NEGenWeb Project
Church/Catholic
Franciscans
Chapter XXVI
The Immaculate Conception Church
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH, OMAHA, NEBRASKA (1895-1929)
(Adapted from Rev. Wenceslaus Krzycki, O. F. M.).
EARLY POLISH SETTLERS--
ST.
PAUL'S CHURCH
Polish settlers began to arrive in Omaha about 1868 or earlier and to settle there in large numbers. Many of them understanding German, due to the Prussian sovereignty of several provinces of Old Poland, attended at St. Mary Magdalene's church, which was a German parish. The church building of St. Mary Magdalene's was then at 16th and Douglas streets. At intervals, Father Anastasius Czech and other Franciscan priests from Platte county that were able to speak the Polish language, were invited to read Mass at St. Mary Magdalene's and minister to the needs of their countrymen. Later on, when the German parish of St. Joseph's was formed on the South Side, then known as South Omaha, many of the Poles, who had settled near by, transferred their membership to St. Joseph's with the understanding that they would be given due consideration in securing spiritual ministrations in their own language. Rev. Charles Breitkopf understood and spoke the Polish, also. In time, however, when the Polish colony became more numerous, it was decided to start a Polish parish. In the year 1881, a temporary building west of the Union Pacific right of way, near 39th and Elm streets, was built to serve as a church and dedicated to St. Paul. A school-house was also roughly put together. Misunderstandings unfortunately arose, the pastors were transferred in rapid succession, the church burned down in 1895, and the mortgaged property was finally taken over by the bank. It was not long after the fire that the people began to drift away from St. Paul's Church. It was then only a matter of a short time until the parish was discontinued.
A NEW POLISH PARISH--
THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH
Left without a parish church, the majority of the Poles returned to their former German friends at St. Joseph's. At the request of the Rt. Rev. Richard Scannell, then Bishop of Omaha, the Franciscan Fathers of the Sacred Heart Province, with headquarters at St. Louis, Missouri, took charge of the Germans of. St. Joseph's Parish, as well as of the scattered Polish people in and about Omaha. These priests were of the group that were progressing with such marked success in Platte county. They were recognized as a leading missionary religious society by the Bishops of Western dioceses, and in many wealthy parishes throughout the Middle West, now ministered to by secular priests, may be seen the fruits of the early labors of the Franciscans, who founded the parishes, then relinquished them, to concentrate their efforts in Platte and Madison counties.
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Present immaculate Conception Church, Omaha. |
Rev. Theobald Kalamaja O. F. M. |
Rev. Methodius Kielar, O. F. M. |
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First Immaculate Conception Church, Omaha. |
Rev. Wenceslaus Krzycki, O. F. M. |
THE FRANCISCANS REORGANIZE THE POLISH CATHOLICS--
A COMBINATION CHURCH, SCHOOL AND CONVENT ERECTED
Father Ladislaus Czech, O. F. M., arrived in November, 1895, and undertook to reorganize the Polish people. After some months of soliciting, he bought four lots at South 24th and Bancroft streets as a site for new parish buildings, for the sum of $2,300. Being forced to resign on account of serious illness, he was succeeded in November, 1896, by Father Theobald Kalamaja, O. F. M., who soon undertook the construction of a combination building designed by
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Brother Adrian Wewer, O. F. M. The building served for many years as a church, school and Sisters' residence.
This building, a frame structure, was a two-story affair. The upper floor was used as a church, while the lower, a half basement, constructed of brick, was divided into four classrooms and several rooms in the rear that served as living quarters for the teachers. It cost about $5,000 and was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on November 14, 1897, by the Rt. Rev. Richard Scannell. Father Remigius Berendt, O. F. M., preached the Polish sermon for the occasion. School was opened in December of the same year by the Sisters of St. Francis from Lafayette, Indiana, Ven. Sisters M. Mathia and Loretta taking charge.
A VERY ENERGETIC PASTOR
Sensing that there was still further room for advancing the welfare of the Polish people in Omaha, Father Theobald sought and obtained permission to organize another Polish parish in the vicinity of the stockyards, South Omaha. The new parish was dedicated to St. Francis de Paul and was cared for by Father Dennis Czech and his successors until the end of May, 1910.
ENLARGEMENT OF SCHOOL AND TRANSFERS OF PASTORS
Father Theobald became pastor of St. Bonaventure's, in Columbus, in September, 1903, and Father Methodius Kielar, O. F. M., was appointed in his. place. He cancelled all the debt on the annex and commenced to accumulate a neat sum for future building purposes. In April, 1905, Father Methodius was succeeded by Father Wenceslaus Krzycki, O. F. M., who remained in charge until the end of May, 1910.
Having paid all of the parish debts the previous year, it was found necessary in 1910, to enlarge the school. Accordingly, a frame annex was built, costing $2,000. It contained a classroom, two rooms reserved for the pastor, all on the first floor. The second floor was first used as 'a parish hall, but was eventually turned into classrooms.
