Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish

In the late 1800's, tens of thousands of immigrants flocked to the shores of the United States. Misled and enticed by over-optimistic newspaper advertisements distributed throughout Europe by unscrupulous factory and mine owners, many people crossed the Atlantic, hoping to find fame and fortune. Political unrest and religious intolerance were among the motives that prompted them to seek refuge in a new land. Some of these immigrants came from Poland, a country that at that time only existed in their hearts (it had been wiped off the map after a series of partitions among Russia, Prussia, and Austria back in the 1700's). A large number of them found their way to the small village of Priceburg in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The lure of the Scranton area was in the work that was readily available in the anthracite coal fields.

Handicapped by the inability to speak and understand English, the Polish immigrants were often exploited and given menial tasks to perform in the mines. Yet, they sustained themselves by their ethnic pride and their deep faith in God and His Blessed Mother. For these Poles, fulfillment of their religious obligations was very important. In 1890, when the need for a house of worship became pressing, the future parishioners of St. Mary's Church purchased three parcels of land for $400.00 (lot #'s 19, 20, and 21) from Eli K. Price, Jr. These parcels were conveyed in trust to Right Reverend William O'Hara, Bishop of Scranton, for what was originally called St. Joseph's Polish Congregation of Priceburg. The name of the parish was not changed to the Polish Roman Catholic Congregation of the Blessed Virgin Mary until 1922.

The parishioners literally built their house of worship with their bare hands. This was done in their "spare time," often after a long shift in the mines. The result of their sweat, tears, hard work, and sacrifice was a church that seated 200 people and cost $4,000. This first church stood at the site of the present rectory garage on Carmalt Street. The basement housed the parish's first school. On July 4, 1890, Bishop O'Hara consecrated the building. Father Bronislaus Iwanowski became the first resident pastor of St. Mary's on July 4, 1892, and resided with the Thomas Krajnik family on the Carbondale Plank Road & Turnpike - today's Main Street. His brother, Constanty, a professional sculptor and carpenter, sculpted the altars in the church.

The first parish cemetery dates from this time period. It was a four-acre property on the lower left side of Pancoast Street, just above Rear Dundaff Street. The earliest tombstone in the cemetery dates back to 1871. The majority of tombs are from the 1870's through early 1910's.

In 1899, Father Joseph Dudkiewicz, coming from Holy Trinity Church in Nanticoke, became pastor of St. Mary's. He understood the plight of his parishioners because he himself had only recently arrived from Kielce, Poland, in 1896. During this time the influx of immigrants was rapidly increasing, leading Fr. Dudkiewicz to conclude that a larger edifice would soon be necessary. In the meantime, an additional $4,000 was spent to beautify the existing church. A small 21-inch-diameter bell weighing 175 pounds had been donated by Vincent Smarowski, a recreation hall owner, and was placed in the single steeple of the structure. In 1903, three additional bells were purchased from the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, MD. The largest bell weighed 1500 pounds, had a diameter of 41 inches, and was named "Maria." This bell had to be recast January 1, 1939. The second bell weighed 750 pounds, had a diameter of 32 inches, and was named "Joseph." The third bell, named "Michael," was 26.5 inches in diameter and weighed 450 pounds. These bells, along with the unnamed Smarowski bell, are still housed in the current church. To this day, when the church bells chime, they are rung in the following repeating order and with the given musical tones: Maria (F sharp), Joseph (B flat), Michael (C sharp), and the fourth (F). The control console after this paragraph will play an MP3 audio clip of this chime series.

As the need for a larger church grew, the dedicated character of the Polish parish shined forth again. The Fraternal Society of St. Joseph, whose membership included both men and women, sacrificed their time and energy by walking as far as Forest City to solicit funds for another church building. Most ethnic groups in the early 20th century organized themselves into religious societies to accomplish major goals, and so it was in St. Mary's parish. The St. Stanislaus Kostka, Dzieci Marji (Children of Mary), St. Michael the Archangel, and Bartoscz Glowacki Societies were among the earlier societies formed. In later years St. Marcina's, St. Hedwig's, St. Theresa's, St. Anne's, the Third Order of St. Francis, the Men's Retreat League, and the Tarcisians were also organized to help meet the service needs of the growing parish. The names of several of these societies can still be seen in window and statue memorials throughout the church building, as seen in these examples.

