About St. Stanislaus Kostka · Rockford, Illinois
St. Stanislaus Kostka is a Roman Catholic parish in Rockford, Illinois, founded in 1912 to serve the city's growing Polish Catholic community. Located at 201 Buckbee Street, the parish has been a center of Polish-American faith, language, and tradition for over a century, designated a Shrine of Divine Mercy by the Diocese of Rockford in 1993. After 92 years under Conventual Franciscan administration, the parish transitioned to diocesan priestly leadership in 2023, while continuing its cherished Polish-language liturgies, Święconka blessing, Corpus Christi procession, and annual Polish Fest.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- St. Stanislaus Kostka
- Rector
- Fr. Zdzislaw Francis Wawryszuk (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
St. Stanislaus Kostka offers bilingual Catholic worship (English and Polish) in the Diocese of Rockford, with daily Mass, the sacraments, and a faithful devotional life centered on the Divine Mercy. As a designated Shrine of Divine Mercy since 1993, it draws pilgrims especially on Divine Mercy Sunday, and it hosts the only Polish-language school of its kind in the region, the Nicholaus Copernicus Polish Language School. The parish keeps Polish heritage alive through Święconka, Corpus Christi processions, the Krakowiaczek folk dancers, the Oremus children's choir, and the annual Polish Fest—welcoming all who wish to worship, learn, and belong.
Mass times at St. Stanislaus Kostka
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Half hour before each Mass
Parish History
Founded in 1912 by Bishop Peter J. Muldoon to serve Rockford's Polish Catholics, the parish began with about 30 families and a small church seating 170 at Buckbee and Magnolia. It grew to 380 families by the 1950s and replaced its original church in 1961 with the present 500-seat building, blessed by Bishop Loras T. Lane. For 92 years the parish was administered by Conventual Franciscan Fathers — first from the Buffalo province (1931) and, from August 2005, from the Kraków province — before transitioning to diocesan priestly leadership in 2023.
- 1912: Parish founded; Father Julian Burzynski first pastor (June 6, 1912)
- 1924: Parochial school opens
- 1931: Conventual Franciscans of Buffalo assume pastoral care; Father Clemens Kacprzynski, O.F.M. Conv., installed May 24, 1931
- 1971: Nicholas Copernicus Polish Language School of Rockford founded November 6
- 1961: New church blessed; first Mass Christmas Eve 1961
- 1993: Designated Shrine of Divine Mercy by Bishop Thomas G. Doran
- 2005: Conventual Franciscans of Kraków Province assume pastoral care; Father Peter Sarnicki first pastor from Poland
- 2011: Relief of St. John Paul II blessed on Divine Mercy Sunday
- 2012: Centennial celebrated
- 2023: Transition to diocesan priestly leadership after 92 years of Franciscan administration
Shrine of Divine Mercy
In 1993, Bishop Thomas G. Doran designated St. Stanislaus Kostka Church a Shrine of Divine Mercy of the Diocese of Rockford, in response to the growth of devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus and Saint Faustina Kowalska. Each year the parish welcomes many of the faithful on Divine Mercy Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter, established by Pope John Paul II. On Divine Mercy Sunday 2011, Bishop Doran blessed a relief of St. Pope John Paul II — an artistic rendition gifted by parishioners — and his first-class relic was installed the following year.
- Designated 1993 by Bishop Thomas G. Doran
- Divine Mercy Sunday celebrated annually (first Sunday after Easter)
- Relief of St. Pope John Paul II blessed 2011; relic dedicated 2012
- Society of Divine Mercy active in the parish
Polish Language School
The Nicholaus Copernicus Polish Language School of Rockford was founded November 6, 1971, by Witold Marcinczyk, with Stella Dzielak and Maria Borawska, to preserve Polish heritage, language, and traditions. After briefly relocating to the Ken Rock Community Center in 1986, the school returned to St. Stanislaus in 1991 through the efforts of Wanda Bender, Alicja Lapinski, and Serafina Vanek, then under the patronage of the Polish National Alliance, Group 1224. Today classes meet on Saturday mornings (mid-September through May) in the parish school building, with Polish language, reading and writing, history, geography, and traditions. Children also participate in the Oremus vocal group (singing at children's Masses) and the Krakowiaczek folk dance troupe.
