St. Stanislaus Kostka

History of St. Stanislaus Kostka

The Catholic community of Grimes County traces its roots to 1866, when Polish immigrants from the Wielkopolska region arrived at the invitation of large landowners. The faithful were served on horseback by visiting priests for decades before the first resident pastor, Father Adam Laski, arrived in 1888. The original 40×60 ft frame church was built by Father F. X. Pruss in 1897, and the present brick church — with stained-glass windows, Polish-inscribed Stations of the Cross, and wood-carved altars — was completed in 1917 under Father N. T. Domanski at a cost of $40,000 paid entirely by parishioners. The parish has weathered periods without a resident priest, the sacrifices of immigrant founders, and the death of beloved pastors (including Father Sikorski, buried in the parish cemetery in 2022) to remain a living witness of faith in East Central Texas.

• 1866: First Polish Catholic families arrive in Grimes County
• 1873: Parishioners purchase school building and 3½ acres south of Anderson
• December 23, 1880: First parish property deed filed (4 8/10 acres)
• 1888: Father Adam Laski becomes first resident priest
• 1897: Father F. X. Pruss builds the first 40 × 60 ft frame church
• 1916–1917: Father N. T. Domanski builds the present brick church ($40,000)
• August 6, 1918: Church dedicated by Monsignor James Kirwin
• 2010: New $1 million parish hall built
• November 23, 2014: Altar mural dedicated by Father Jojo and Msgr. Adam McClosky

St. Stanislaus Kostka, Patron Saint

The parish's patron, St. Stanislaus Kostka (1550–1568), was born into Polish nobility, the son of a senator. He attended the Viennese Jesuit college from age 14 with his brother Paul, who mistreated him. While gravely ill at a Lutheran home, he was not allowed a priest, but prayed to his patron St. Barbara, who appeared with two angels and gave him Communion; the Virgin Mary then cured him and told him to become a Jesuit. After entering the Jesuit novitiate on October 28, 1567, he was a student of St. Francis Borgia. On the eve of the Feast of the Assumption he received the last sacraments; at 3:00 a.m. on August 15 he died with a sudden expression of joy, having asked Our Lady to receive him. The parish website preserves a 'Prayer to St. Stanislaus,' invoking him as 'seraph of charity' and patron of a happy death.

• Patron of youth and Jesuit novices
• Died August 15, 1550, on the Feast of the Assumption
• Subject of the parish's printed prayer card

Parish Staff & Leadership

The parish is led by Pastor Father David Michael Moses, who also serves Christ Our Light Catholic Church in Navasota. Father Paul Lockey serves as Visiting Priest. The pastoral staff includes two permanent deacons — Deacon Russell Pasket (also Pastoral Leadership Team Chairman) and Deacon Garry Janota. Parish operations are supported by Secretary/Bookkeeper Kirby Borski, Coordinator of Religious Education Carol Serres, Finance Council Chairman David Borski, and Cemetery Sexton/Acolyte Charles Posinski.

• Pastor: Fr. David Michael Moses
• Visiting Priest: Fr. Paul Lockey
• Permanent Deacons: Russell Pasket, Garry Janota
• Secretary/Bookkeeper: Kirby Borski
• Coordinator of Religious Education: Carol Serres
• Finance Council Chairman: David Borski
• Pastoral Leadership Team Chairman: Russell Pasket
• Cemetery Sexton/Acolyte: Charles Posinski

Parish Ministries

St. Stanislaus sustains a wide range of lay ministries for a parish of its size. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, shared with Christ Our Light in Navasota, helps those in need; the Knights of Columbus Fr. Domanski Council No. 4054 serves as the fraternal and service arm. Liturgical life is supported by the Altar Society (which cleans the church weekly), Music Ministry, Lectors/Lay Ministers, Altar Servers, and Ushers/Hospitality, while faith formation for the young is carried by the Youth Ministry. The parish also maintains the historic Holy Name Society for the men of the parish.

• Society of St. Vincent de Paul (help line: 936-873-5002)
• Knights of Columbus — Fr. Domanski Council No. 4054 (2nd Tuesday, 7:00 PM)
• Altar Society
• Music Ministry
• Youth Ministry
• Lectors / Lay Ministers
• Altar Servers
• Ushers / Hospitality
• Holy Name Society

Religious Education & Youth

The parish's C.C.E. (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) Program serves students Pre-K through 12th grade, staffed by dedicated parishioner-teachers. The C.Y.O. (Catholic Youth Organization) has distinguished itself in parish functions and athletic competition, winning multiple first-place awards. Carol Serres currently serves as Coordinator of Religious Education.

Parish Cemetery

St. Stanislaus maintains an active Catholic cemetery on the parish grounds, overseen by Cemetery Sexton Charles Posinski (936-873-2113). The cemetery was fenced and a new section opened in recent decades. A printable Cemetery Reservation Form and Cemetery Rules are available from the parish office, as is a List of Burials in the Cemetery. Several pastors and parishioners are interred there, including Father Sikorski (d. May 12, 2022) and Father Joseph Szymczak (d. 1985).

• Cemetery Sexton: Charles Posinski (936-873-2113)
• Cemetery Reservation Form (downloadable)
• Cemetery Rules (downloadable)
• List of Burials in Cemetery (downloadable)
• Funeral home links: Lindley-Robertson-Holt and Nobles Funeral Home

Sacraments

Information and registration forms for Baptism Preparation and Marriage Preparation are published on the parish website. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered weekly (see schedule above). Anointing of the Sick is arranged through the parish office; for an actively dying person in need of an emergency anointing, the parish provides a 24-hour emergency line at 1-832-780-9584. Safe Environment Training & Background Check (Safe Haven) is required for those working with children and vulnerable adults.

• Baptism Preparation Registration
• Marriage Preparation Documents
• Anointing of the Sick (emergency line: 1-832-780-9584)
• Safe Environment Training / Safe Haven background check

Contact & Visiting

Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at 1511 Highway 90 South, Anderson, Texas 77830, with mailing address P.O. Box 210. The parish office is open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Friday, and closed on Mondays. The office can be reached at (936) 873-2291 or [email protected]. Fr. Domanski Hall (the parish hall, at 1962 Highway 90 South) hosts many ministry meetings, including the Knights of Columbus and the Anderson Vincentian conference.

• Address: 1511 Highway 90 South, Anderson, TX 77830
• Mailing: P.O. Box 210, Anderson, TX 77830
• Phone: (936) 873-2291
• Email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Tue–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed Mondays)