Church History
We stand strong both spiritually and materially with firm faith in God, burning love for Jesus and trust in Mary's watchful care over which our founders brought from Poland over 100 years ago.
The history of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Utica, New York begins 102 years ago in October of 1894 when eighty-two (82) families and individuals contributed a sum of $79 toward a future Parish and Church to serve Polish Immigrants to the Utica Area. Well before 1889 Polish families began to arrive in Utica from a Poland which was dismembered by three neighboring nations. Thirty-five years earlier, in 1853 the first Poles had arrived in Galveston, Texas and made their way to settle in Panna Maria south of San Antonio. Other Poles later made their way to Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, the New England States and even Nebraska.
Here in Utica, because they did not yet have a church of their own nor priests to serve them in their own native language, they were welcomed at St. Joseph's German Parish on Columbia Street. Thirty years before, Father Leopold Moczygemba, a Polish Franciscan Priest who had studied in Germany and mastered that language, served German Catholics at St. Joseph's as well as in Syracuse, Oswego and the Lowville area. This same Father Moczygemba had invited his relatives and former neighbors in Poland to come to the United States and to Texas where he welcomed and cared for them.
The Polish immigrants to the Utica area worked in the local factories and foundries seeking a better life for themselves and their children as did the other national groups which arrived here before and after them. Above all, they desired to live and preserve their Catholic Faith and Polish Culture and to share it with future generations. They came with a solid faith in God, a true love of Jesus His Son and great devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus; With this in mind... as well as for mutual support in this new land... they established in 1889 a fraternal aid society dedicated to their great Polish Patron, SAINT STANISLAUS, BISHOP AND MARTYR. This St. Stanislaus Society would be the foundation upon which the future parish and church was built and established. His statue and picture are present in the church sanctuary today.
This Society endeavored to seek out and invite Polish-speaking Priests to come to Utica as they were able, especially during Lent and Easter. After the initial offering of $79 in 1894, monthly collections continued so that in August 1896 the Saint Stanislaus Society purchased a tract of land along with a wooden frame building on Chenango Avenue for the price of $4000. $1300 was paid in cash and the $2700 balance was obtained with a 5% mortgage. "Chenango Ave" would become "Lincoln Avenue", the current address of the church.
In October of 1896 the deed to this property was turned over to the Syracuse Diocese and Bishop Patrick Ludden. He was named the first Bishop of the new Syracuse Diocese ten years earlier in 1886. He assured the people that he would honor their request for a priest to serve them in their own Polish language. Two months later, on December 23, 1886 Father Simon Pniak arrived in Utica as their new pastor. His first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day in the St. John's School Hall on Burnet Street since the small frame building was still being converted into a modest chapel, rectory and office. A week later, on the Sunday after Christmas, sixty families attended the first Mass celebrated in this new little wooden church.
As an interesting aside, during the 1996 renovations and clean-up efforts early in this Jubilee Year, an iron bell was found in a far corner of the present church basement. 21 inches in diameter and made of "crystal metal", it is dated 1886. The inscription reads: "Sears and Roebuck". Information given by the Verdin Bell Company tells us that it weighs 100 pounds, was manufactured by the C.S. Bell Company of Hillsboro, Ohio and cost $10.00! It was called a "farm bell" and was manufactured by them along with sawmill equipment, manhole covers and coffee mills. The firm still exists in Tifton, Ohio and continues to make farmbells and manhole covers. It is felt that this bell was a temporary bell used in this first little chapel.
On March 25, 1897 Holy Trinity Church was legally incorporated and the property and documents transferred by Bishop Ludden to the new parish. On September 19 of this same year, the cornerstone for a larger church was laid and blessed by Bishop Ludden. The new stone and brick church would seat 500 people. Christmas Day Mass was celebrated in the church basement and on June 11, 1899 Bishop Ludden returned to dedicate the new edifice and at the same time Confirm 161 young parishioners. The cost was $20,000.
Because of events in Poland and the favorable opportunities for employment in the Utica area, so many more Poles were arriving to settle with their relatives and friends already here, that the Parish began to raise more funds and make plans for a larger church. The debt on the first new church was paid and $7383.07 set aside for the new one. During Summer 1905 groundbreaking took place for a new granite church of "Governuer marble". It would be 103 feet long, 50 feet wide, with twin Gothic spires rising about 80 feet and costing $125,000. Actually, it would be larger and cost more. The plans were drawn by architects Agnes, Rushner and Jennison. Father Francis Rusin, friend of Father Pniak, was pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Syracuse, the "mother church" of Holy Trinity Church. They, too, were still in their first small church. It is said he liked the design so very much that he had them copied, but enlarged and with some design changes. It would be built a few years later and on first glance seems to be exactly the same. Other churches in the Diocese were built with a similar design and the same exterior granite stone.