- Founded November 6, 1971 by Witold Marcinczyk
- Classes every Saturday from mid-September through end of May
- Subjects: Polish language, reading, writing, history, geography, traditions
- Extracurriculars: Oremus (vocal group), Krakowiaczek (folk dance)
- Returned to parish buildings in 1991 through efforts of Wanda Bender, Alicja Lapinski, Serafina Vanek
Devotions
In addition to the regular Mass schedule, the parish keeps a rich devotional life: the Litany to St. Stanislaus Kostka is prayed Monday after Mass; the Novena to St. Anthony on Tuesday after Mass; the Divine Mercy Chaplet on Wednesday after the morning Mass; and the Rosary is recited half an hour before each English Mass. The community also gathers each year for the Polish Easter basket blessing (Święconka) and the Corpus Christi procession, treasured traditions rooted in the parish's Polish heritage.
- Litany to St. Stanislaus Kostka – Monday after Mass
- Novena to St. Anthony – Tuesday after Mass
- Divine Mercy Chaplet – Wednesday after morning Mass
- Rosary – half hour before each English Mass
- Święconka (Easter basket blessing) – annual
- Corpus Christi procession – annual
Parish Ministries
Parishioners serve in a wide range of ministries that sustain the worship, community, and heritage of St. Stanislaus Kostka. Liturgical roles are filled by Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors, supported by the parish Choir. Lay leadership is provided by the Parish Council and Parish Financial Council, with the Polish Fest Committee organizing the largest fundraiser of the year. Devotional and fraternal groups include the Holy Name Society, Society of Divine Mercy, Women's League, and the Angel Dusters (parish cleaning/care).
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Choir
- Parish Council
- Parish Financial Council
- Polish Fest Committee
- Holy Name Society
- Society of Divine Mercy
- Women's League
- Angel Dusters
Polish Fest
Established in August 1982 by Father Denis Janicki, the Polish Fest began as a parish family event with music, games, bingo, arts and crafts, a Polish culture exhibit, and a Polish sausage and sauerkraut dinner — and quickly became an annual tradition for the broader Rockford community. After a 2015 fire destroyed the school kitchen's oven, dreams for a new kitchen (championed by Margaret Borowski and Fr. Edward Staniukiewicz) became reality in 2016, when Fr. Dariusz Barna, Marzena Steigerwald, and Margaret Borowski oversaw the construction of a new commercial kitchen in the school building. Polish Fest remains the parish's biggest fundraiser, drawing thousands of attendees and dozens of dedicated volunteers each year.
- Founded August 1982 by Father Denis Janicki
- Music, games, bingo, Polish culture exhibit, sausage and sauerkraut dinner
- Annual event; biggest parish fundraiser
- New commercial kitchen built 2016 after 2015 fire
Parish Staff
In 2023, after 92 years of Conventual Franciscan administration, the parish transitioned to diocesan priestly leadership. The current Parochial Administrator is Fr. Zdzislaw Francis Wawryszuk, working alongside Music Director Mrs. Mary Strand and Finance Council member Mr. Miroslaw Niemiec. The parish office is the main point of contact for parish life, ministries, and sacramental needs.
- Fr. Zdzislaw Francis Wawryszuk – Parochial Administrator
- Mrs. Mary Strand – Music Director
- Mr. Miroslaw Niemiec – Finance Council
- Parish Office – main contact for ministries and sacraments
Contact & Visit
St. Stanislaus Kostka is located at 201 Buckbee Street, Rockford, IL 61104. The parish office can be reached at (815) 965-3913 or [email protected], with office hours on Monday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (call to confirm current hours). Visitors are warmly welcomed to weekday and Sunday Masses, including the bilingual schedule and Polish-language liturgies.
- Address: 201 Buckbee Street, Rockford, IL 61104
- Phone: (815) 965-3913
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.st-stanislaus.org/
- Office hours: Monday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Julius Grzezinski1909-1912 (missionary to Polish Catholics in Rockford, gathering them for Mass at St. James Pro-Cathedral)
- Father Julian BurzynskiJune 6, 1912 – November 15, 1927
First pastor; also chaplain of St. Anthony Hospital.
- Father Ladizlaus Jasinski1927 – 1931
Retired due to failing health; assisted for two years by Father Joseph Rzeszotko.
- Father Clemens Kacprzynski, O.F.M. Conv.May 24, 1931 –
First Conventual Franciscan pastor, beginning 92 years of Franciscan administration (Buffalo province).
- Fr. Peter Sarnicki, O.F.M. Conv.August 2005 –
First pastor from the Kraków province after pastoral care transferred from St. Bonaventure Province Franciscans.
- Fr. Edward Staniukiewicz, O.F.M. Conv.
- Fr. Dariusz Barna, O.F.M. Conv.
- Fr. Mieczysław Wit, O.F.M. Conv.From July 2016 – 2023
Last Conventual Franciscan pastor; oversaw transition of Polish Language School pastoral care.
- Fr. Zdzislaw Francis Wawryszuk2023 – present
First diocesan priest to serve as administrator after 92 years of Franciscan pastoral care.