Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (Wyandotte, Michigan)

Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Catholic Church
Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Catholic Church
	Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church
	42°12′22″N 83°09′53″W / 42.20623°N 83.16472°W
Location	Wyandotte, Michigan
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	Parish website
History
Founder(s)	Polish Immigrants
Dedication	Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Dedicated	May 9, 1915
Consecrated	June 4, 1916
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Polish
Architect(s)	Mr. Harry Rill
Architectural type	Church
Style	Italian Renaissance
Construction cost	$70,000
Specifications
Capacity	900
Administration
Archdiocese	Detroit
Parish	Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1899–2013) ; Our Lady of the Scapular ; (2013 – Present)
Clergy
Archbishop	The Most Rev. Allen Vigneron
Priest(s)	The Rev. Mark Borkowski
Deacon(s)	Rev. Mr. Richard Bloomfield

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (Polish: Parafia Matki Bożej Szkaplerznej) is located at 976 Pope John Paul II Ave. in the Detroit suburb of Wyandotte, Michigan.

The church serves the Roman Catholic Polish Personal Parish of Our Lady of the Scapular as a result of a parish merger on August 1, 2013 of the Wyandotte Polish Personal Parishes of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1899–2013) and St. Stanislaus Kostka (1914–2013). Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, designed in the Italian Renaissance style, is a prime example of the 'Polish Cathedral style' of churches in its opulence and grand scale.

History

St. Stanislaus Kostka Society

Polish emigration to Wyandotte began with Anthony Zynger. After the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, he emigrated and came to Wyandotte where he found employment in one of the factories. In 1868, Anthony Lesczynski emigrated to Wyandotte. In the course of time, he opened a grocery store at the intersection of Oak and 4th St. On November 22, 1870, a mission was preached at his grocery store by The Rev. Xavier Szulak, S.J. It was during this mission that Lesczynski established the St. Stanislaus Kostka Society. There were many Polish families living in Wyandotte at this time. The Society soon reached 37 members. In 1872, during the dedication of the first Polish parish in Michigan, St. Albertus Catholic Church, the Society was officially represented by Zynger and Lesczynski.

In 1875, an intolerable but temporary economic depression struck the labor class of Wyandotte. Consequently, many families left Wyandotte seeking better opportunities. In 1877, new immigrants arrived in Wyandotte; however, temporarily as living conditions again turned bad. As many moved to Detroit, the Society dissolved for lack of membership. Over the course of time, the Society was revived in 1888 by Francis Michalak who was elected President by 47 new members. The Board of Directors consisted of: Francis Michalak, President; Joseph Kasprzyk, Vice-President; Stephan Zalewski, Secretary; M. Ozowski, Cashier; and Martin Grabarkiewicz, Cashier Protector.

The Society regularly received sacraments in Wyandotte first at the German church of St. Joseph, but later migrated to the Irish church of St. Patrick due to ethnic discrimination. The Rev. Vitold Buchaczkowski of the Polish Seminary in Detroit often administered to their spiritual needs monthly. A special feature of this service was an annual indulgence imparted to them on Easter Sunday and on the feast day of St. Stanislaus Kostka.

From 1888 to 1898, 150 of the Society families migrated west of Wyandotte beyond the railroad tracks and became a community known in Wyandotte as New Jerusalem. This community was eventually incorporated to be the Village of Glenwood in 1900.

The Society members voted to establish a building committee to initiate plans to institute a Polish parish and church in Glenwood where they could be ministered to in their language with the approval of the Bishop of Detroit. The committeemen were: Martin Grabarkiewicz, Thomas Biniasz, Michael Sawinski, Frank Lybik, Martin Ignasiak, and Michael Dolinski.[1]

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish (1899–2013)

Rev. Bernard Zmijewski (1899-1906)

The first business transaction of the building committee concerned the purchase of several lots in Glenwood, Michigan, on Superior and Pulaski Boulevard (now 10th Street) from the Welch Brother's Realty Company. This deal was fulfilled, and Welch Brother's Company donated eight lots for the building of the proposed church and school. On September 8, 1899, the Most Rev. Bishop John Samuel Foley personally inspected the grounds. He approved the location and almost immediately appointed The Rev. Bernard Zmijewski as pastor. Fr. Zmijewski became pastor on September 18, 1899. Since the church building was still in the planning stage, he was constrained to hold services at St. Patrick's Church.

