Illuminated Faith

One of the most pervasive elements of Silesian Texan culture is a strong faith in God. The original Silesian immigrants in Texas relied on this spiritual trust to sustain them as they struggled to build homes and cultivate fields in the unpredictable Texas weather. When faced with hardships including illness and deaths of loved ones, they turned to God for help often through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.

When Silesian Texan churches were constructed as the heart of each community, beautiful stained glass windows were often donated and dedicated by families in memory of loved ones. With the bright Texas sun shining through, artistic windows depicting Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Our Lady and Joseph, and many beloved saints, are illuminated as testaments of faith.

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Panna Maria, Texas
Photographs courtesy of Tanna Finley

In Memory of Edward and Susanna Janysek


In Memory of Jessie and Sylvia Mika In Memory of Paul and Anna Mika	In Memory of Victor Pilarczyk In Memory of Mary Pilarczyk

In Memory of Frances Dzyuk, Frances Olenik,
and Mary Morawietz
In Memory of Aloys and Constance Kotzur


In Memory of Agatha M. Urbanczyk In Memory of Anton M. Urbanczyk	In Thanksgiving of Adrian and Regina Foegelle - Aloys and Rosalie Pawelek In Memory of Charles and Proxie Pollok


In Memory of Joseph Janysek In Memory of Carolina Janysek	In Memory of Frank and Hedwig Korzekwa In Memory of Theodor and Eva Pollock In Memory of Charles and Praxyda Pollock


In Memory of Frank and Mary Manka and Alex and Julia Manka	In Memory of Frank Snoga In Memory of Anna Snoga


In Memory of Barbara Dworaczyk In Memory of Henry and Otilia Dziuk	In Memory of Joseph and Gertrude Dziuk In Memory of Jesse and Rosalia Pollock


In Memory of Valentine and Albertina Yanta	In Memory of Jacob and Johanna Moczygemba	In Memory of Joseph and Caroline Dragon

In Memory of Joseph and Carolina Moczygemba

St. Michael Catholic Church, San Antonio, Texas
Photographs courtesy of James Collins and Elaine Mazurek Stephens

The original St. Michael Catholic Church was erected in the Polish Quarter of San Antonio in 1868; however, a new, white brick church was later built in 1922. “The blessing of the Art Glass Windows took place on December 2, 1923” (St. Michael’s Catholic Church 1866-1966 Centennial, 1966, 21^st page). The majestic church was razed to make room for the 1968 HemisFair. The exquisite stained glass windows which had been donated by the parishioners were saved, and their inscriptions had been recorded in the parish centennial book (26^th page) before the heart-breaking demolition of the historic structure. The windows were later installed in another downtown San Antonio church, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, at 617 South Santa Rosa Boulevard (Przygoda, 1971, p. 24). The photographs of the windows below were taken in 2010, over forty years after their removal from St. Michael Catholic Church.

Represented here are only nine images of the windows which were donated by Silesian Texans; however, there were 28 original windows listed in the parish centennial book.

For additional information and photos of St. Michael Church, please click here.

Read about a special presentation made in honor of St. Michael's early Polish parishioners. Click here.

To view our online photo gallery click here, please. You will be directed to our Picasa Web Albums.


	Donated by Theo and Pauline Magott


In Memory of Isydore and Lucy Zizik and their daughter, Theresa		In Memory of Joseph and Caroline Moczygemba

	St. Joseph window: In Memory of Valentine and Frances Gorrell, Sr. and Family St. Thomas window: In Memory of Thomas and Anna Kiolbassa

Dedicated to Rev. J. Jachtyl, Rev. P. Grzesiak, Rev. S. Przyborowski, Rev. Leo Moczygemba		In Memory of Frank Pollok and Family & In Memory of Valentine Gorrell Sr. and Family

	Donated by Em. Morawitz and Family

In Memory of Ignatz and Mary Burda and their son, Joseph		In Memory of Anton and Febronia Novak