St. Stanislaus Kostka

About the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka

The Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka (Polish: Bazylika Świętego Stanisława Kostki) is a historic parish church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona–Rochester, located at 625 E. 4th St. in Winona, Minnesota. Within the diocese it is known as 'Saint Stan's.' Founded in 1871 by Kashubian Polish immigrants and housed in its present monumental building since 1895, the church was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica by Pope Benedict XVI on November 10, 2011. Today it remains an active parish offering weekend and daily Masses, Saturday confessions, a Faith Formation program, young-adult and youth ministries, and a strong connection to the city's Polish Cultural Institute and Museum.

History

The parish was formally organized on April 2, 1871 by leaders of Winona's Kashubian Polish community; a small wooden sanctuary was built at Fourth and Carimona Streets the following year. The present Polish-Cathedral-style basilica was designed by C.G. Maybury and Son during the winter of 1893–94, built 1894–95, and dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1895, by Bishop Joseph B. Cotter—the same bishop who created the Diocese of Winona in 1889—at a cost of about $86,000 borne largely by parishioners working in the lumber mills.

• 1871 – Parish formally organized under the patronage of St. Stanislaus Kostka.
• 1872 – First wooden sanctuary built at Fourth and Carimona Streets.
• 1873 – Bishop John Ireland appoints a Polish-speaking pastor.
• 1886 – School Sisters of Notre Dame begin teaching in the parish school.
• 1889 – Diocese of Winona created; Joseph B. Cotter named first bishop.
• 1894 (spring) – Old church demolished under Rev. Antoni Klawiter; congregation worships at St. John Nepomucene.
• 1894 (Oct 28) – Foundation stone laid by Rev. Jakub W.J. Pacholski.
• 1895 (Nov 28) – Basilica dedicated on Thanksgiving Day by Bishop Cotter.
• 1920 – Massive marble altar with canopy consecrated on Thanksgiving Day.
• 1966 (Jun 5) – Lightning strikes the dome; basilica reopens December 11, 1966.
• 1971 (May 15–16) – Centennial celebration; exterior washed and renovated.
• 1984 – Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 1991–92 – Main dome and towers covered in metal during major renovation.
• 2011 (Nov 10) – Pope Benedict XVI designates the church a Minor Basilica.
• 2012 (Sep 9) – Official Mass of elevation; tintinnabulum rung.
• 2023 – Parish school operations move out of the East End building.
• 2025 (April) – Vacant historic school building demolished.

Architecture and Art

Designed by the Winona firm of C.G. Maybury and Son, the basilica is built of red brick in the Polish Cathedral style—a blending of Romanesque and Baroque forms—on a Greek-cross plan with an eight-sided central core. Its dome, drum, and statue of St. Stanislaus rise about 172 feet above the ground; twin 114-foot towers flank the 39-foot-wide main entrance on the north arm beneath a large rose window. The ceiling is 46 feet high and the dome towers roughly 120 feet over the floor, supported visually by four iron columns plastered to imitate marble. The stained-glass windows throughout the interior are dedicated to saints and devotions particularly cherished by Kashubian Poles, with Polish-language inscriptions.

• Style: Polish Cathedral (Romanesque–Baroque blend), also described as Romanesque.
• Architect: C.G. Maybury and Son (Charles G. Maybury, 1830–1917).
• Materials: Red brick exterior; red-tile roof; iron interior columns finished in plaster to imitate marble.
• Dimensions: ~140 ft N–S × ~124 ft E–W; ceiling 46 ft; dome ~120 ft above floor.
• Towers: Twin 114-ft towers flank the 39-ft main entrance; smaller matching towers mark the south corners.
• Dome: ~30-ft-diameter drum and segmented dome topped with a statue of St. Stanislaus (~172 ft overall height).
• Windows: Stained glass throughout, with inscriptions in Polish honoring saints and devotions of Kashubian Poles.
• Sanctuary: Massive marble altar with canopy supported by marble pillars, consecrated Thanksgiving Day 1920.
• Capacity: ~1,085 seats today (reduced from the original ~1,800 by successive renovations).

Pastoral Staff and Clergy

The parish is led by a Rector and supported by a Parochial Vicar, a deacon, parish administrator, secretary, music director, and custodian. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Rector: Father Patrick Arens
• Parochial Vicar: Father Michael Churchill (per the Diocese of Winona–Rochester parish directory)
• Deacon / Director of Faith Formation: Deacon Justin Green
• Parish Administrator: Mrs. Tammy Palubicki
• Secretary: Paula Harrigan
• Music Director: Ian Schultz
• Custodian: Sally Wolfe
• Office: 507-452-5430 · Monday–Friday 8:00 am–4:00 pm

Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation

The parish runs a Faith Formation program for students in Grades 1–9 whose families are registered parishioners and who do not attend Catholic school. Classes meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. in the basilica, beginning with prayer before sending students to classrooms. The curriculum is designed to support parents as the first teachers of the faith and exposes students to the Mass, the Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, and other forms of prayer. Sacramental preparation is offered separately for First Reconciliation and First Communion (Grade 2) and Confirmation (Grade 10). Tuition is $40 per student ($100 maximum per family), with financial assistance available.