The charter parishioners desired to name the parish "Our Lady of the Scapular," however; because Bishop Foley did not recognize this folksy title, he named the new parish "Our Lady of Mount Carmel." In effect, since the beginning, parishioners had always referred to the parish with the Polish "Szkaplerznej" or, "Scapular."

The laying of the cornerstone of a combination of church and school under the title of "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" took place on December 3, 1899, and the formal dedication of the completed structure was held on July 8, 1900. Rev. Fr. John Moneta, a professor from SS. Cyril and Methodius Polish Seminary in Detroit preached the homily. The choir from St. Josaphat's Church in Detroit, under the direction of Zygmunt Kadlubowski, added much to the solemnity of the dedication.

The church building also served as an elementary school. Fr. Zmijewski petitioned Mother Cajetan (Mother Provincial of the Felician Sisters in Detroit) an earnest appeal for the Felician Sisters to take charge of the school. The request was granted. Beginning in September, 1901, the Felician Sisters opened two classrooms in the basement to teach the first and second grades. The following year, 113 boys and girls were enrolled in the school. The sisters lived in the school for over 15 years before a convent was built.

The total building cost was $26,961.15 (equivalent to $987,425 in 2023). To cover the large cost, money was obtained from various sources: $7,063.69 (equivalent to $258,701 in 2023) from outright donations; a bank loan of $15,000 (equivalent to $549,360 in 2023) was negotiated; and $5,000 (equivalent to $183,120 in 2023) was borrowed from the pastor. Fr. Zmijewski built a rectory on Pulaski Boulevard with his personal funds and established a library of 500 Polish and English books. He also was instrumental in incorporating the Village of Glenwood into the City of Wyandotte.

In 1906, the relationship between Fr. Zmijewski and the parish committee became strained and tense until the whole matter became grave enough to be brought to the attention of Bishop Foley. Bishop Foley had no choice but to proclaim a cooling off period to dispel the heat caused by friction and ordered the parish closed and Fr. Zmijewski was removed as pastor on February 18, 1906. The parish remained closed until March 19, 1906, when Rev. Fr. Frank Sajecki, pastor of St. Albertus Parish in Detroit was sent as an administrator, but ill health forced him to leave after one week. He died a week later at age 33. Rev. Fr. Maruszczyk was appointed administrator until April 26, 1906.

Rev. Joseph Lempka (1906-1909)

Bishop Foley assigned The Rev. Joseph Lempka to be pastor on April 27, 1906. Fr. Lempka's pastorate was entirely taken up with the perpetual struggles of the parish debt. He built a new rectory at a cost of $5,000 (equivalent to $169,556 in 2023) because the existing rectory was the personal property of Fr. Zmijewski. The former rectory on 10th Street eventually was sold to the parish to become an infirmary for the Felician Sisters who had been stricken from a tuberculous epidemic. When the stricken sisters died, they were buried in the nearby Mount Carmel Cemetery. The 20 sisters who are buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery were only 20 to 21 years old.

Rev. Constantine Dziuk (1909-1911)

Bishop Foley appointed The Rev. Constantine Dziuk as pastor in 1909. Fr. Dziuk perceived the necessity and advantage of enlarging the parish grounds and purchased adjacent vacant property placing a definite stamp on the parish holdings. In July 1911, Fr. Dziuk was transferred to Detroit to organize the new Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish (Westside).