The Utica Observer of July 16, 1906, carried a story on the visit of Bishop Ludden on the previous day when he laid the cornerstone of this, our present church, and at the same time confirmed a class of 500 children. He spoke to the 2000 people who gathered that day:
"I wish to congratulate this parish on its splendid success. This church, large though it be, has outgrown its usefulness. The new edifice will be a splendid one, ample for all your needs; and as I have today assisted in laying its cornerstone, so do I hope soon to bless the completed structure for you. You are an energetic people and you have an energetic pastor. A few years ago you were a few scattered communicants. Now you are a people. These young children are growing in to useful citizens. I urge you to hold fast to your pastor. Help him in all his efforts. I trust that you will soon have a good parochial school as a part of this magnificent church. The young need it. We must all grow up strong in the faith and piety. God bless you, my children. It is almost impossible physically for one man to give the necessary care to this large congregation and I hope soon you will have another priest to assist the good Father Pniak. God bless you."
Planned to be ready in August of 1907, difficulties dragged out the completion of this second larger church for five years and raised the cost to over $150,000. Being built on the bank of the abandoned Chenango Canal, quicksand was discovered. Massive walls needed to be added and piles driven and more cement used in the project. Relief and assistance arrived for Father Pniak in the person of a young and eloquent assistant priest, Father Anthony Baron Chyssek.
The rapid growth of the parish and the arrival of so many people from sectors of a "partitioned" Poland would result in a period marked with factions, dissensions and disagreements. These feelings would gradually disappear as the people came to realize not only their common Faith but also their common brotherhood in sharing the same life, tasks, problems and goals. But it would not happen during Father Pniak's pastorate. Because the Polish people came from different divided sectors of Poland, even their neighborhoods here in Utica were given nicknames: Lincoln Avenue (then called Chenango Ave) was nicknamed "Prussian Avenue" by local residents; the Whitesboro Street area was called "Galicia"; while the East Utica area was called "Russian Poland".
After thirteen years Father Pniak, a dedicated, pious and fine Priest and Pastor, chose to become pastor of a new St. Stephen's Parish in Oswego, New York, which had been established to serve Polish immigrants to that northern section of the Syracuse Diocese. He served in Oswego from 1909 until his retirement in 1924. When he died on October 21, 1928, it was his wish to be buried in the Holy Trinity Parish Cemetery which he had purchased and established in 1901.
Father Thedore Suck served as parish administrator from April 1909 until August. Father Alnselm Mlynarczyk followed him until November of 1909. Father Mlynarczyk arranged for the arrival of two Sisters of the Immaculate Conception to teach in the parish parochial school. Finally, in December of 1909 Father Louis P. Muszynski arrived in Utica from his former pastorate in Riverhead, Long Island and assumed the spiritual care of this Holy Trinity Parish.
During these years, Holy Trinity Parish had no definite parish boundaries, but served all Catholic Poles living in Oneida, Madison, Herkimer and adjoining counties. Gradually the priests and people at Holy Trinity would help to establish other parishes ... as a "mother parish".
These were:
1909 St. Mary's Parish in New York Mills
1909 Transfiguration Parish in Rome
1911 St. Stanislaus Parish in East Utica
1911 St. George Lithuaninan Parish on Lafayette Street.
Father Muszynski was able to unite and organize the people of Holy Trinity and bring the church to completion. It is said that upon his arrival he told his new and divided parishioners: "You will not call each other Pruss or Galiman, nor Russ, nor anything else. You are all of one mother--one country--one Poland. Most of all, you are of one parish!" On May 22, 1910 the new Bishop of Syracuse, Coadjutor Bishop John Grimes, dedicated the new church and consecrated the main marble altar which had been donated by the Rosary Society. Two weeks later, Most Rev. Paul Rhode of Chicago, the first American Bishop of Polish descent, confirmed 360 young people and blessed two giant church tower bells which were donated by the St. Michael's Society and the Utica Globe Mill.
