About Saint Stanislaus Kostka [Polish] · Staten Island, New York
St. Stanislaus Kostka Church is a Roman Catholic parish serving the Polish-American community in the New Brighton neighborhood of Staten Island, New York. Founded in 1921–1923 by Polish immigrants who wanted to worship and educate their children in their native language, it was canonically erected on March 12, 1923 by Archbishop Patrick J. Hayes and consecrated on October 14, 1924. Today it belongs to the Archdiocese of New York and remains a bilingual Polish-English parish offering Masses in both languages, alongside a Polish heritage school (Szkoła im. św. Jana Pawła II), a parish choir, a children's schola, a Cub Scout troop (Krokusy), and a range of devotions and societies tied to the Polish Catholic tradition.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Stanislaus Kostka (born Rostków, Poland, 1550; patron of the young, students, and seminarians)
- Rector
- Rev. Canon Jacek Woźny (parish priest since October 4, 2011; Honorary Canon of the Gorzów Cathedral Chapter since 2016)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New York
Why belong here
St. Stanislaus Kostka is the spiritual home of Staten Island's Polish Catholic community and welcomes anyone seeking to worship in either Polish or English. Families can have their children educated in Polish language and culture at the parish's own Szkoła im. św. Jana Pawła II (St. John Paul II Polish School), sing with the parish choir or children's schola, and join the Krokusy Cub Scout troop. Devout opportunities abound — veneration of the relics of St. John Paul II in a specially renovated chapel, the Holy Rosary Society, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Living Rosary, and bilingual devotions — all under the steady pastoral care of Fr. Canon Jacek Woźny.
Mass times at Saint Stanislaus Kostka [Polish]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every Friday, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Parish History
St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish was born from the wish of a devout group of Polish-Americans in 1921 to worship and educate their children in their native Polish language and Catholic tradition. After Archbishop Patrick J. Hayes appointed Rev. John A. Gloss on March 12, 1923, the cornerstone was laid August 14, 1923 and the church consecrated October 14, 1924. Successive pastors — Rev. Stanislaus J. Malinowski (1945–1971), Monsignor Arthur W. Rojek (1971–1988), Rev. Marek Suchocki (1996–2010) and Rev. Canon Jacek Woźny (2010–present) — shaped a community that survived debt, war, immigration waves, and neighborhood change to celebrate its centennial in 2022–2023.
- Founded 1921–1923; consecrated 1924
- Eight pastors/administrators across 100+ years
- Centennial celebrated 2022–2023 with Cardinal Timothy Dolan
Founding Era (1923–1945): Father John A. Gloss
Reverend John A. Gloss, appointed by Archbishop Hayes, built the church with the hands of his own parishioners — many of them Polish immigrants who worked all day and then helped excavate the ground and lay stone walls. While construction continued, Masses were said in the auditorium of the neighboring Church of the Assumption, then under a tarpaulin in the sub-basement of the rising church. Father Gloss died on March 30, 1945 at age 55.
- Appointed pastor March 12, 1923
- Cornerstone laid August 14, 1923
- Consecration by Cardinal Hayes October 14, 1924
Mid-Century Growth (1945–1971): Monsignor Stanislaus J. Malinowski
Father Malinowski took over a deeply indebted parish and energized it through bazaars, bingo, dances and other fundraising. He organized the Holy Rosary Society, the Nursemaids of the Blessed Sacrament, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and on December 31, 1950 announced the original $134,000 debt was fully paid. He was elevated to Monsignor about thirteen years later and retired in July 1971, leaving $250,000 in the parish account.
- Original debt of $134,000 liquidated by December 31, 1950
- Founded Holy Rosary Society, Nursemaids of the Blessed Sacrament, St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Assisted by Rev. Alexander J. Horembala (assigned April 1946, served 17 years)
The Rojek Years (1971–1988): Monsignor Arthur W. Rojek
Appointed by Cardinal Cooke on August 14, 1971, Monsignor Rojek — a Polish-born survivor of Buchenwald and Dachau, decorated military veteran, and 1968 incardinate of the Archdiocese — organized the parish into a 'working family' and launched a weekly bulletin to keep dispersed parishioners connected. The St. Stanislaus Social Club was founded in 1972 to centralize social and fundraising events; the 50th Anniversary was celebrated on October 6, 1973 with Cardinal Cooke. In 1976 he welcomed a close friend from Poland, Karol Cardinal Wojtyła, who became Pope John Paul II two years later.
