St. Stanislaus Church

To view the Journal for FEBRUARY click on this link goto February Journalsor click on the “header at the top of this page, select “Journals” for the drop-down menu. If pictures appear missing, use your “refresh” button.
HAPPINESS is to have EVERYTHING
you NEED,
NOT the NEED to have EVERYTHING

 

This month’s Travel Plans:
7. Jan. 20th Willis, TX at Lake Conroe (TT) RVP x 12 nights. (190m)
Seguin, TX -Overnight (156m)
4. Feb. 2nd Lakehills, TX at Medina Lake RVR (TT) x 13 nights (71m)
5. Feb. 15th Fort Stockton, TX overnight
6. Feb. 16th El Paso, TX – overnight
7. Feb. 17th Deming, NM overnight
8. Feb. 18th Benson, AZ at Valley Vista RVR(T3) x13 nights
Phoenix, AZ overnight

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02.02.19 Sat- St. Stanislaus Church in Bandera, TX. This is about a thirty minute ride from the campground were staying at.

A little history of the Church. This text is taken from the St. Stanislaus Web Site in the History section. Everything italicized is part of that text.

A HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH 1855-2009
St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Parish had its beginning in 1855 when immigrant families from Poland landed at Indianola, Texas and proceeded to Bandera to settle.  This was only six weeks after the settling of the first Polish Parish in the United States at Panna Maria, Texas.  In 1859 they began in a 20’ x 30’ log structure, which served as their first church. The entire block on which the church is located was purchased for only $1.00 from the James de Montel Company.

This is also, we were told by a lovely parishioner Molly, that it’s the second oldest Catholic Church in the Country, not just Texas. The oldest Church in the USA is in a small town just south of San Antonio, TX, which we will never see because I have no intention of driving through San Antonio again.

Being fortunate enough to have attended would have been a perfect evening for us, then came Molly. She gave us the nickel version on the history of the church and then asked if we were coming next week. We said yes next Saturday night. But you must come on Sunday and enjoy our annual dinner, she added. It would be an extensive selection of Polish meals and recipes. I insisted that we would be there. This has turned out to be a very special venue for us, and I’m sure we’ll remember all these events for years to come. June, July and August are the three hottest months, humidity also. Jan, Feb and March rarely go below freezing and seldom ever snows. This just might be a nice hide-away for us next year after the Christmas season is over with family and friends. 

This is of the Church. Father Frank Kurza, Pastor
In her Centennial Year, 1976, the church was adorned with gothic lights, and she was given a complete interior makeover.  Six additional stained glass windows were installed in 1990, and in 1996 the statues and Stations of the Cross were repainted, and the altars all re-marbleized.  In 2000, the small room off of the sanctuary was transformed into a chapel for the purpose of Perpetual Adoration.  Two additional stained glass windows were installed in the Adoration Chapel and two more in the Sacristy.  In 2002, work began on the outside of the church.  The limestone rock was cleaned and the old mortar between the limestone was chipped out and replaced.  This work was completed at the beginning of 2003.

The church in which we worship today was built in 1876.  It was constructed of native limestone.  Originally, the sacristy and rectory were located above the rear of the building, the church bell being hung in a small cupola placed on the roof of same area.  In 1906 the steeple was completed.  The baptistry and confessionals were added in later years, as was a larger bell, and in the 1940’s parish families donated stained glass windows.  An all steel steeple with a stainless steel cross was erected in 1988.
(the web site contains a little more information about the convent and school should you want to read about it in more detail. goto St. Stanislaus History


 

“Everything we were, we carry with us. Everything we will be, is calling to us, from the roads not travelled yet.” pjgrenier