In Summer 1910 the old brick church was transformed into a school with eight classrooms to replace classrooms in the basement. That same Summer, 17 Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth arrived in Utica to take charge of the children in the parochial school. 86 years later, in 1996, five Sisters of the Holy Family continue to serve at Holy Trinity. The first wood frame building purchased in 1896 was converted into a Convent for the Sisters. In 1914 an addition was built to the school enlarging it to 18 classrooms. The large White Eagle Auditorium was added. Father Musynski began a tradition of Parish Missions conducted every four years. The present three-story rectory with eighteen rooms, offices and meeting rooms was built in 1916 at a cost of $16,000.
World War One found Father Muszynski leading his parishioners in efforts to contribute both to the cause of the Allied victory as well as the restoration of Poland's independence and unification. The Polish Community in Utica raised $113,000 for relief and rebuilding of an independent Poland. One hundred seventy-one young men served in the Polish forces and 13 gave their lives for Polish freedom. One hundred thirty-nine young men entered the United States Armed Forces with several giving their lives.
In June of 1920, for reasons of health and to visit his elderly mother, Father Muszynski went to Poland for a vacation. The Holy Trinity Parish Family here in Utica was saddened by his decision to stay in Poland and not return. Poland had again regained its freedom and perhaps for this reason and the urging of his bishop in Poland he was moved to make the decision to remain there. From June to October 1920 Father Alexander Kowalski, past pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Schenectady and former chaplain in the Polish Army, served as parish administrator. He later remained as assistant to the new pastor until July 4, 1921.
The new pastor, Rev. Michael J. Dzialuk, organized and served as pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish in Binghamton before coming to Utica on October 7, 1920. He served here for 27 years until his death in 1947. He expanded and beautified the property and immediately undertook a program to "correct an injustice to the nuns and their health" by planning for a new Sisters’ Convent. All of this he did in spite of a parish debt of $85,000 and an average Sunday collection of only $154. He began a "quarter fund" for debt reduction and a "half dollar fund" for the new convent. The convent was completed in 1925 at a cost of $50,000. In 1922 the church roof needed to be repaired and during this same year the church interior was renovated, new stained glass windows from Munich were installed and property purchased along Wheeler Avenue for a school yard and athletic field. The following year, in 1923 the new three-manual pipe organ replaced the original small organ at a cost of $8000.
In 1925, with completion of the New Convent, the original wood-frame building purchased in 1898 was demolished. It had served as church, rectory, offices and convent. On its site a shrine was built and a rose garden planted with a six-foot Carrara marble statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Christ Child set upon a granite boulder in its center. It serves even today to remind everyone that this was the birthplace of Holy Trinity Parish and Polish Catholicism in the Utica area. The statue was a gift of the children, purchased by $663 worth of pennies representing their sacrifices.
In Polish and English is inscribed on a bronze tablet: "AD. 1926 The children of Holy Trinity Church have erected this statue to mark the site of the small wooden house where since the year 1896, the early Polish settlers gathered for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This place is the cradle of several Polish Catholic parishes".
Finally, in 1927 the parish was able to "burn" a $100,000 mortgage bond and raise another $15,000 to reduce the remaining debt to $129,000. Repayment was very slow during the 10 years of the "great depression" and it was even necessary to borrow monies to pay interest on debt loans. However, in spite of the pressures and difficulties, it is recorded that school tuition costs were cancelled so that no child would be deprived of the opportunity of a Catholic education.
The 1946 Holy Trinity Golden Jubilee Book contains photos of over 900 parishioners who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War II. The invasion of Poland in 1939 caused great grief among parishioners as they feared for their families and relatives in Poland and affected by war. Forty-five men lost their lives during the Great War. Parishioners joined with their neighbors to support their country and their young men. In addition, they joined in efforts for Polish War Relief and aid to the Church in Poland by responding to the appeal of the Catholic League for Religious Assistance to the Church in Poland. The same appeal continues today.
Father Michael Dzialuk died on September 22, 1947. He was 63 years of age at the time of his death. Because of his example and encouragement, a number of young parishioners were in seminaries and convents preparing for service in the Church as Priests and Sisters. Father Stanley Macewicz, senior assistant priest at the time, served as parish administrator of the parish until November 7, 1947 when Father Bernard A. Janczewski was appointed Pastor by Bishop Walter E. Forery. He came to Utica from his pastorate at Transfiguration Church in Rome. One of the first things he did in this post-war period was to make a complete parish census in order to evaluate the parish, its members, its programs and its needs. From this Spring 1948 census it was found that the parish was made up of approximately 2000 families which included over 6000 souls. As in so many other parishes at this time, an envelope system was introduced for parish support. The increase in parish income not only liquidated the then $30,000 parish debt but also provided $30,000 more for needed repairs and improvements to the old auditorium and school.