In 1909, plans for a new church building were drawn up by the Hancock Architects firm, and, with some revisions, were approved by Father Dudkiewicz and the Church Committee. The Sykes Construction Firm submitted the lowest bid and constructed the current church building on Dundaff Street. The sculpted figures of the participants in the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary prominently adorned the front of the church. The massive building was six times the size of the original church and featured a Romanesque-style architecture. The cost of the construction was hard work, sacrifice, and $48,000. Construction was financed with a low-interest mortgage by the Polish Union. This second church (our current one) was dedicated by the Most Reverend Bishop Michael Hoban, Bishop of Scranton, on November 26, 1911.

Even though the major construction of the new church building was completed in 1911, completion of the interior remained an ongoing project for a number of years due to a shortage of funds. In 1917 the United States entered World War I, and, on a tragic local note, Father Dudkiewicz died. He was laid to rest in the first cemetery. Due to poor economic conditions and the tremendous costs of the recent building project, the parish was $25,000 in debt. It was into this situation that Father Stanislaus Szpotanski was appointed as new pastor at St. Mary's.

The old church was converted into a school building for the parish. There were no classrooms, so pupils were grouped in various places within the two stories of the building. In 1916 the Bernadine Sisters were invited to staff the parish school. Sister Mary Bronislawa, the first principal, and two other nuns and a postulant were the first of over 300 Bernadines who would come to work at St. Mary's school. By 1926 the old church building ultimately would be razed when a new school building was completed. The need for a new school became urgent by 1924 as parents became concerned about poor conditions in the old church building, which had no heating or sanitation facilities. Though the parish was in debt at the time from construction of the new church building, it was decided to purchase the triangle of land at Dundaff and Scott Streets from the Snyder (Schneider) Estate for a new school.

Alexander Prawdzika, a Polish architect, drew up the plans for the new school and they were presented to the Bishop and approved in the spring of 1924. Ferma Service Construction Company of Wilkes-Barre was the general contractor and construction began in the summer of 1924. The cost of construction was approximately $225,000 with loans financed by the Polish Union. Parishioners also held a door-to-door fund drive to support their new school. The new school was built to accommodate 1200 children and housed an auditorium (with a balcony) and a kitchen in addition to classrooms. Construction was completed in 1925 and Bishop Brennan blessed the cornerstone. Rt. Reverend Michael Hoban, the Bishop of Scranton, died the night before the official dedication ceremony. Festivities were postponed until 1928, with Bishop Thomas O'Reilly presiding.

In 1925 a seven-acre plot of land at the end of Pancoast Street (800 feet up the hill from the first cemetery) was donated by Paul and Catherine Prorok to be used as a new cemetery. The land was consecrated on the same day as the school cornerstone was blessed in 1925.

Because of the ongoing lack of construction funds, plans for the interior of the church were continually altered. Less expensive material had to be substituted in different areas of the interior. The original tin roof also was replaced with slate. It was not until 1920 that the beautiful paintings we see today on the interior walls were added: the Visitation, the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, the Resurrection, and the Ascension (all in the clearstory area in front of the sanctuary). These and other paintings were done at a cost of $7,000. After all was said and done, the estimated cost of the interior was over $125,000.

Father Szpotanski was a man of foresight. To insure the safety of all parish buildings from mine subsidence, he purchased the coal rights under all the parish buildings (which by this time included a rectory and school in addition to the church). Purchasing these rights from the Hudson Coal Company was a costly venture, but a very wise one. Fr. Szpotanski also saw the importance of church-supported education for the parish's youth, its most precious resource. This support was not only a means of guaranteeing sound training in Catholic teachings but also a means of supplying Polish-speaking immigrants with the opportunity to improve their technical knowledge, and, hopefully, their livelihoods. Fr. Szpotanski had overseen the construction of St. Mary's Visitation Grade School. In line with his ideas about supporting the parish youth in all aspects of life, he, along with Chester Golinski, started the parish's Boy Scout Troop 21 in 1928 as a way for helping develop more youth leadership in the parish. Parish sports teams were established in this time: a basketball team in 1929, a baseball team in 1934, and Cub Scout Pack 21 in 1939. Both teams ceased operations when their members entered military service in World War II in 1942. The troop and pack continue to play active roles in the parish to this day. On February 21, 1930, Father Szpotanski was elevated to the position of Papal Chamberlain by Pope Pius XI.

The Great Depression of l929 and the resulting exodus of people from the distressed Dickson City area to the larger cities had a devastating effect upon the parish financially. In the parish the 1930's troubles were a sharp contrast to the development and growth of the 1920's. The world braced itself for war in the mid 1930's. The Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939 triggered many protests in Dickson City, further dampening parish morale. The parish debt that had accrued over the 1930's was a staggering $176,000. The United States entered World War II in 1941.