Rev. Alexander Grudzinki (1911-1918)

Bishop Foley appointed The Rev. Alexander Grudzinki as pastor in 1911. On May 9, 1915, the cornerstone was laid and consecrated for the present church by The Most Rev. Edward Kelly and organized the dedication of the church on June 4, 1916. Fr. Grudzinki subsequently erected the convent for use by the Felician Sisters which was completed in 1916. Following the dedication of the new church, the first church was turned over for exclusive school use and additions were made to the building. In 1918, Fr. Grudzinki was transferred to St. Francis Xavier Parish in Detroit.

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Adalbert Zadala (1919)

In 1918, The Most Rev. Michael Gallagher appointed The Rt. Rev. Adalbert Zadala as pastor for only a year.

Rev. Maximilian Gannas (1920)

In 1919, Bishop Gallagher appointed The Rev. Maximilian Gannas as pastor for a year. Fr. Gannas organized a parish boy scout group in that time.

Rev. Leo Jarecki (1920-1921)

Bishop Gallagher appointed The Rev. Leo Jarecki as pastor in October, 1920. On April 7, 1921, Fr. Jarecki was shot by an unknown assailant upon answering the front door of the rectory. He died en route to the John F. Eilbert Memorial Hospital in Wyandotte. Five thousand people were estimated to attend his Pontifical Requiem Mass, including 250 clergy from across the United States. His body was escorted through the streets of Wyandotte to Mount Carmel Cemetery by a procession of thousands. Fr. Jarecki christened the three church bells in use today. Their names are: St. Stanislaus Kostka, The Holy Angels, and Our Lady Queen of Poland.

Rev. Peter Kruszka (1921-1939)

Bishop Gallagher appointed The Rev. Peter Kruszka as pastor in 1921. Fr. Kruszka built an addition on to the parish elementary school building, installed a heating plant, and enlarged the front of the pairsh convent of the Felician Sisters. He established the parish high school opening to the first class in September 1928.

In 1938, Fr. Kruszka went on a sabbatical due to failing health and in June 1938, Archbishop Gallagher appointed The Rev. Boleslaus Parzych as administrator. Fr. Parzych oversaw the painting of the interior and exterior of the elementary school building, the painting of the church roof, and having the interest rate of the parish debt reduced. Fr. Kruszka never regained his health and died on March 26, 1939.

Rev. Ladislaus Krych (1939-1956)

The Most Rev. Edward Mooney appointed The Rev. Ladislaus Krych pastor on June 10, 1939. In 1940, he organized a school band and orchestra, supplying it with the necessary instruments and band uniforms from his personal funds. In 1941, a kindergarten class was added to the school. In 1942, Fr. Krych began remodeling the church. The crumbling masonry was covered with lead and the church windows were reset and encased. New ventilation was installed and the church was rewired and reequipped with a modern lighting system. The church organ was repaired and reconstructed. In January, 1942, the interior of the church was cleaned and repainted at the cost of $9000 (equivalent to $167,829 in 2023). The Third Order of St. Francis and the Wyandotte Chapter of the Polish National Alliance bought a new communion rail. Benefactors and patrons purchased the present high altar and the Altar Society bought the present tabernacle and flower vases. Generous individual parishioners donated a monstrance, vestments, a pulpit, confessionals, and altar linens. The altar boys worked to buy the present shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

In 1943 and 1944, improvements were made to the parish convent for the Felician Sisters, the school buildings, and the church. The exterior of the church was washed, repaired, and the brick painted in 1945. On January 15, 1946, the parish debt of $5,000 (equivalent to $78,123 in 2023) was liquidated. This was the first time in parish history that the parish had no creditors. In 1947, new roofs were laid for the school buildings, a new boiler was purchased for the heating plant, an automatic system of bell ringing was installed for the church, and amplifiers for the church were added. In 1948, the parish purchased a strip of real estate bordering Electric Street. Subsequently, Electric Street closed and the land would be used for expansion. In 1949, the church was washed and refurnished at the cost of $5,180 (equivalent to $66,333 in 2023) and the interior of the school was also repainted.