It was during this period that old parish organizations were strengthened and new groups formed. The Ushers and Collectors increased in numbers; the Holy Name Society was established; corporate Communions were introduced along with programs of spiritual exercises; and in the school the Parent-Educator Association, affiliated with the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers, was founded to work for the school and its children. The Legion of Mary was formed in June of 1956 with Father Janczewski as its moderator. This group carried on the work of the "lay apostolate" in the church with special emphasis on visitation and care of the sick and the homebound. They continue this work even today.
Father Janczewski (to be named "Monsignor" during his pastorate here) had been an educator. For that reason he made great effort to upgrade Holy Trinity School. Educational, scientific, library, audio-visual materials and supplies were obtained along with projectors, copy machines, tape recorders and duplicators. The P.E.A. worked with the Pastor to make this a school of excellence. Even the athletic program would grow and gain many awards and championships.
The first Holy Trinity School graduation took place in 1911 with 7 graduates. In the 1920's as many as 1400 children were enrolled at one time. It would decline to 420 in 1947. In the 1950's it rose to over 700 children. It was at this time that plans were made for a new school. Fundraising began to build a new school with 16 classrooms, a kindergarten, offices, a large gym and a cafeteria to seat at least 300. Construction began in spring of 1959 and the cornerstone laid on July 21. By Easter of 1960 students were already using the school. On September 10, 1960 the school began its first official sessions completed and furnished. Cost was $560,000 for building and equipment.
Before the school project, many church improvements and repairs were made. The three separate sets of front steps were replaced with one set of new granite steps. Inside the church the Communion railing was brought down to floor level. The small sanctuary area was widened to include the two side altars. Wood was replaced with marble and the high wooden pulpit was replaced with the marble pulpit which is used today. An additional exit was built leading out to Wheeler Ave.
During 1960-1970 additional properties were purchased adjacent to the church and school. A new roof was installed, interior lighting fixtures replaced and preparations made for the 75th Parish Jubilee. The church exterior was cleaned, painted and sandblasted as well as the woodwork painted. New doors were installed both inside and outside the front entrances. On the rectory side a complete new entrance with stairways and storage rooms was added to the church building.
Father Janczewski became "Monsignor" Janczewski in April 1960, as an honor for his fine work. He served as pastor for 26 years. During this time twelve young men were ordained to the Priesthood. The "Diaconate" was conferred upon two candidates for the Priesthood in Holy Trinity Church and even the Sacrament of Priesthood was conferred upon Father Thomas Palczynski in this parish church.
A sad moment for the parish was on Tuesday before Ash Wednesday in February 1967 when vandals entered the church and desecrated the Blessed Sacrament and stole some sacred vessels. The whole community was outraged along with Holy Trinity parishioners. During the Lenten Season, many people were moved to come and join in prayers and acts of reparation to God for this profanation. As if in response, the sacred vessels were found and returned on Easter Monday morning, March 27.
Monsignor Janczewski led the parish in celebrating the 75th Parish Anniversary in October 1971. In June 1973 be celebrated his own 50th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination and on September 1, 1973 accepted mandatory retirement at age 75 and returned to his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania to be near his family. He died on March 25, 1986 at the age of 88. Father Leopold V. Prozny was named Pastor on September 5th, coming to Utica from St. Casimir's Parish in Endicott, N.Y.
As he looked at an "aging" parish, Father Prozny undertook the renovation of the church basement rooms to serve, among other groups, the Senior Citizen Group which was formed in 1973 and later took the name of "Polonaise Seniors". Father Dzialuk had previously transformed part of the church basement into the Chapel of St. Andrew Babola where Mass was offered on occasion and many infants were baptized.
Father Prozny undertook the painting and renovation of the church interior and a most difficult task of "stripping" the dark varnished pews to their original oak grain and color. This difficult project resulted in a brighter and different church. The exterior was also cleaned by sandblasting. The Convent, completed in 1925, was renovated, painted and redecorated for the first time in nearly 50 years. In 1974 he began planning for a Chapel-Mausoleum at Holy Trinity Cemetery, the first such Catholic Mausoleum in Central New York. It was completed, dedicated and blessed in May 1978. After serving as Pastor for 19 years, he retired at the mandatory age of 75 on July 1, 1992 and returned to Rome to live with his family where he was born and raised.