- Polish-born survivor of Buchenwald and Dachau
- Hosted future Pope John Paul II (then Cardinal Wojtyła) in 1976
- Founded St. Stanislaus Social Club (1972)
- Celebrated 50th Anniversary with Cardinal Cooke (October 6, 1973)
- Died February 15, 1988
Transitions and the Polish School (1988–2010)
After Msgr. Rojek's death and the sudden passing of Monsignor Leo Waszak in August 1988, the parish was administered by Father Richard Guarnieri (pastor of Assumption Church), then Father Robert McCarthy. Father Joseph Tokarczyk, a Polish parochial vicar, brought new life — a wave of Polish immigrants, a repainted church, a new roof, CCD classes, ESL classes, and the founding of the Polish School for children. He helped immigrants find jobs and housing. Father Marek Suchocki arrived as Parochial Vicar on September 21, 1996; Cardinal O'Connor formally named him Pastor on November 15, 1998 during the 75th Anniversary Mass, and he established the John Paul II School. He resigned in 2010.
- Father Joseph Tokarczyk founded the Polish School
- Father Marek Suchocki appointed Pastor November 15, 1998
- CCD, ESL and immigration/job-placement ministries established
The Woźny Era (2010–Present): Rev. Canon Jacek Woźny
Cardinal Timothy Dolan appointed Father Jacek Woźny as parish administrator on November 1, 2010 and officially named him parish priest on October 4, 2011. He established a Parish Council, oversaw renovations (church windows, restrooms, auditorium, sound system), founded the parish choir (2011, led by organist Alicja Kenig-Stola) and a children's schola, and brought art classes for children. The parish celebrated its 90th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of Father Jacek's priestly ministry in 2013, and in 2014 received relics of St. John Paul II, ceremonially installed September 14, 2014 by Archbishop Edward Nowak. A major church renovation began in 2016. On September 18, 2016 Father Jacek was appointed Honorary Canon of the Gorzów Cathedral Chapter, and in November 2022 he received the Golden Cross of Merit from President Andrzej Duda.
- Administrator Nov 1, 2010; Pastor Oct 4, 2011
- Parish council, choir (2011), children's schola, art classes
- Relics of St. John Paul II installed Sept 14, 2014
- Honorary Canon of the Gorzów Cathedral Chapter (2016)
- Golden Cross of Merit from President of Poland (Nov 2022)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the usual Catholic sacraments, with particular attention to its bilingual community. Baptisms are celebrated on the First Sunday of every month at 11:30 AM. Weddings are scheduled by appointment with at least six months of preparation. CCD / religious-education classes are offered for children, alongside ESL classes for newcomers, and Polish-language religious instruction is woven into the John Paul II School curriculum.
- Baptisms: 1st Sunday of each month at 11:30 AM
- Weddings: by appointment, 6 months preparation
- CCD and ESL classes available
- Polish-language religious instruction at the John Paul II School
Faith Formation & Education
Faith formation is a central mission of the parish. Father Joseph Tokarczyk founded the Polish School in the early 1990s; under Father Marek Suchocki it became the John Paul II School, providing Polish language, culture and religious education to the youngest parishioners. Today it operates as Szkoła im. św. Jana Pawła II on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 109 York Avenue, with Dorota Zaniewski as principal. CCD classes continue for English-speaking children, and ESL classes help adult immigrants.
- Szkoła im. św. Jana Pawła II (St. John Paul II Polish School)
- Founded 1994 on initiative of Father Józef Tokarczyk
- Saturdays 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM at 109 York Avenue
- Principal: Dorota Zaniewski
- CCD and ESL classes
Music & Liturgy
Music is central to parish life. Organist and music director Alicja Kenig-Stola founded the parish choir in 2011, and a children's schola was formed under Katarzyna Gorzelska and Wioletta Zakrzewska. The adult choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM and the children's schola on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM. The church was blessed with a new organ donated through the will of the late Emily Ostrowski and dedicated by Bishop Tadeusz Lityński.
