At 109 York Avenue in New Brighton on Staten Island, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church is a Roman Catholic parish shaped by Polish-American families. The parish began in 1921, received permission to establish a Polish church in 1923, and dedicated the building in 1924. It is known for worship in Polish and English, the Polish School St. John Paul II, choral music, children's programs, and the Krokusy Cub Scouts. The community that built the church in New Brighton continues to gather around Mass, education, Polish culture, and service.
Sunday Masses in Polish and English
St. Stanislaus Kostka offers a full pattern of bilingual worship at its York Avenue church. Sunday has two Polish Masses and one English Mass, while weekday and Saturday schedules continue in both languages.
- Sunday: 8:30 AM Polish Mass, 10:00 AM English Mass, and 11:30 AM Polish Mass.
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 9:00 AM English Mass.
- Friday: 7:00 PM Polish Mass.
- Saturday: 9:00 AM English Mass and 6:00 PM Polish Mass.
- Friday: Confessions from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
All of these services take place at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. Baptisms are celebrated on the first Sunday of every month at 11:30 AM, and wedding arrangements begin six months before the ceremony. Mass is also available through YouTube.
Music has a prominent place in parish life. The parish choir and children's choir rehearse on Wednesdays, and the restored sanctuary contains a new organ. The church's long history pairs Catholic worship with Polish-American customs, including the Rosary, devotions to Mary, family pilgrimages, and the observance of John Paul II as patron of parish families.
From a Polish-American Petition to a Consecrated Church
The idea for a Polish Catholic parish took shape in 1921, when a group of Polish Americans wanted a place to worship in their native language and educate their children in Polish Catholic traditions. Their initial request for a Polish church was rejected because the Archdiocese did not believe another Staten Island parish was needed. Persistent petitions changed that decision. On March 12, 1923, Archbishop Patrick J. Hayes appointed the Reverend John A. Gloss to establish and build the Church of St. Stanislaus Kostka in New Brighton.
Construction began as soon as the legal papers were filed. Parishioners came after their daily work to excavate the ground, build stone walls, and raise concrete stairs. While the church rose, the neighboring Church of the Assumption made its auditorium available for Mass. Later, Mass moved to the sub-basement of the unfinished building, where services were celebrated beneath a tarpaulin. The cornerstone was laid on August 14, 1923. Cardinal Hayes formally consecrated the new church on October 14, 1924.
Father Gloss organized the new parish around worship and community life. He formed the Sacred Heart League, the St. Stanislaus Kostka Society, the St. Cecilia Choir, the Children of Mary Sodality, the Holy Name Society, and Polish-American and sports organizations. He also trained a large group of altar boys. Six later entered the priesthood: Monsignor John Karpinski, the Reverend Chester Mieczkowski, Monsignor Ralph Pakulniewicz, the Reverend Benjamin Wasielewski, Monsignor Leo Waszak, and the Reverend Leo Juraho.
A parochial school opened in 1929 under the care of the Sisters of the Resurrection. It provided a decade of education before economic conditions forced it to close in 1939. Three former students later entered the Resurrection order. Father Gloss led the parish through the Depression and World War II, when many young men served in the armed forces and eight members of the parish lost their lives. He died on March 30, 1945, at the age of 55.
Debt, Displacement, and Parish Survival
The Reverend Stanislaus J. Malinowski succeeded Father Gloss in April 1945 and inherited a heavily indebted parish. He continued Polish-American customs and organized the Holy Rosary Society, the Nursemaids of the Blessed Sacrament, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Bazaars, bingo games, dances, and other parish fundraisers helped reduce the debt. On December 31, 1950, Father Malinowski announced that the original $134,000 debt had been completely liquidated. When he retired in July 1971 at age 70, he left $250,000 in the parish account to ensure that St. Stanislaus Kostka could continue.
Archbishop Terence Cardinal Cooke appointed Monsignor Arthur W. Rojek as pastor on August 14, 1971. Born and ordained in Poland, Rojek survived the Buchenwald and Dachau concentration camps, continued a distinguished military career in Europe, came to the United States in 1948, and was incardinated into the Archdiocese of New York in 1968. Many parishioners left the neighborhood when their homes were demolished for a housing project on Jersey Street. Rojek maintained contact with both longtime residents and Polish families who had moved away by issuing a weekly bulletin.
In keeping with his effort to organize the parish as a family, Rojek established the St. Stanislaus Social Club in 1972. It coordinated social activities, fundraising, and preparations for repairs and renovations. The parish's 50th anniversary was celebrated on October 6, 1973, with Cardinal Cooke officiating. Rojek was known for his hospitality, and in 1976 he welcomed his friend Karol Cardinal Wojtyla to the church for Mass. Two years later, that visitor became Pope John Paul II.
Rojek died on February 15, 1988. Monsignor Leo Waszak, who had assisted him with parish services, became an important leader of the Polish congregation but died of a heart attack that August. Father Richard Guarneri, pastor of the Assumption Church, was named administrator and helped maintain both daily and Polish worship during the transition.
