About Our Lady Mother of the Church-Shrine of St. John Paul II (Polish Mission) · Willow Springs, Illinois
Our Lady Mother of the Church–Shrine of St. John Paul II is a Polish-language Catholic mission in Willow Springs, Illinois, run by Cistercian (OCist) fathers sent from the Cistercian Abbey of Szczyrzyc in Poland. The church and adjacent monastery were built in the early 2000s, consecrated in December 2003, and the community received formal status as a Polish Mission of the Archdiocese of Chicago in October 2007. In 2014, Cardinal Francis George decreed the church an archdiocesan shrine of St. John Paul II, making it a pilgrimage destination for Polish Catholics in the Chicago area, with relics of the Polish pope (including a white cassock he wore) and a 20-foot outdoor statue of him. All Masses and sacraments are celebrated in Polish, drawing worshippers from across the metropolitan area — including many Polish Highlanders (Górale) from the Podhale region.
- Established
- 2003
- Patron
- Our Lady, Mother of the Church (parish); St. John Paul II (shrine)
- Rector
- Fr. Michał Blicharski, O.Cist (Prior and Director of the Mission; Custodian of the Shrine)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Chicago (Polish Mission under the Archdiocese)
Why belong here
This is a rare Polish-language Catholic mission in the Chicago area, with two or three Masses a day celebrated entirely in Polish and a full calendar of Polish devotions — including weekly Masses to St. John Paul II, the Divine Mercy, the Sacred Heart, and the Novena to Our Lady of Szczyrzyc, plus a First Saturday night vigil. It is the only archdiocesan shrine of St. John Paul II in the region, and welcomes Polish pilgrims, Polish Highlanders (Górale), and English-speaking visitors with a living link to Pope John Paul II's homeland — his white cassock, his first-class relic, and a 20-foot statue in his honor stand on the grounds.
Mass times at Our Lady Mother of the Church-Shrine of St. John Paul II (Polish Mission)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Saturday: 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM
- Tuesday – Friday: 6:30 PM
- First Friday of the month and every Friday of Lent during Adoration: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- No confessions during any of the Sunday Masses
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Every Friday of Lent: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Adoration with confessions 6:00–7:00 PM)
- First Saturday of the month: Night Vigil 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- Holy Hour at 11:00 PM every Thursday of Lent
History of the Polish Cistercians in Willow Springs
The community in Willow Springs was founded by Father Abbot Hubert Kostrzański, O.Cist, a former chaplain of Poland's wartime Home Army who emigrated to the United States in 1946 and in 1956 bought the old farmhouse that became the monks' first home in America. In 1970 he was elected Abbot of Szczyrzyc and in 1976 brought Father Grzegorz Szydłowski to assist him; together, with the help of the local Polish Highlanders (Górale), they built up the small chapel known as 'Kościół na górce' (Church on the Hill), which Cardinal Joseph Bernardin authorized for Polish Masses and devotions. In the Jubilee Year 2000, the fathers resolved to build a new, larger church and monastery as a thanksgiving monument for 2,000 years of Christianity, with construction taking more than two and a half years. Father Abbot Hubert died in January 2002 and Father Grzegorz in May 2003, both during the building works, and their lives are remembered as the spiritual foundations of the new temple.