• Grades 1–9 Faith Formation: Wednesdays 6:00–7:15 pm in the Basilica.
• First Reconciliation prep: Grade 2, with a fall parent meeting and late-January celebration.
• First Communion prep: Grade 2.
• Confirmation prep: Grade 10 (separate schedule).
• Volunteer roles: catechists and class aides (parents welcome).
• Contact: Deacon Justin Green at [email protected].

Youth and Young Adult Ministries

The parish offers summer programming for school-age youth, including Totus Tuus (a parish-based summer catechetical program), the Steubenville Conference for teens, and Vacation Bible School. For adults in their 20s and 30s, the parish hosts 'The Cellar,' a monthly young-adult gathering in the lower level of the basilica featuring refreshments, a substantive faith talk, and night prayer.

• Totus Tuus – summer youth catechetical program.
• Steubenville Conference – summer youth conference trip.
• Vacation Bible School – held in early August.
• The Cellar – monthly young-adult social and faith talk on the last Tuesday of each month (currently retooling; check Instagram @bas for updates).

Liturgical Ministries

Lay parishioners serve the liturgy as Lectors, Ushers, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Volunteers are scheduled on a rotating basis; training is provided for new lectors. Ushers help create a welcoming environment at weekend liturgies, assist with seating—especially for those with special needs—and coordinate the collection. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are called upon occasionally to assist with the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass.

• Lector – proclaim the Scripture readings at daily and weekend Masses; training provided.
• Usher – hospitality, seating, and collection; open to men, women, couples, and families.
• Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion – assist with distribution of Holy Communion at Mass.
• Music Ministry – organ and choral program under Music Director Ian Schultz.
• Sign-up / inquiries: parish office, 507-452-4770 (Liturgical Ministries) or 507-452-5430.

Sacraments

The parish prepares Catholics for and celebrates the seven sacraments through its sacramental-preparation programs and parish office. First Reconciliation and First Communion are typically received in Grade 2 after a fall parent meeting and a January celebration of First Reconciliation. Confirmation preparation is offered as a separate course, typically in Grade 10. The parish office coordinates Baptisms, Marriages, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral liturgies.

• Baptism – preparation via the parish office.
• First Reconciliation – Grade 2; preparation meeting in fall; sacrament in late January.
• First Communion – Grade 2, in conjunction with First Reconciliation prep.
• Confirmation – Grade 10; separate preparation course required.
• Matrimony – arranged with the parish office.
• Anointing of the Sick – on request through the parish office.
• Funerals – coordinated with the pastor.

Polish-Kashubian Heritage

St. Stanislaus Kostka has been the religious and civic center of Winona's Kashubian Polish community since 1871. The neighborhood around the basilica was known as 'Warsaw,' and by 1900 about 5,000 Poles—mostly Kashubes—lived in Winona, prompting the city to be called the 'Kashubian Capital of America.' Although the Kashubian language has largely faded from everyday use, parish devotion and liturgical music (still sung at St. Stan's) preserve the heritage. Original basilica furnishings, along with many preserved furnishings from other diocese churches, can be viewed at the nearby Polish Cultural Institute and Museum (Second and Liberty Streets), founded by Father Paul Breza, a son of the parish.

• Polish Cultural Institute and Museum: preserves Kashubian Polish liturgical furnishings, music, and immigrant history.
• Founder: Father Paul Breza, a 'son of the parish.'
• Neighborhood nickname: 'Warsaw.'
• City nickname: 'Kashubian Capital of America.'

Visiting, Planning, and Contact

Newcomers, visitors, and pilgrims are warmly welcomed at the basilica. The parish maintains a dedicated 'I'm New Here' page with answers to common questions about Mass times, confession, and how to find the church (including a map). The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and can be reached by phone at 507-452-5430 for appointments, intentions, and pastoral needs.

• Address: 625 E. 4th St., Winona, MN 55987.
• Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:00 pm.
• Phone: 507-452-5430.
• I'm New Here: https://www.basilicawinona.org/im-new-here.
• Contact: https://www.basilicawinona.org/contact.
• Reconciliation details: https://www.basilicawinona.org/reconciliation.
• Latin Mass inquiries: https://www.basilicawinona.org/latin-mass.
• Parish calendar: https://www.basilicawinona.org/calendar.