History of St. Mary’s Assumption
Poland – The Homeland Poland was a major state in the 14th and 15th centuries but internal weakness and greed of neighboring states led to its divisions among neighboring Prussia, Russia and Austria in the 18tth century. Catholicism was preserved despite pressure from Protestant Germany on the Prussian Rule areas and Russian Orthodox on the Russian Rule areas. In the Austrian Rule Galacia areas, a national culture developed freely in a multinational Austro-Hungarian Empire. The borders of these occupations shifted periodically. The Kaniecki and Romanski families appear to have been from the German (Prussia) Rule areas of Poland. The 19th century was the great century of modernity. It began with a series of political upheavals which opned the way for the ideals of democracy and free enterprise. But unsuccessful rebellions in Poland against Russia in 1830 and 1831, against Austria in 1846 and 1864, and again against Russia in 1863 and 1864, led many aristocratic and middle class refugees to flee Poland for political freedom in the United States. Poland remained divided under foreign rule. New Opportunities The Industrial Revolution in the United States led to the conditions that promoted the growth of industry. Improved modern equipment allowed the tapping of vast natural resources. The implementation of protective tariffs and free enterprise also enhanced this growth. Road building programs developed highways and canals, a good labor market attracted immigrants and a plentiful supply of money was available from shipbuilding and trading. The building and completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 and railroads in the 1830’s, subsequent improvements in communications and the invention of steamships, all made travel more favorable. In the 1890’s the immigration to America became a mass movement. This was as a result of several factors: the end of legal restrictions on emigration in Eastern Europe, an increase in the population of Poland with consequent overcrowding of small peasant farms, the availability of cheap railroad and steamship transportation and above all, economic opportunity in the United States. Many found jobs as industrial workers especially in the steel industry and manufacturing. During the 1870’s and 1880’s, immigration concentrated in the industrial centers of the Midwest and Northeast with one of the largest settlements in Buffalo. Letters from family members stateside to those in the homeland that described a better life helped swell the tide of immigration. Orleans County People of English descent came as permanent settlers in the early 19th century. It was not until the Erie Canal was built across Orleans County that the population became more diverse. Albion benefitted from the canal’s presence as thriving businesses sprang up along it and communities began to emerge. Farmers were able to ship grains. Foundries were built along the towpath where stores sold improved farm implements. As more and more Catholics entered the area, they longed for ministrations of their Church. Albion and the Catholic Church In 1833, a Lockport priest celebrated the first Mass in Albion at a home on Main Street (NY Route 98) just north of the canal and during this same year a mission was established with Masses celebrated once per month. Most of the immigrants at this time were from Ireland. The mission was served by priests from Lockport, Rochester and Batavia. In 1849, just two years after the Diocese of Buffalo was established, Bishop Timon selected the site for the first Catholic Church of Albion that became St. Joseph’s. Fr. Castaldi became the resident pastor in 1862 and also had responsibilities in Holley as well. During his 33 years as pastor, he led the building of a rectory and convent and brought the Sisters of Mercy to the community and enlarged the school. Albion and the Polish Immigrants Polish people settled in Albion as early as 1875 and attended St. Joseph’s Church. Immigrants from Ireland, Italy and England, for the most part, preceded them. Many were employed in quarries, which began in 1860. Sandstone quarrying was Albion’s major industry from 1880-1920 when concrete and asphalt became favored building materials. Fertile land became prime fruit and vegetable farms and soon canning factories and greenhouses became the predominant industry just to the north. Polish immigrants often established neighborhoods near the factories where they worked. More educated ones went into business and formed organizations and soon found Catholic parish churches in their neighborhoods. Those Poles who found work in the quarries were encouraged by their employers to invite relatives and friends to come here from the homeland and were even loaned money for their passage. They soon founded a colony in the eastern part of the village, north of the Barge Canal, and the building of homes commenced. A thrifty, vigorous people, they labored early and late until their dreams were realized and they possessed a little hamlet of their own.