- 1946 – Fr. Hubert Kostrzański arrives in the United States from Italy / Polish II Corps
- 1956 – Fr. Hubert purchases the Willow Springs farmhouse that becomes the first monastery
- 1970 – Fr. Hubert elected Abbot of Szczyrzyc
- 1976 – Fr. Grzegorz Szydłowski arrives from Poland to assist
- 1980s–1990s – 'Kościół na górce' chapel built with help of the local Górale
- 1990 – Fr. Jan Muc arrives from Poland
- 1996 – Fr. Michał Blicharski arrives from Poland
- 2000 – Jubilee-year idea to build a new church and monastery
- Jan 2002 – death of Fr. Abbot Hubert during construction
- May 2003 – death of Fr. Grzegorz during work on the church vault
- Sept 2003 – Fr. Ludwik Żyła joins from Poland
- 14 Dec 2003 – solemn consecration of the new church by Bishop Józef Zawitkowski of Łowicz
The Polish Mission and the Shrine of St. John Paul II
In October 2007 the church was formally erected as the Polish Mission of the Archdiocese of Chicago under the patronage of Mary, Mother of the Church, with Father Jan Muc as its first director. Father Michał Blicharski, O.Cist became director on 23 December 2012. The Mission had a strong spiritual bond with Pope John Paul II from its earliest years — Thursday evening Masses through his intercession had been offered since 2005, first for his beatification and then his canonization. In May 2014, on the occasion of the Pope's canonization, Father Blicharski asked Cardinal Francis George to designate the church as the archdiocesan shrine of the Polish saint. Cardinal George granted the decree on 19 August 2014, and the shrine was solemnly established and celebrated from 19–22 October 2014, on the liturgical feast of St. John Paul II, with Cardinal George praying the rosary with ethnic youth groups and Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki (a former Chicago auxiliary) reading the decree on the feast day itself.
- Oct 2007 – church becomes the Polish Mission pw. Matki Bożej Matki Kościoła; first director: Fr. Jan Muc
- 2005 – Thursday evening Masses for John Paul II's beatification begin
- 23 Dec 2012 – Fr. Michał Blicharski, O.Cist becomes Mission Director
- 27 April 2014 – Pope John Paul II canonized; mission holds all-night vigil with Polish Highlanders
- 19 Aug 2014 – Cardinal George issues the decree creating the shrine
- 19–22 Oct 2014 – shrine solemnly established and dedicated; Cardinal George present
- Shrine received a white cassock worn by John Paul II and a first-class relic of the saint
Staff and Community
The Mission is led and served by the Polish Cistercian fathers and lay staff. Father Michał Blicharski, O.Cist serves as Prior and Director of the Mission and Custodian (Kustosz) of the Shrine of St. John Paul II. Father Eugeniusz Włodarczyk, O.Cist is also in residence. Music ministry is directed by Andrzej Ciupek, and the parish secretariat is run by Elżbieta Ceisel-Mikowska, reachable at [email protected].
- Fr. Michał Blicharski, O.Cist – Przeor i Dyrektor Misji; Kustosz Sanktuarium
- Fr. Eugeniusz Włodarczyk, O.Cist
- Andrzej Ciupek – Dyrektor Muzyczny (Music Director) — (630) 484-6729
- Elżbieta Ceisel-Mikowska – Sekretariat — (708) 467-0436 ext. 110
Devotions and Special Observances
The Mission keeps a rich Polish Marian and saintly devotional calendar. Tuesdays feature a Mass through the intercession of Blessed Wincenty Kadłubek; Wednesdays bring the Novena to Our Lady of Szczyrzyc; Thursdays honor St. John Paul II; Fridays are devoted to the Divine Mercy, with additional Sacred Heart devotions on First Fridays. The First Saturday of each month is kept as a Night Vigil (Czuwanie Nocne) from 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM, including Masses at 9:00 PM and midnight. In Lent, the parish prays the Gorzkie Żale (Lenten Lamentations) with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a Passion sermon every Sunday at 4:30 PM, followed by Mass at 6:00 PM.
- Tuesdays 7:00 PM — Mass for Bl. Wincenty Kadłubek
- Wednesdays 7:00 PM — Mass and Novena to Our Lady of Szczyrzyc
- Thursdays 7:00 PM — Mass for St. John Paul II
- Fridays 7:00 PM — Devotion to the Divine Mercy
- First Fridays — Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- First Saturdays — Night Vigil 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM (Masses at 9:00 PM and midnight)
- Lent — Gorzkie Żale Sundays 4:30 PM + 6:00 PM Mass; Holy Hour Thursdays 11:00 PM
Sacraments
Information about the seven sacraments is published on the parish website. Baptisms are celebrated every Saturday at 5:00 PM and every Sunday during the 12:00 PM Mass; the family must register at least one month in advance and present the child's birth certificate, with written permission required from the parents' home parish if applicable. Marriage preparation begins at least six months before the planned date, and weddings are celebrated on Saturdays at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, or 3:00 PM. Adults (18+) who have not yet been confirmed can contact the parish office for preparation. The Anointing of the Sick is available on request by calling the parish office.