A SERIOUS DIFFICULTY ARISES
Father Rembert Stanowski, appointed pastor in May, 1907, found himself confronted with a serious difficulty. The time was approaching, when either a new church or a new school had to be built. The buildings, already old, had been erected in the first place to serve as temporary dwellings, and had far outlived their intended service. The present site east of the Union Pacific right of way did not, at this particular time, seem an entirely suitable location for the parish. The majority of the parishioners were settling on the west side of the twenty-four tracks. To attend church or school, the parents and their children had to cross and re-cross all these track, endangering their lives, because there was neither a viaduct nor open thoroughfare connecting the two sides. Repeated efforts were made to induce the authorities to construct a viaduct, but one delay followed another from year to year, until there was little hope for success. In view of all this, Father Rembert bought thirteen lots on the west side of the tracks at the intersection of Vinton street and Hanscom Part boulevard and opposite the western entrance of the Vinton street viaduct for the sum of $3,500, intending the ground for a permanent parish site. A few years later the much needed viaduct was constructed on Bancroft street and the project of moving the parish, practically settled, was rekindled. A stir both favorable and adverse, was raised, and the removal was finally abandoned. Luckily, however, the following pastors succeeded in parcelling (sic) out the lots at a neat little profit, which finally amounted to doubling the investment. Father Rembert was transferred to Ashland, Wisconsin, in February, 1911, and Father Theobald , Kalamaja, O. F. M., took charge. His second pastorate lasted eleven and one-half years, and was marked with great success.
WHAT FATHER THEOBALD DID
With the money that his predecessors had saved and he augmented, Father Theobald erected the present permanent school building in 1913. The building has eight schoolrooms, a Sisters' residence in the rear, with a central heating plant, an auditorium, lavatories and showers. The total cost was $37,800. A loan of $20,000 was needed to complete payment on the building, but that sum was paid off in five years. Besides clearing the parish of the school debt, Father Theobald assembled a nice fund of $20,000 with which to construct a new church. Having placed the Immaculate Conception Parish in an excellent condition, Father Theobald was transferred to Cleveland, Ohio, in January, 1923, and was succeeded by Father Wenceslaus Krzycki, O. F. M.
A NEW CHURCH GOES UP
The main task confronting Father Wenceslaus was the erection of a new church. The plans were drawn by J. M. Nachtigall, a well-known Omaha Catholic architect. The old church was moved to another site within the same block, where it was reset. The old structure is now used as a parish community center. After grading down the church lots four feet to
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street level, ground was broken for the new structure in August, 1926. The cornerstone was blessed October 24, 1926, by the Rt. Rev. Francis Beckman, Bishop of Lincoln and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Omaha. Father Thaddeus Woloszyk, O. F. M., pastor of St. Francis church, Sioux City, preached an eloquent sermon in Polish for the occasion. A fine new rectory was also erected in the same year. The general contract was let for $92,000; cost of heating, plumbing and electric wiring approximated $12,000; architect's fees, $4,500; ornamental enclosure, $1,800; extras, about $2,500; making a total for the entire building of approximatedly (sic) $125,000. So sound was the financial condition of the Immaculate Conception parish that the debt of the community at the completion of the buildings was only $44,000.
Immaculate Conception School, Pastoral Residence and Church,
24th and Bancroft Sts., Omaha, Nebraska.
A MODERN BUSTLING PARISH
The new place of worship for the parishioners of Immaculate Conception is of Romanesque design and was dedicated with proper solemnities on July 31, 1927, by the Rt. Rev. Francis F. Beckman, Administrator of the Diocese, assisted by former pastors and many of the resident clergy of Omaha. Father Theobald, O. F. M., preached in Polish with his usual eloquence, and Father Ladislaus Czech, O. F. M., organizer of the parish, sang the High Mass. The new church is complete in all respects with the exception of stained glass windows and permanent decorations.
THE PASTOR'S SILVER JUBILEE
On July 7, 1929, Father Wenceslaus Krzycki celebrated his Silver Sacerdotal Jubilee. The sermon for the occasion was preached by the Reverend Definitor Father Theobald Kalamaja, pastor of St. Stanislaus' church in Cleveland, Ohio. Many of the resident clergy were present for the glad occasion, as was also his dear old mother, Mrs. Barbara Krzycki, his two sisters and relatives. His father, Mr. John Krzycki, went to his reward three years before that. The grateful parishioners presented the Reverend Jubilarian with many useful and valuable gifts, chiefly with a fine Graham-Paige automobile. Many much needed improvements were added to the Sisters' home. Among them were chiefly a frigidaire, a clothes mangle, a new electric washing machine, linoleums for several parts of the home, and a remodeling of the dormitories.
Immaculate Conception School, Omaha
From the year of its organization (A. D. 1895), to the present, a period of thirty-five years, Immaculate Conception parish, thanks to the energetic and prudent guidance of the Franciscan Fathers, who were in charge of the parish all those years, now enjoys a steady and sound development, both materially and spiritually. Starting with about 150 families in 1895, Immaculate Conception parish today numbers
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365 families, consisting of 1635 adults and children. There are at present eight teachers and 411 children in the parochial school, Ven. Sister M. Illuminata is the present Superioress.
Rev. Casimir Wisniewski, O. F. M., from 1924 to 1928, and Rev. Fridolin Pietrusiewicz, O. F. M., since the fall of 1928, have served as assistants at Immaculate Conception Church. A fraternity of the Third Order of St. Francis was cononically (sic) erected about a year ago.
Rev. John Krzycki was born at Duncan, Platte county, Nebraska, on July 13, 1878. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. John (Barbara Borowiak) Krzycki. After living on the farm for a number of years, the family moved to Columbus. John, who had attended the district school, for a year, next attended the parochial school. He made his classical studies at Teutopolis, Illinois, and was invested there with the Franciscan habit, July 23, 1898, and was given the name of Wenceslaus. He was ordained priest July 5, 1904, and said his first Mass at Columbus. Fr. Wenceslaus was pastor of Immaculate Conception church at Omaha, April, 1905-May, 1910; labored at Cleveland, first as assistant and from 1912-1918 and again 1919-1924 as rector. During his pastorate he built a fine large school. Fr. Wenceslaus was sent back to Omaha and during his second pastorate erected the magnificent new church.
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