Our Lady of Czestochowa

About the Parish

Our Lady of Czestochowa (Parafia pw. Matki Bożej Częstochowskiej) is the Polish-language Roman Catholic parish of Arizona, part of the Diocese of Phoenix and served by priests of the Society of Christ for Polish Emigrants (Towarzystwo Chrystusowe dla Polonii Zagranicznej). The community gathers at 2828 W. Country Gables Drive, Phoenix, and offers Mass in Polish every Sunday, Saturday Vigil, and on selected weekdays.

History

Polish Catholic ministry in Arizona began on January 22, 1995, with the arrival of Fr. Klemens Dąbrowski, SChr, sent by Society of Christ provincial Fr. Tadeusz Winnicki. A Polish Apostolate at St. Theresa Parish in Phoenix was decreed on May 3, 1995. The community purchased its first church at 6530 N. 7th Street on October 18, 1996, and Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien consecrated it on May 24, 1997. By decree of July 18, 2000, Bishop O'Brien elevated the Apostolate to a Pastoral Mission, and on September 9, 2000, Fr. Eugeniusz Bolda, SChr, took over as pastor. The St. John Paul II Polish Catholic School was founded on September 9, 2000, and is still operating on Saturdays. After outgrowing the 7th Street site, on April 1, 2005, the parish learned of a larger property at 2828 W. Country Gables Drive; the Diocese of Phoenix gave consent on November 21, 2005; the former Assembly of God building was purchased March 16, 2006; the first Mass was celebrated there March 25, 2006; the rectory was blessed August 18, 2006; and Bishop Thomas Olmsted consecrated the new church on August 26, 2006. By decree of March 5, 2008, Bishop Olmsted formally established the Polish parish of Our Lady of Czestochowa as a full parish.

• 1995 – Polish Apostolate decreed at St. Theresa Parish (May 3, 1995)
• 1996 – Contract to purchase first church at 6530 N. 7th Street (Oct. 18, 1996)
• 1997 – Consecration of first church by Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien (May 24, 1997)
• 2000 – Elevated to Pastoral Mission (July 18, 2000) under Bishop O'Brien
• 2000 – St. John Paul II Polish Catholic School founded (Sept. 9, 2000)
• 2005 – Diocese approves purchase of larger property at 2828 W. Country Gables Drive (Nov. 21, 2005)
• 2006 – Former Assembly of God building purchased (March 16, 2006); first Mass there (March 25, 2006)
• 2006 – Rectory blessed (Aug. 18, 2006); church consecrated by Bishop Thomas Olmsted (Aug. 26, 2006)
• 2008 – Full parish established by Bishop's decree (March 5, 2008)
• 2010 – Fr. Jacek Wesołowski, TChr becomes pastor (Sept. 23, 2010)
• 2020 – Fr. Paweł Bandurski welcomed as new pastor with two new Missionaries of Christ the King sisters (Aug. 30, 2020)
• 2025 – 25th anniversary of St. John Paul II Polish Catholic School celebrated with Bishop John Dolan (Oct. 26, 2025)

Clergy and Staff

The parish is led by Fr. Paweł Bandurski, TChr, of the Society of Christ for Polish Emigrants, who was welcomed as pastor on August 30, 2020. He is assisted by two Missionaries of Christ the King sisters — Sr. Claudia Radziewicz and Sr. Ewa Filipiuk — who also joined the parish in 2020. The founding clergy of the parish were Fr. Klemens Dąbrowski, SChr (1995), and Fr. Eugeniusz Bolda, SChr (2000), followed by Fr. Jacek Wesołowski, TChr (2010–2020).

• Rev. Paweł Bandurski, TChr — Pastor (since 2020)
• Rev. Jacek Wesołowski, TChr — former pastor (2010–2020)
• Rev. Eugeniusz Bolda, SChr — pastor of the Mission (2000–2010)
• Rev. Klemens Dąbrowski, SChr — founding priest (1995–2000)
• Sr. Claudia Radziewicz — Missionaries of Christ the King
• Sr. Ewa Filipiuk — Missionaries of Christ the King

St. John Paul II Polish Catholic School

Founded on September 9, 2000 — and named after the Polish pope, himself from Wadowice — the Katolicka Szkoła Języka Polskiego im. Jana Pawła II is the parish's Saturday school where children learn the Polish language, culture, history, and geography alongside Polish patriotic and Catholic traditions. The school celebrated its 25th anniversary on October 26, 2025, with a Mass of thanksgiving presided over by Bishop John Dolan.

• Founded September 9, 2000
• Named after Pope St. John Paul II (from Wadowice, Poland)
• Saturday instruction in Polish language, culture, history, geography
• Transmits Polish patriotic and Catholic traditions
• 25th anniversary celebrated Oct. 26, 2025 with Bishop John Dolan

Parish Organizations and Community Life

Beyond Mass and the school, the parish hosts lay groups that keep the Polish community connected. The St. Monica Seniors' Club (Koło Seniorów im. św. Moniki) supports older parishioners, and the parish regularly celebrates sacramental milestones such as First Communion anniversaries and the priestly ordination anniversaries of its clergy.

• Koło Seniorów im. św. Moniki (St. Monica Seniors' Club)
• Children's First Communion and anniversary celebrations
• Annual priestly ordination anniversaries of parish clergy
• Welcoming new priests and religious (e.g., August 30, 2020)

Visiting and Contact

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (602) 212-1172 or by email at [email protected]. The parish is located at 2828 W. Country Gables Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85053, on the north side of the city. The parish website is published in Polish at https://polskaparafiaphoenix.com/, and serves as the official hub for announcements, the parish chronicle, and the photochronicle (Fotokronika).

• Address: 2828 W. Country Gables Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85053
• Phone: (602) 212-1172
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://polskaparafiaphoenix.com/