- Baptism — Sat 5:00 PM and Sun 12:00 PM; register 1 month in advance
- Confirmation (adults 18+) — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — call parish office at 708-467-0436
- Marriage — at least 6 months' notice; Sat 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, or 3:00 PM
Pilgrimage and Shrine
As the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II, the mission welcomes pilgrims from across the Polish-American community and beyond. The grounds include a 20-foot outdoor statue of St. John Paul II, a smaller replica inside the church, a white cassock worn by the Polish pope, a first-class relic of the saint, and relics of the Holy Cross, St. Faustina Kowalska, and St. Maximilian Kolbe. The mission has hosted traveling exhibitions from Poland, including 'I was born in Wadowice' (Urodziłem się w Wadowicach), prepared by the John Paul II Family Home Museum in Wadowice and first shown outside Poland in Chicago. The community has a particular bond with the Polish Highlanders (Górale) from Podhale, who have gathered here for major celebrations including the all-night vigil at the time of John Paul II's canonization in April 2014.
- 20-foot outdoor statue of St. John Paul II
- Smaller replica of the statue inside the church
- White cassock worn by Pope John Paul II on display
- First-class relic of St. John Paul II
- Relics of the Holy Cross, St. Faustina Kowalska, and St. Maximilian Kolbe
- Replicas of the icon of Our Lady of Szczyrzyc brought from Poland
- Hosted 'I was born in Wadowice' exhibition from the Wadowice John Paul II Museum
Media and Broadcast
The 8:00 AM Sunday Mass is broadcast live on Polskie Radio Chicago, 1030 AM WNVR (www.polskieradio.com), and the mission maintains an official Facebook page ('Cystersi w Chicago / Cistercian Fathers in Chicago') and a YouTube presence for online streaming and recordings of services and events.
- Live Sunday Mass broadcast on Polskie Radio Chicago 1030 AM WNVR
- Official Facebook: Cystersi w Chicago / Cistercian Fathers in Chicago
- YouTube channel with recordings of liturgies and events
Visiting and Contact
Pilgrims and visitors are welcome at 116 Hilton Street, Willow Springs, IL 60480-1697. The parish office can be reached by phone at (708) 467-0436 or by fax at (708) 467-0479, or by email at [email protected]. In summer, the office is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM; during the vacation season it is closed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
- Address: 116 Hilton Street, Willow Springs, IL 60480-1697
- Phone: (708) 467-0436
- Fax: (708) 467-0479
- Email: [email protected]
- Summer office hours: Tue/Thu/Fri 6:00–8:00 PM; Sat 9:00–10:30 AM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. (Abbot) Hubert Kostrzański, O.Cist1946–2002
WWII AK chaplain; emigrated 1946; bought the Willow Springs farmhouse in 1956; founded the community; elected Abbot of Szczyrzyc in 1970; conceived and began the new church in 2000; died January 2002 while construction was still underway.
- Fr. Grzegorz Szydłowski, O.Cist1976–2003
Brought from Szczyrzyc in 1976; developed the 'Kościół na górke' chapel with the Górale community; died May 2003 during work on the vault of the new church.
- Fr. Jan Muc, O.Cist1990–present (as member); superior from 2003; first Mission Director Oct 2007
Arrived from Poland 1990; named superior after Fr. Grzegorz's death; together with Fr. Michał prepared the new church for consecration; became first Director of the Polish Mission in October 2007.
- Fr. Michał Blicharski, O.CistDirector since 23 December 2012
Arrived from Poland 1996; co-prepared the church for consecration in 2003; succeeded Fr. Jan Muc as Mission Director in 2012; petitioned Cardinal George in 2014 to dedicate the church as the Shrine of St. John Paul II.
- Fr. Ludwik Żyła, O.Cistarrived September 2003
Joined the community from Poland in September 2003, just before the December consecration.
- Fr. Alberyk Lipiński, O.Cistassisted in pastoral work (pre-2003)
Helped Father Grzegorz in pastoral work at the mission chapel.