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Illuminated Faith
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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
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In
Memory of Edward and Susanna Janysek
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In Memory of Jessie
and Sylvia Mika
In Memory of Paul and
Anna Mika
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In Memory of Victor
Pilarczyk
In Memory of Mary Pilarczyk |
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In
Memory of Frances Dzyuk, Frances Olenik,
and Mary Morawietz
In Memory of Aloys and Constance Kotzur
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In
Memory of Agatha M. Urbanczyk
In Memory of Anton M. Urbanczyk
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In
Thanksgiving of Adrian and Regina Foegelle -
Aloys and Rosalie Pawelek
In Memory of Charles and Proxie Pollok
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In
Memory of Joseph Janysek
In Memory of Carolina Janysek
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In
Memory of Frank and Hedwig Korzekwa
In Memory of Theodor and Eva Pollock
In Memory of Charles and Praxyda Pollock
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In
Memory of Frank and Mary Manka
and Alex and Julia Manka
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In
Memory of Frank Snoga
In Memory of Anna Snoga
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In
Memory of Barbara Dworaczyk
In Memory of Henry and Otilia Dziuk
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In
Memory of Joseph and Gertrude Dziuk
In Memory of Jesse and Rosalia Pollock
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Memory of Valentine and Albertina Yanta |
In
Memory of Jacob and Johanna Moczygemba |
In
Memory of Joseph and Caroline Dragon |
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In
Memory of Joseph and Carolina Moczygemba
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St. Michael
Catholic Church, San Antonio, Texas
Photographs courtesy of James Collins and Elaine Mazurek Stephens
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The original St. Michael Catholic
Church was erected in the Polish Quarter of San Antonio in 1871;
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, 21st
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 (26th 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. |
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Donated by Theo and Pauline Magott |
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In Memory of Isydore and Lucy
Zizik
and their daughter, Theresa |
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In Memory of Joseph and
Caroline Moczygemba |
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St. Joseph
window:
In Memory of Valentine and Francis Gorrell, Sr. and Family
St. Thomas window:
In Memory of Thomas and Anna Kiolbassa |
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Dedicated to Rev. J. Jachtyl, Rev. P. Grzesiak,
Rev. S. Przyborowski, Rev. Leo Moczygemba |
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In Memory of Frank Pollok and Family &
In Memory of Valentine Gorrell Sr. and Family |
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Donated by Em. Morowitz
and Family |
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In Memory of Ignatius and Mary Burda
and their son, Joseph |
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In Memory of Anton and Febronia Novak |
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