St. Stanislaus Church

The Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus is the home of a Catholic parish within the Diocese of Cleveland. St. Stanislaus is one of the major historic centers of Polish life in Cleveland, Ohio, especially for Poles with roots in Warsaw and surrounding areas, and is often called the mother church for Cleveland's Polish population. The shrine, beautiful and powerful, houses two relics: the Mitre of Pope John Paul II and the relic of St. Stanislaus.

The year 1868 marks the beginning of the Catholic Polish immigration to Cleveland. It was then that a few families of Poles settled in the "Forest City". By the end of 1873 their number so increased that Bishop Richard Gilmour found it necessary to organize them into a separate congregation. As they were too poor, and too few in number, to build their own church, Gilmour gave them the use of St. Mary's on the Flats. George Francis Houck wrote that Catholic Poles of Cleveland were the last to occupy St. Mary's on the Flats, the first Catholic church building in Cleveland, from 1872 to 1879, before organizing as the St. Stanislaus congregation. Poles were the last to occupy the proto-cathedral of Cleveland.

For the pastoral care of Polish language speakers, Gilmour commissioned Father Victor Zareczny, born in Lwów then known as Lemberg, Galicia, pastor of St. Adalbert's Polish Church, in Berea, Ohio, to look after their spiritual interests, which he did from December, 1873, until October, 1877, when Father John A. Marschal, born in Olsztyn, then known as Allenstein, Kingdom of Prussia, was appointed the first resident pastor for Poles. This position he held until January, 1879, when he left the diocese.By this time St. Mary's on the Flats was unfit for use, and Janietz obtained the use of the Franciscan Monastery Chapel, on Hazen St., for the Poles. In 1879 St. Mary's on the Flats was practically abandoned.

In August, 1881, the present site was purchased, where most of the Poles had settled, near to the Cleveland Rolling Mills, which was located near present-day Jones Rd. and Broadway Ave., where many of them had found employment.

In 1883, the parish numbered about 200 families. A parish school was opened simultaneously with the original church, and had been under the care of Sisters of St. Francis. The attendance, in 1903, was about 1,000 pupils.

A tornado on April 21, 1909 destroyed the twin spires at the front of the church.They were rebuilt within the year. In 1998, a $1.5 million restoration was completed in the church, restoring it to its former splendor. Saint Stanislaus original height was 232 ft (71 m) but currently is 122 ft (37 m).

In 1962, St. Stanislaus built a new parish social center and gym complex across the street. In 1968, Cleveland Central Catholic High School was established at St. Stanislaus Parish. Cleveland Central Catholic and St. Stanislaus School have Masses in the church. In 1969 Cardinal Karol Wojtyła (the future Pope John Paul II) visited the parish.

On June 22, 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

This gorgeous destination is hosting the Polish Festival, allowing you the opportunity to behold its beauty in person.