new pews installed and a ceiling mural of Christ painted, besides having a complete painting and stenciling of the sanctuary and nave interior walls Father Senior Dabrowski was still the pastor and remained as such for a total of 35 years.

Making History
The next major highlights in the history of St. Joseph's were traditional milestones: the celebrations of the 50th and 75th anniversaries of the organization of the parish.

The Golden Jubilee was celebrated on May 5, 1957 The Rt. Rev. Joseph Soltysiak, bishop of the Eastern Diocese, officiated at the afternoon verspers and was the keynote speaker at the banquet in the parish auditorium. Bishop Lesniak preached at the morning High Mass celebrated by the pastor, Father Senior Dabrowski. Chairman of the event was Walter Bisch, vice chairmen were Edward Swiatek and Stanley Wilk, and Helen Krasko and Emil Majkut were co-secretaries. Other jubilee committee members included: Joseph Mikita, Walter and Julia Ruck, Roman Peters, Joseph Swiatek, Bernard Ruck, Blanche Baranowski, Carolyn Seliga, Chester Bielecki, Bernard Sosnoski, Wilhemina Kamionka and Kathryn Bisch.

The Diamond Jubilee was celebrated on Oct. 16, 1982 The Most Rev. Francis Rowinski, Prime Bishop of the P.N.C.C., and the Rt. Rev. Thomas Gnat, bishop of the Eastern Diocese, officiated at the afternoon Mass of thanksgiving and evening banquet. The Rev. Anthony Kopka, installed only months before as pastor, served as the master of ceremonies at both the Mass and the banquet. Chairman of the jubilee committee was Gerald Macionus and other members included: Janet Macionus, Sophia Bezverchy, Isobel Dombrowski, Jean Macionus, Helen Krasko, Elizabeth Lasecki, Julia and Walter Ruck, Martha Dudra, Joseph Kafara, Joan Szymanski, Carol Sakiewicz, Kathryn and Walter Bisch, Joseph Swiatek, Walter Shandrowski, Richard Murdzia, Gertrude Kasper, Joyce Bresh and Charles Zapotoczny.

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