coming soon: more information on the Polish Community of Albion
The Founding of St. Mary’s Assumption Church Bishop Ryan established a mission for these people in the year 1890. The administration of it was left to Fr. Castaldi, the pastor of St. Joseph’s, who brought a Polish Jesuit priest from Buffalo about four times a year so the Poles could make their own religious duties in their own language. The Polish Catholic Community attended St. Joseph’s until 1891, when on August 12, 1891, the Rev. Swinko was sent by Bishop Ryan to establish a separate parish for the Polish people and was appointed pastor of the mission. It was he who organized the parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He held services in the school hall for one year when he bought property at Brown and Moore Streets for the new church. There were two buildings on the land, and one was converted into a rectory and the other into a parochial school. Two Mercy Sisters from St. Joseph’s School and one lay teacher were hired to teach. The Polish population was 150 families. On April 22, 1892, the State of New York Office of the Secretary of the State, issued a Certificate of Incorporation to “The Assumption Roman Catholic Church Society of Albion”. Soon after, plans were made for the new church building. On Sunday, August 14, 1892, the laying of the cornerstone took place. This was a great and memorable day for the Poles in Albion. About 2,000 persons from Buffalo arrived by special trains and about 400 came from Rochester. Among the Buffalonians were several uniformed societies and four brass bands, and when the procession marched down State Street from the depot, it presented and imposing appearance. About 5,000 persons were gathered on and about the grounds. About 5 o’clock the venerable Bishop Ryan arrived on the grounds under the escort of the marching societies and accompanied by Fathers Castaldi and Swinko of Albion, Father McNab of Medina and Fr. Pitass and Wojcik of Buffalo. The church, dedicated on February 8, 1893, was built of red brick with Medina sandstone trimmings and seated 500 people. Later a bell was placed in the steeple and a pipe organ was installed. All the expenses were assumed by the people, poor and struggling, but blessed with rugged health and strong faith in the future. Fr. Basinski came to Albion in 1896, replacing Fr. Swinko. The earliest annual report for the parish found in the rectory was of 1898 by Fr. Basinski who listed 800 Catholics in the mission with 140 students in grades K-8. 60 children in public school received religious education daily from 4-5 p.m. One of the trustees of the parish was John Romanski.. St. Mary’s Assumption School In 1906, Fr. Leopold Stein arrived as pastor and noted in his annual report a population of 892 Catholics with 154 students in parochial school. He undertook the building of a new school and asked every parishioner to donate two weeks of labor or the equivalent towards the schoolhouse. The building, a wooden structure, is 80 X 40 feet in size. On the ground floor are four schoolrooms and living apartments for the Sisters. On the second floor is a large hall for entertainments and public gatherings. The school was formally dedicated on April 18, 1907 by Bishop Colton. He spoke in commendation of the generosity of the Polish people in church affairs and exhorted them to continue steadfast in their loyalty to their church and country. His address was repeated in Polish for the benefit of those who did not understand the English language. Fr. Stein’s Annual Report of 1907 lists 193 students enrolled. In the mid 1800’s the Felician Sisters of Poland immigrated to the United States and set up a provincial house in around Detroit. They came to New York State in 1881 at the request of Fr. John Pitass, pastor of St. Stanislaus parish in Buffalo, the most popular center for Polish immigrants in the 1870’s. In 1908, St. Mary’s pastor, Fr. Stanislaus Bubacz petitioned Mother Mary Jerome, Provincial Superior of the Felician Sisters in Buffalo, to send sisters to teach in his parochial school. On September 29,1909, the school opened. The greatest number of schools and institutions conducted by the Felician Sisters in the United States were to be found in New York. The Felicians were entrusted to the care of the school from 1909 to 1977. During that span, 84 different sisters were assigned to St. Mary’s. Declining enrollment resulted in the consolidation of St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s parochial schools with K-2 at St. Mary’s and 3-8 at St. Joseph’s. In 1977, Fr. Waligora announced that due to declining enrollment and increasing costs for operating the schools, they would close on June 21, 1977. more information on St. Mary's School: go to www.eriecanalschoolhouse.com/index.htmlContinued Life at St. Mary’s Assumption In 1922, Fr. Mioduszewski arrived as pastor and replaced the old house with a new rectory in 1912. Around 1919, the population peaked at 1,100 parishioners. At the beginning of the 20th century, throughout the world there