Each class at St. Mary's school saved money to buy one or two "care packages" to send to Poland each month. After the United States' entry into World War II, many school children became members of the Junior Red Cross and sent packages to our soldiers. Children also took part in many aluminum drives to provide more materiel to help our troops' drive across Europe. Parishioners answered their country's call after America entered the War; a number of them made the ultimate sacrifice.

In March of l943 after 26 years of serving as pastor, Monsignor Szpotanski was laid to rest in the second cemetery. Later that year in the midst of World War II, Father Francis Xavier Dominiak was appointed as the new pastor of St. Mary's. Thanks to Father Dominiak's leadership and planning, over a period of 3 years the heavy debt was dissolved. To commemorate this achievement, the mortgage was ceremoniously burned on April 15, 1946, in front of the school building.

Fr. Dominiak and the parishioners soon saw new needs and goals for St. Mary's. Groundbreaking took place on May 6, 1948 for a new, larger convent for the Bernadine sisters teaching at St. Mary's school. The building was dedicated on July 24, 1949 by the Most Reverend Bishop William Hafey. In 1950, the building expansion project continued when work was started on a new rectory. Assitant Pastor Henry Korpusik, along with help from the Holy Name Society, razed the the old rectory structure at the corner of Scott Road and Carmalt Street. They worked tirelessly to clear the land and ready the foundation of the new building. Frequently Father Korpusik could be seen pushing cement-filled wheel barrows, putting up and welding fences in front of the school as well as the rectory. On May 4, 1951, the work was done and four happy priests took up residence in the two-story building (the current rectory). With the completion of the new rectory, the building program came to an end. The buildings as a group added a certain stateliness to that particular part of Dickson City. In recognition of this, the Dickson City Borough Council instituted the name "St. Mary's Square" as an official designation for the complex.

During the tenure of Father Dominiak many improvements were also made to the church. The sanctuary was enlarged, the church pews were refinished and new confessionals were installed. New lights were installed. New stained glass windows were placed in the clearstory, and rubberized floor tiling improved the interior's appearance. A new sound system and a new heating plant were also installed at the cost of $24,000. Exterior improvements were also made. Stainless steel towers replaced the old galvanized ones atop the church building's steeples and parts of the exterior were repointed and waterproofed. In addition, the cement steps in front of the church were removed and replaced with granite and a new side exit was built. Father Dominiak purchased Polonia Park from five church societies to be used for parish picnics. It was also Fr. Dominiak who installed the statue of Christ and the Children in front of the parish school in 1956.

St. Mary's Visitation was an important force in shaping the development of Dickson City. Father Dominiak, along with Father Korpusik, in 1956 invited a representative of the Eagle Hose Fire Company for a meeting to formulate plans for getting an ambulance for Dickson City. In 1959, after much discussion and planning, that first ambulance was purchased. This laid the groundwork for the Ambulance Corps that now faithfully serves Dickson City.

On September 1, 1957, the people of St. Mary's were devastated by the death of Father Dominiak. A new pastor, Reverend Peter Niebrzydowski, was appointed by the Most Reverend Jerome D, Hannon on October 9, 1957. On June 3, 1960, Pope John XXIII elevated Reverend Niebrzydowski to the rank of Domestic Prelate.

By 1959 St. Mary's could boast a total membership of 1065 households. As a preparation for the Golden Jubilee Year of the church, plans for its renovation were initiated. Before the interior remodeling could be done, a number of projects needed to be taken care of. The creek at the side of the church was covered with reinforced concrete. A new asbestos roof and a stainless steel drainage system were installed. The interior of the church was prepared for extensive renovations. To solidly support more weight, the wooden floor in the sanctuary was replaced by reinforced concrete so that the sanctuary could be enlarged. The boiler was fireproofed and more storage was provided in the basement. Victor Zucchi and Son, church decorators and artists, were awarded the contract to beautify the church The main altar was encompassed by a marble altar and tabernacle. In the center of the marble altar was placed an attractive mosaic of the Last Supper and above the tabernacle a dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit. Marble wainscoating was placed along the wall of the sanctuary. The sanctuary was covered with new carpeting and set off by new marble communion rails. Tile was set throughout the rest of the church. Weldwood wainscoating was placed along the church walls and new pews were added. A new organ (our current one) and elevated seating refurbished the choir loft. The cost of this remodeling exceeded $170,000. A Solemn Pontifical Mass was celebrated at 11:00 A.M. on November 19, 1961, with the Most Reverend Jerome D. Hannon presiding.