- Parish Choir: Wednesdays 8:00 PM
- Children's Schola: Wednesdays 6:00 PM
- Music Director: Alicja Kenig-Stola, (718) 689-4720
- New organ donated via Emily Ostrowski's bequest
Youth & Community Life
Father Jacek's pastoral creativity brought new life to the parish's youth programs. Art classes for children were introduced, and in 2015 the Krokusy Cub Scout Troop was established under scoutmaster Jola Opach for children aged 6–12. The cubs meet Saturdays from 1:00 to 2:30 PM at the parish, learn Polish traditions and songs, dance and play sports, and annually take part in the transfer of the Bethlehem Light of Peace to parishioners, parents, teachers and Polish organizations on Staten Island.
- Krokusy Cub Scout Troop (founded 2015)
- Scoutmaster: Jola Opach
- Saturdays 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
- Ages 6–12; annual Bethlehem Light of Peace transfer
- Parish Christmas Eve, school Nativity plays, community trips
Devotions & Societies
The parish sustains the classic Polish-American parish societies and devotions. The Holy Rosary Society, the Nursemaids of the Blessed Sacrament, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society were organized by Father Malinowski in 1945. A Living Rosary group was established in 2014. The specially renovated chapel of St. John Paul II — installed with the saint's relics by Archbishop Edward Nowak on September 14, 2014 — is a focus of pilgrimage and prayer.
- Holy Rosary Society
- Nursemaids of the Blessed Sacrament
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Living Rosary (since 2014)
- Chapel with relics of St. John Paul II
Outreach & Pastoral Services
St. Stanislaus Kostka has long served as a haven for Polish immigrants, offering language classes, religion classes, health and legal advice, employment counseling, social events, and assistance finding jobs and housing. Parishioners have organized Rome pilgrimages (including for the canonization of John Paul II in 2014) and trips to Częstochowa and other holy sites as votive offerings of thanksgiving for the parish's centennial.
- Health and legal advice clinics
- Employment counseling and job placement
- ESL and Polish language classes
- Rome and Częstochowa pilgrimages
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 109 York Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301, by phone at (718) 447-3937 or fax at (718) 815-5733, or by email at [email protected]. The website is http://www.stanislawkostkasi.org/en/index.php. Mass is celebrated on York Avenue in New Brighton, and confessions are heard every Friday evening.
- Address: 109 York Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301
- Phone: (718) 447-3937
- Fax: (718) 815-5733
- Email: [email protected]
- Parishioner registration available online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John A. Gloss1923–1945
Founding pastor; appointed by Archbishop Patrick J. Hayes on March 12, 1923; cornerstone laid August 14, 1923; church consecrated October 14, 1924. Died March 30, 1945 at age 55.
- Rev. Stanislaus J. Malinowski (later Monsignor)1945–1971
Inherited parish heavily in debt; paid off original $134,000 debt by December 31, 1950; organized Holy Rosary Society, Nursemaids of the Blessed Sacrament, and St. Vincent de Paul Society; elevated to Monsignor ~1963; retired July 1971 at age 70 and left $250,000 in parish account.
- Monsignor Arthur W. Rojek1971–1988
Polish-born; survivor of Buchenwald and Dachau concentration camps; distinguished military veteran; incardinated into Archdiocese of New York by Cardinal Cooke in 1968; in 1976 welcomed Karol Cardinal Wojtyła (later Pope John Paul II) at Mass. Died February 15, 1988.
- Rev. Richard Guarneri (Administrator, Assumption)1988
Pastor of Assumption Church named Administrator after Msgr. Rojek's death.
- Rev. Robert McCarthy (Administrator)1988–
Appointed Administrator; dedicated to St. Stanislaus Kostka.
- Rev. Joseph Tokarczyk (Parochial Vicar)late 1980s–1990s
Initiated CCD classes, ESL classes, and a Polish school for children; helped immigrants find jobs and housing; church repainted and new roof.
- Rev. Marek Suchocki (Parochial Vicar, then Pastor)1996–2010
Arrived September 21, 1996; appointed Pastor November 15, 1998 during 75th Anniversary Mass by Cardinal O'Connor; founded John Paul II School; resigned 2010.
- Rev. Canon Jacek Woźny2010–present
Appointed parish administrator November 1, 2010 by Cardinal Timothy Dolan; officially appointed parish priest October 4, 2011; awarded Honorary Canon of the Gorzów Cathedral Chapter on September 18, 2016; awarded the Golden Cross of Merit by the President of Poland Andrzej Duda in November 2022.