Renewal Through Immigration and Education
From August to December 1988, Father Guarneri celebrated daily Mass and arranged for a Polish priest to celebrate Sunday Mass. Father Joseph Tokarczyk became parochial vicar, while Father Robert McCarthy later served as administrator. Tokarczyk brought renewed energy to the parish. He initiated CCD classes, ESL classes, and a Polish school for children, and he helped newly arrived immigrants find jobs and housing. The church was repainted and received a new roof. A wave of Polish immigrants began attending Sunday Mass, and the parish saw many baptisms, First Holy Communions, Confirmations, and weddings.
After McCarthy's death in May 1994, Father John Pintabone was appointed pastor and administrator. Father Joseph soon transferred to St. Joseph's Church in Florida, New York. The Reverend Marek Suchocki arrived as parochial vicar on September 21, 1996. He continued the restoration work and oversaw a thorough renovation of the church and auditorium, along with the installation of central air conditioning. At the 75th anniversary Mass on November 15, 1998, Cardinal John O'Connor read a letter confirming Father Marek's appointment as pastor, a significant moment in the parish's return to independence.
Several clergy members assisted Father Marek. Brother Jerzy Krzyszkow handled job placement and religious instruction for children. Father Pawel Sochacki introduced a Children's Mass involving children in different parts of the liturgy, prepared seasonal decorations, and prepared the weekly bulletin. Father Jacek Piotr Woźny, who had been visiting the parish since 1992 and became a regular part of its clergy in 2003, brought an artistic approach to parish ministry.
Under Father Marek, St. Stanislaus Kostka served as a center for Polish-American life through language and religion classes, health and legal advice, employment counseling, social events, and assistance to immigrants adjusting to life in the United States. He also established the John Paul II School so children could study Polish language and culture and receive religious instruction in a language they understood. Educational and immigration programs received support from local public officials, while members of the parish were honored as Grand Marshals of the Pulaski Parade.
Father Jacek Woźny and the Parish Council
Father Marek resigned as pastor in 2010, and Father Jacek Woźny became parish administrator on November 1. One of his first decisions was to establish a parish council as an advisory and decision-making voice on parish plans and projects. Although the parish faced inherited debt and a difficult financial situation, urgent work began. The front windows were restored and secured, a new bathroom was completed, the auditorium was renovated, and a new sound system was installed. Cardinal Timothy Dolan officially appointed Father Jacek parish priest on October 4, 2011.
Church life also began to fill with music again. Organist Alicja Kenig-Stola created the parish choir in 2011, and a children's schola was formed under the care of Katarzyna Gorzelska and Wioletta Zakrzewska. Father Jacek introduced art classes for children, bringing more young people into parish activities. The Polish School reorganized its teaching into age groups for grades 1 through 8, later added a high school class, and continued strengthening cooperation with the Central Polish Supplementary Schools.
The parish marked its 90th anniversary in 2013, the same year that celebrated Father Jacek's 25 years in the priesthood. That December, the first parish Christmas Eve gathering filled the auditorium. When Hurricane Sandy caused severe damage on Staten Island, 60 families received temporary assistance from the parish. At the same time, the decision was made to renovate eight stained-glass windows in the church. That precise work was completed in 2019, leaving the restored windows to cast a sun-dappled glow through the sanctuary.
Restoration, Relics, and a Parish That Stayed Together
A group of parishioners traveled to Rome for the canonization of John Paul II in 2014 and began efforts to obtain his relics. On September 14, 2014, Archbishop Edward Nowak installed the relics in a specially renovated chapel inside the church. Beginning May 2, 2015, the relics were taken on a pilgrimage of veneration through the parish. John Paul II, described as patron of parish families, remains central to this expression of Catholic devotion.
Restoration of the chancel began in 2015, followed by a general renovation of the church in June 2016. Masses moved to the auditorium during part of the work. A generous bequest from Emily Ostrowski paid for a new organ for the parish choir, which was dedicated by Bishop Tadeusz Lityński. The combination of restored chancel, renewed windows, a new organ, improved sound, and carefully tended brick walls reflects the parish's continuing care for its historic building.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the church to close in March 2020. The parish quickly reestablished contact with faithful members through an online connection, allowing Sunday Mass in Polish and English to be watched from home. Restrictions eased by the end of June, and attendance gradually returned. The months that followed required the scattered community to rebuild its shared life.
Official centennial observances began in 2022. At the jubilee Mass with Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the image of Our Lady with the Child Jesus inside the church was crowned. The crowns had been blessed by Pope Francis during a special audience attended by a parish delegation. The celebration connected the founding generation's persistence with a parish that continued to serve Polish-American families through worship, education, music, and public gatherings.