The new pastor was a priest of 36 years who was brought up in Holy Trinity Parish but baptized at St. Stanislaus Parish in East Utica. He was ordained on May 19, 1956 and celebrated his First Mass the following day in the beautiful church previously renovated by Monsignor Janczewski. Father Arthur Hapanowicz had served as Pastor in Taberg, Oswego and came to Utica from Transfiguration Parish in Syracuse on July 1, 1992. He would work together with Father Richard Wilczynski, the associate priest who had already served here for ten years since his arrival from Poland in 1982. Father Wilczynski was a pastor in his native Poland but followed suggestions to leave Poland at a difficult and dangerous period to escape possible arrest because of his pastoral activities, especially with the young. A few weeks later Father Andrew Baranski also arrived at Holy Trinity Church to serve as a newly ordained associate pastor. He came to this country as one of the first seminarians from Poland to study English and to be trained in American seminaries for priestly service especially in the Polish American Community in the United States.
With no savings to draw upon, parishioners responded with great generosity during 1993 to provide $215,000 for a new church roof and spires, repair and painting of all exterior woodwork and replacement of copper on the church. The following year, in 1994, parishioners continued to respond with equal generosity to repaint and repair stonework and walls on the complete church exterior (as well as convent) and application of waterproofing to protect it for the coming years. Cost of this work exceeded $85,000 and was completely paid for by generous parishioner response. In 1995 the parish was asked to concentrate on paying off a debt which resulted in part from deficits related to the parish school. During that year the $256,000 debt was reduced to $137,000. All this led to 1996, the 100th Jubilee Year, and the final project of interior church painting, redecoration, lighting, installation of air conditioning and other smaller projects to improve the church.
Within a year, Father Baranski was assigned to another parish. No priest was assigned to take his place. Once four priests had served at Holy Trinity. Now there were only two. It was the same in all parishes. Discussions had begun as far back as 1986 with the Bishop's Office and the Diocesan Catholic Cemetery regarding transfer of Holy Trinity Cemetery and Resurrection Mausoleum under Diocesan care. These discussions were resumed again in 1993. Already a number of other parishes had done the same with their parish cemeteries because of reduction of number of priests and increased demands at the cemeteries. A trial period was begun in late 1993 when the Cemetery and Resurrection Mausoleum were placed under the administration of the Cemetery Association.
Many problems which had faced the Pastor-Administrator and were delayed, were quickly settled. Improvements were made. And proof that professional care and supervision were needed and to the advantage of the Cemetery was proven in 1994 when one night vandals went through the cemetery turning over headstones and causing much damage. Action was taken immediately and within days the combined efforts of workers from other local Catholic cemeteries brought Holy Trinity Cemetery back to order. In Spring of 1996 papers were formally signed transferring ownership and responsibility for Cemetery and Mausoleum to the Diocesan Cemetery Office.
Holy Trinity School and Catholic Education have always been a primary concern to Holy Trinity Parish. In reality, over the past few years, Holy Trinity School had become more an "area Catholic" school rather than a "parish or parochial" school. Enrollment of children from Holy Trinity Parish itself was at 30%. Yet, funding was the responsibility of Holy Trinity Parish, a responsibility which was drawing the parish into a dangerous financial situation. The deficit was more than the parish could absorb. As a result, parish needs were being neglected. Discussions had been going on among pastors and with Catholic School administrators as to what course to take. In late 1992 and early 1993 the first steps were taken toward a consolidation of Catholic Schools in the Utica area and a sharing in the funding of these schools. As a result, some schools were closed but Holy Trinity remained one of the Catholic Schools with shared funding by all parishes in the area. Children from many parishes now attend and new life has been given to both the school and the up-to-date and modern beautiful school building.
On Sunday, September 24, 1995 Holy Trinity Parish began preparations for the 100th Anniversary Celebration with a special Mass to open the Jubilee Year. Bishop Thomas Costello was principal celebrant at that 11:30 am Sunday Mass. During his homily he delivered a challenging message built upon the stages of historical development in our parish and the pastors who offered leadership during the first 99 years. Afterwards, parishioners, priests and friends gathered for an informal buffet and social in the school gym and cafeteria.