Monsignor Niebrzydowski established perpetual care for the cemetery and also placed a marble crucifixion monument in the center of the cemetery to be used as an altar for services held at the cemetery. He passed away December 31, 1965 and was laid to rest in the parish cemetery. During an interim of nine months the parish rested well in the able hands of an administrator, Father Clement Markowski, until a new pastor would be assigned. In that short span of time, he highlighted the sanctuary by a new arrangement of the altar of sacrifice to conform to directives of the Second Vatican Council. The celebrant now faced the congregation during the Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick appointed Father Clarence Sikorski as pastor on September 14, 1966. On May 19, 1968, Father Sikorski was named Prelate of Honor by His Holiness, Pope Paul IV. A steady maintenance of all parish buildings proceeded with little or no fanfare. New gas-fired boilers and water heaters were purchased for the convent and rectory, granite steps in front and on the side of the church were sealed, the deck and all metal under the steps were painted, there was caulking and masonry restoration done. In 1974, the vestibule of the church was in need of repair, painting and carpeting. A striking anodized aluminum and mosaic cross was installed in a prominent place in the back of church for all to revere as they left the church. The original wooden doors in the church had deteriorated and needed replacement. New aluminum doors with glass panel inserts were installed in the front and sides of the building. The glass panels were designed by Baut Studios.

Dickson City's Centennial was celebrated in 1975. St. Mary's Br-ushers and Belles together with Monsignor Sikorski and Assistant Pastor Father Walter Ferret took significant parts in the festivities. On August 9, 1975, at 3:45pm, St. Mary's bells pealed out along with those of all other churches in the community as a symbol of unity. Around this time, under the supervision and hard work of Father Ferret, the Holy Name Society leveled the first cemetery, raised and re-set tombstones, and cut down obstructing trees and shrubs. Monsignor Sikorski also instituted Perpetual Care for the first cemetery.

October 16, 1978 brought St. Mary's parishoners, and indeed, the whole world a suprise with the election of the Polish Cardinal Karol Wotyla to the papacy as Pope John Paul II. During the Pope's 1979 visit to the United States quite a few parishoners journeyed to see him at his stop in Philadelphia. As the early years of John Paul's papacy began to unfold and as he challenged Communism's hold in Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe, it became clear this son of Poland would play a large role not only in the Church but on the world stage as well.

Due to failing health Monsignor Sikorski was named Pastor Emeritus in June l982. Four years later, on October 11, 1986, Monsignor Sikorski was called by God to his final reward.

In June of 1982, Monsignor Stanley W. Piorkowski was assigned by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick as pastor of St. Mary's Church. One of the first and major tasks that faced Monsignor and the parishioners was one that involved the decay and erosion that the original glass dome over the main altar had sustained from the elements. Leakage became a severe problem. In May 1983, plans were drafted for repairs and the replacement of the glass panels. Gerhardt Baut created the glasswork depicting the Transfiguration of Jesus and the architects of Philip and Gripp were engaged to execute the project. The dome covered 300 square feet in area and 33 feet in diameter and consisted of 75 panels held in place by aluminum supports. The window depicted the Transfigured Jesus overshadowed by God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Moses and Elijah were on the left and right sides of Christ, respectively. It was the largest glass dome of its type constructed in the 20th century in the United States. By April 15, 1984, the new dome was in place. The total cost of the dome was $116,000.

From 1984 to 1986, all the stained glass windows in the church were restored, storm glass was added to the exterior for protection and was held together by new aluminum sashes. Symbols of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary were chosen to set off the upper parts of the first-story windows on both sides of the church. Window restoration was totaled at $137,000. In 1990 it was suggested by the insurance company that the front steps of the church were in need of reconstruction. The result of many months of planning and labor was a front entrance leading to the basement of the church which immediately opened up to an enlarged area containing storage and bathroom facilities. A new handicapped-accessible walkway, adjacent to a prayer area which frames a statue of Pope John Paul II, leads from the front sidewalk directly to the church entrance.

In addition to the church building, the parish school underwent several substantial renovations in the middle and late 1980's: parts of the auditorium were enclosed to provide more office space, the large windows in the auditorium and the classrooms were filled in and replaced with more heat-efficient smaller windows, and the school grounds were cleared of shrubbery and retaining walls to make more room for holding Summer Festivals. To better meet the schoolchildren's expanded educational needs in the technological age, a computer room was added in 1985. The school also established a basketball team and cheerleading squad in 1983 to promote a more active and healthy life for its charges.