Polish School St. John Paul II
The Polish School St. John Paul II at St. Stanislaus Kostka was established in 1994 through the initiative of Father Józef Tokarczyk and the support of Ewa Wiśniewska, who became the first headmaster, along with Professor Henryk Wiśniewski and Professor Krystyna Wiśniewska. Dorota Zaniewski serves as principal. Classes meet at the parish from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturdays.
The school teaches Polish language, Polish culture, and religious instruction. It developed from grades 1 through 8 into a program that also included a high school class. Cooperation with the Central Polish Supplementary Schools brought students into competitions with Polish children along the East Coast. Parent participation, class groups, trips, school celebrations, and academic events have become a substantial part of the school's identity.
School journeys have included biblical performances in Lancaster and pilgrimages to Rome, Mexico, and Guadalupe. Students and families have also traveled through Cuzco, Machu Picchu, the Andes, Assisi, Lanciano, Loretto, Manopello, and Monte Cassino. The parish's 2019 Nativity play, And Let Hope Rise Again in Us, brought together the commitment of teachers and parents in a production remembered as an important chapter in the school's history.
Children's Music, Art, and the Krokusy Cub Scouts
Children have several ways to participate in the life of St. Stanislaus Kostka. The children's choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM, followed by the parish choir at 8:00 PM, with Alicja Kenig-Stola directing both musical groups. Children's schola leaders Katarzyna Gorzelska and Wioletta Zakrzewska help young singers participate in parish worship. Father Jacek's art classes and the Children's Mass tradition have also given children a more active role in church life.
The Krokusy Cub Scout group was established in 2015 and is led by scoutmaster Jolanta Opach at the Polish School St. John Paul II. It welcomes children ages 6 through 12. Meetings take place at the parish from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM on Saturdays. The Cubs learn Polish traditions and customs, sing Polish songs, dance, play games, and participate in sports while earning skills in religion, Polish culture, and physical education. Each year they carry the Bethlehem Light of Peace to parishioners, parents, teachers, and Polish organizations on Staten Island. The Krokusy also march in the Polish Pulaski Parade in Manhattan.
Polish-American Life Beyond the Church
For Polish immigrants, the parish has offered more than worship. Its work has included language and religious instruction, help with employment and housing, health and legal advice, and social gatherings that connected newcomers with familiar traditions. Educational and immigration programs have also received grants and community support. This practical ministry has remained closely connected to the parish's Polish identity.
The annual Polish Festival at Snug Harbor brings Polish families and friends together for food, children's activities, colorful craft booths, and performances by artists on a large stage. Parishioners contribute as sponsors, vendors, performers, and volunteers. The gathering extends the church's cultural mission beyond 109 York Avenue while strengthening connections among Polish families on Staten Island.
The Pulaski Parade is another important setting for that identity. Parishioners have participated in the march along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, and Father Jacek Woźny served as parade marshal in 2012. Emilie LiGreci and Professor Krystyna Wiśniewska were each selected as Grand Marshals. The Krokusy Cub Scouts have marched as well. Across the decades, prayer societies, choirs, social clubs, school trips, pilgrimages, and volunteer work have formed a parish life that joins Catholic practice with Polish-American custom.
St. Stanislaus Kostka and the Parish's Catholic Faith
St. Stanislaus Kostka, the church's patron, was born in Rostkow, Poland, in 1550 and baptized at the parish church in Przasnysz. At thirteen, he and his older brother Paul left home for studies at a Jesuit school in Vienna. The learning and apostolic spirit of the Jesuit professors inspired Stanislaus to pursue religious life, but his parents refused to allow him to enter the Jesuit order. On August 10, 1567, he secretly left Vienna and walked roughly a thousand miles through mountains and valleys to Rome. He was accepted into the Roman Jesuit novitiate on October 28 and died on August 15, 1568, probably of malaria.
The parish's worship and Scripture readings center on God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Jesus Christ; the Word made flesh; the Kingdom of God; reconciliation through Christ; love for one another; and prayer. The Eucharist is at the center of parish Mass. The sacraments named throughout the parish's life include baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, marriage, and confession, with Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist assisting the clergy.
Devotion to Mary and John Paul II has a strong place in the church's interior and calendar. The image of Our Lady with the Child Jesus is honored inside the sanctuary, and the relics of John Paul II rest in a dedicated chapel. The Rosary, family pilgrimages, the Blessed Sacrament, and devotions to Our Lady of Częstochowa all connect Catholic belief with the Polish traditions inherited by the parish's founders.
Parish Contact at 109 York Avenue
St. Stanislaus Kostka Church is located at 109 York Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301. The parish telephone number is (718) 447-3937, and the parish email is parish@stanislawkostkasi.org. Office hours are Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The office is closed Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Parishioner registration and an online giving form are available. The parish's daily life remains centered on bilingual worship, Polish education, choral music, children's formation, and service to families. St. Stanislaus Kostka Church continues its work at 109 York Avenue in New Brighton.