was a movement to return to ancient traditions, customs and cultures that had been previously submerged and even suppressed under the impact of colonialism – thus posing to the churches the need to cope with religions and traditions that had previously seemed dead or impotent. Annual records of the parish during the first half of the 1900’s reveal numerous parish societies forming that focused on different ages and genders, from children to adult. Polish language worship styles were popular as indicated by attendance records. These included Stations of the Cross, Wednesday Evening Novenas, Forty Hour Devotions, Sunday Afternoon Gorzkie Zale, First Friday Holy Hours, etc. Confessions were available daily before weekday Masses. Annual social events were also well attended. Special celebrations such as May Crowning and Corpus Christi Feastdays involved massive processions into the streets that required traffic control by local police. One fraternal social organization that formed was a baseball club that eventually split from the church control and became the St. Mary’s Athletic Club for Polish-Catholic men. The Club sported a ballpark and a traveling semi-pro hardball team. This Club remains in the community today and supports many charitable and recreational activities. On record, there various societies listed that included a Sacred Heart of Jesus Society, a St. Joseph Society, a St. Stanislaus Society, An Altar and Rosary Society, a Young Women’s Altar and Rosary Society, a Mothers’ Club and a Holy Name Society. The Rosary Society was the last to fold shortly prior to the merger. Annual Church Picnics were popular summer social fundraising events that offered food and entertainment for people of all ages. People from all over western New York would converge on the parish grounds that would last well into the evening. These were gradually phased out during the term of Fr. Waligora. In 1958, Fr. Borowiak added an enclosed vestibule to the front of the church, replaced all the furniture, pews and wood trim and repainted the interior. During his term, he added stained glass windows and in 1961 installed a permastone veneer covering the brick exterior of the church. In 1965, some parishioners donated land directly across from the front of the church to the parish in memory of their parents. This was transformed into a stone parking lot. Fr. Cybulski became administrator following the retirement of the last resident pastor, Fr. Waligora. In 1993, he was appointed pastor of both Albion parishes and had the parking lot paved and the rectory painted and repaired. Since the 1950’s the parish has seen a decline in the population. It has been attributed to young people relocating to the cities for higher salary jobs, some fall-aways due to mixed marriages and most families choosing public schools because of superior facilities and no tuition. Before Fr. Waligora’s pastorship had ended, many of the Polish traditions and services were already discontinued. Fr. Csizmar was appointed pastor of both parishes in 1995 following the death of Fr. Cybulski. Fr. Csizmar linked both parishes and resurrected the parish council and was responsible for increased lay involvement in parish life. The idle school structure fell into disrepair and neglect and was sold in 2000 as a private residence. In 2002, St. Mary’s underwent major renovations after reassurances by Bishop Mansell during an unannounced surprise visit to St. Mary’s, that St. Mary’s would remain a viable parish for years to come. In 2003 the parish census showed a population of 137 people comprising 95 families. Median age is 65 with the average as being 59. According to diocesan archives St. Mary’s has had 19 resident priests during it’s history. In 2007, Bishop Kmiec a merge and decreed St. Mary’s Assumption Parish an Oratory that no longer would host regular weekend worship. At the time of the merge, there were around 100 registered parishioners. Many were widows and widowers. There were 7 children confirmed the final year of its existence. At the time of closure, St. Mary’s continued to financially operate in the black and credited the success of this due primarily to the volunteer effort. Pastors Assigned to St. Mary’s Assumption| Name of Priest | From | To |
| Bartholomew Swinko | 1891 | 1896 |
| Peter Basinski | 1896 | 1900 |
| Michael Dyninski | 1900 | 1903 |
| Adam Marcinkiewicz | 1903 | 1906 |
| Leopold Stein | 1906 | 1907 |
| Stanislaus Bubacz | 1908 | 1911 |
| Charles Mioduszewski | 1911 | 1914 |
| John Szmytkowski | 1914 | 1919 |
| Ladislaus Brejski | 1919 | 1920 |
| John Paul | 1920 | 1921 |
| Anthony Haremza | 1921 | 1925 |
| Ladislaus Hordych | 1925 | 1929 |
| Pater Pitass | 1929 | 1930 |
| John Melinski | 1930 | 1940 |
| John Hrcyna | 1940 | 1948 |
| Ignatius Wojciechowski | 1948 | 1952 |
| Joseph Kopacz | 1952 | 1953 |
| Adam Borowiak | 1953 | 1966 |
| Walter Waligora | 1967 | 1989 |
| J. Grant Higgins (temp. adm.) | 1976 | 1976 |
| Francis Cybulski (temp. adm.) | 1990 | 1992 |
| Francis Cybulski | 1993 | 1994 |
| Richard Csizmar | 1995 | 2006 |