In 1950, asphalt pavement was completed between the church and the schools. In 1951, with the winning of the Catholic and Parochial City Championships in football, the parishioners built a field house addition on to the high school for the athletes consisting of a locker room, two dressing rooms, an equipment room, a utility room, and toilet facilities were built.

On August 24, 1951, the cornerstone of the present rectory was laid. Also in 1951, an appeal was made by Fr. Krych for new church pews. Individual parishioners purchased pews and memorial plates were placed on each one. In July 1953, the new pews were ordered and were installed in September.

On March 17, 1956, Fr. Krych was stricken by a heart attack and died. Respected by the whole City of Wyandotte, Fr. Krych was mourned by thousands.

Rev. Jerome Juchniewicz (1956-1963)

The Most Rev. John Dearden appointed The Rev. Jerome Juchniewicz pastor in June 1956. In 1960, Fr. Juchniewicz had the tarnished statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel remodeled, which originally sat in a center niche on the front of the church. The statue was then mounted on a ground platform at the side of the church on the corner of 10th and Superior Blvd. The niche on the church was removed and a stained glass window of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was installed, which was designed after the windows throughout the church. On September 13, 1963, Fr. Juchniewicz was stricken by a heart attack and died at Wyandotte General Hospital.

Rev. Venanty Szymanski (1963-1972)

Archbishop Dearden appointed The Rev. Venanty Szymanski pastor in September 1963. In 1963, the Archdiocese of Detroit was facing a financial crisis and consolidation of high schools seemed to be the answer to many parishes. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish was advised to join the Wyandotte parishes of St. Joseph, St. Patrick, St. Helena, St. Stanislaus Kostka, and St. Elizabeth to establish Gabriel Richard Catholic High School. A public meeting was held and the parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel overwhelmingly decided to keep Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School operating and not join the consolidation.

In 1964, Fr. Szymanski began the process of erecting a new elementary school building. In 1965, lots of shovels helped break ground for a 600-pupil elementary school building, officiated by Fr. Szymanski. On October 30, 1966, the cornerstone of the new elementary school was blessed.

In 1967, Fr. Szymanski was stricken by two strokes. Throughout his rehabilitation, the parish continued to operate through the endeavors of his assistant, Rev. Stanley Redwick. In July 1971, Fr. Rediwck was assigned to be pastor at St. Stanislaus Parish in Detroit. Conseqently, in May 1972, Fr. Szymanski resigned as pastor due to never having regained his health and Archbishop Dearden appointed The Rev. Stanley Konopka as parish administrator.

Rev. Stanley Redwick (1972-1993)

Archbishop Dearden appointed The Rev. Stanley Redwick as pastor in June 1972. In 1972, a parish festival was planned for the weekend before Labor Day and has continued annually. The first festival profit of $85,000 (equivalent to $619,141 in 2023) was the result of the hard work of Fr. Redwick and hundreds of parishioners who worked to make the event a success. Fr. Redwick oversaw many renovations in the school buildings and church. He remodeled the high school kitchen into a modern well-equipped facility. The rooms cannot only be used for meals but the adjoining Social Room can be used for society meetings.

In 1974, Fr. Redwick initiated plans to repaint and repair the inside and outside of the church. In addition to repainting the inside of the church, a new slate roof was laid. The stained glass windows were reset along with various other remodeling. In 1993, Fr. Redwick resigned due to failing health.

Rev. Walter Ptak (1993-2013)

The Most Rev. Adam Maida appointed The Rev. Walter Ptak as pastor in 1993.

On October 31, 2004, a monument to Pope John Paul II sculpted by Czesław Dźwigaj was dedicated by Adam Cardinal Maida in the Peace Garden next to the church.

Our Lady of the Scapular Parish (2013)

Schools

External links

"Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Parish Wyandotte – Diocesan information". Archived from the original on 2011-09-28.