In 1990 and 1991 St. Mary's Visitation was privileged to have two Cardinals of the Church visit. On August 26, 1990, John Cardinal Krol, retired Archbishop of Philadelphia, celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving to mark the 100th anniversary of the Polish Union. This was the same Polish Union that had provided the mortgage to finance original construction of the parish church back in 1911. A little over a year later, on October 2, 1991, the parish was visited by an international visitor, Jozef Cardinal Glemp, Primate of Poland.

With the parish's impending Centennial celebration year fast approaching plans for the renovation of the interior of the church were discussed and approved by Monsignor Piorkowski and the parish council. A parish appeal was held to cover the $450,000 cost of the project that was undertaken by Baut Studios. The ceilings, walls and altars were repaired and painted, pews were refinished, paintings and statues were restored. New vinyl floor coverings were paced beneath the pews and carpeting was laid in the aisles. The sanctuary was enlarged and set over with imported marble and a new sacrificial altar, faced with the mosaic of the Last Supper that was originally in the main altar. The entire church was highlighted by new light fixtures. A new marble pulpit, baptismal font, presidential chair and tabernacle were also included in the renovations. On Sunday, November 1, 1992, the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish celebrated the 100th Anniversary of its founding. A Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Reverend Bishop James C. Timlin.

While centennial preparations were under way, Bishop Timlin announced that St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 633 Main Street, Dickson City, would be merged with St. Mary's as of September 11, 1992. As a result, Monsignor Piorkowski and his assistants Father Stefan Krawontka and Father Patrick Albert assumed administrative and pastoral duties in caring for the 429 parishoners of St. Thomas' Church. St. Thomas' Church closed a decade later on January 5, 2003.

On December 17, 1997 a new glass dome (the third in the building's history) was installed over the main altar. The dome depicts the crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As with the second dome, it is protected by a bulletproof lexan plastic shell. This protective covering is 18 inches above the glass dome and the space in between is designed to generate solar heat for the church. The window is one of thirty-eight depictions of St. Mary in our church building, which include two paintings in the clerestory (The Assumption and the Immaculate Conception), a painting above the dome in the clerestory (The Visitation), a painting on the wall next to the BVM altar (Our Lady of Perpetual Help), a painting on the wall near the Sacred Heart altar (Our Lady of Czestochowa), a stone carving on the front of the church (The Visitation), a sculpture on the base of the BVM altar (The Dormition), a statue of Mary and St. Anne on the Main Altar, a statue of Mary in the Crucifixion scene on the Main Altar, a sculpture of Mary in the Little Flower of Jesus statue at the rear of the church, four stained glass windows showing Mary (Mother of God, Mary of the Rosary, Our Lady of Czestochowa, and Mary Our Lady), as well as 14 circular windows depicting Mary's titles in the Litany of Mary and 10 angels in the clerestory holding scrolls with titles from the Litany of Mary.

The new millenium brought with it Monsignor Piorkowski's retirement to pastor emeritus status and the appointment of Monsignor Joseph Bambera as pastor in July 2001 by Bishop James C. Timlin. As in earlier times of national troubles, St. Mary's church building provided a place of solace for community members after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Only two months into his pastorate, Monsignor Bambera led a full church in a service of prayer that evening for the victims of the attack and for strength for the nation in mourning.

By 2004, Monsignor Bambera had overseen the reconstruction of staircases leading to the side entrances of the church building as well as the main entrance. New sidewalks around the rectory and school were added, as well as new fencing around the school's parking lot. A new roof was placed on the school building in 2003. Monsignor Bambera also encouraged the formation of new ministries in the parish, including one for expectant mothers, and the establishment of children prayer groups. In June 2005 Monsignor Bambera was appointed an Episcopal Vicar for the Diocese of Scranton by Bishop Joseph Martino. At the same time Monsignor Patrick Pratico was named pastor of St. Mary's Visitation.

Many footsteps have been taken along the journey of faith in St. Mary's parish over the last one hundred and eleven years. Many changes have taken place since 1892, but they have only been physical and structural. The positive and optimistic attitudes of 1892 are still alive today, and we hope they will remain in future generations. For the work of all of our pastors and assistant pastors, of the Bernadine sisters of the school, and of all of the lay volunteers over the life of the parish, we the current members of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, say "Thank You!" (Dziekujemy!) We will always remember them with gratitude to God.

STO LAT!
(Live 100 Years)