Bridging with our culture in Upper Silesia, Poland, to enrich our Texas heritage.

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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, 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.

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

 


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