On January 2, 1996 the day after New Years Day, scaffolding, ladders and other supplies were delivered on a cold and snowy morning to begin the work of painting and redecorating Holy Trinity Church. Beginning on the south side of the church the work proceeded beautifully gradually transforming the body of the church. A week later work began in the sanctuary as well. Gradually scaffolding was shifted to the north side and choir loft area. While half the church was still in great disarray, a very successful Parish Mission was preached in Polish by Vincentian Father Marek Sobczak. It would be concluded two weeks later as Forty Hour Eucharistic Devotions were solemnly celebrated in the nearly repainted and redecorated church at the end of March in preparation for Easter. An English Mission is planned for later in the Jubilee Year.
During this project damaged loose stained glass windows were also removed throughout the church for repair. Because the bad weather kept these craftspeople in their workshop rather than working on outdoor projects, the windows were fortunately returned and replaced within six weeks. So too, during the coldest part of the winter other workmen spent four weeks installing an air conditioning system for the church and sacristy. A new and more effective sound system was designed and installed, incorporating as much as possible existing sound equipment. However, the church was completely rewired for sound. Statues were renewed and votive lamps replaced. Lighting was installed. Restrooms were remodeled and heating system repaired. And finally the organ was completely repaired and re-leathered. Total cost was nearly $175,000.
One of the high points in this whole undertaking was the participation of members of the parish. Not only did ladies, men and some young people of the parish gather each Saturday morning to prepare the church for Sunday Mass and clean the church as it had never been cleaned before ... but they did much more. One man renewed the statues of Saints Joseph, Theresa, Anthony and Francis as well as the crucifix over the pulpit. A woman parishioner refinished the Infant of Prague. Men who began only to strip six dark oak window sills continued to bring to their original light oak color interior doors, frames, trim and especially the complete face of the choir loft and cabinets which enclose the organ itself The sound system wiring was done by a group of eight men, saving nearly four thou-sand dollars. Not only was there a great saving in dollars for the parish but also work was done which might not have been done at all. And each parishioner felt a personal pride in the work they had done.
A Mass of Thanksgiving with Bishop Moynihan culminated the Jubilee Year preparation and activities at 2:30 pm on Sunday, September 29, 1996. One former pastor along with former associates and priest friends and neighbors concelebrated the Jubilee Mass with the Bishop and pastor. Sisters from Holy Trinity Parish as well as those who taught here returned to join parishioners, neighbors, parish friends and community leaders to mark the 100 years of spiritual service in the Utica Community. A Jubilee buffet, social, open house and celebration followed in the school cafeteria and gym.
September 1996 and the 100th Jubilee Year brings Holy Trinity Parish to another difficult, changing and critical period in our history. Changing living patterns have taken many of our young families to other parts of the area; loss of small businesses in the neighborhood have brought about changes in the area; the number of parish families and individuals in the parish census has been reduced; the parish school is no more; and we all wonder about the future. However, we stand strong again both spiritually and materially with that same firm faith in God, burning love for Jesus and trust in Mary's watchful care aver which our founders brought from Poland over 100 years ago. And with our church and buildings renewed and protected, our debt reduced and soon to be eliminated, we go on to begin another century of existence and entry into a new century-the 21st! Let us trust as did our founders back in 1894; let us have faith, love, share and persevere!
Rev. Arthur R. Hapanowicz
September 15, 1996
In March of 2009, Saint Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr Parish, formerly on Nichols Street in East Utica, merged with Holy Trinity Parish, about 2 miles away. The final Mass of Thanksgiving was held at Saint Stanislaus Sunday, March 8th, with a reception following, honoring 98 years of Parish life. Both parishes shared in the observances.
Saint Stanislaus parishioners "mourn" the end of their parish family but also give thanks for the many blessings and graces of the past 98 years. According to Father Arthur Hapanowicz, "Holy Trinity was the original "Mother Church" of Saint Stanislaus and the time has come for Saint Stanislaus to "come home" to the Mother Church". With the celebration of this final Mass, the parish of Saint Stanislaus merged with Holy Trinity parish, where traditions of the past 98 years will be continued and the good people of Saint Stanislaus will find a warm and a spiritual welcome at Holy Trinity. Several beautiful items from Saint Stanislaus parish are now a part of the Mass celebration at Holy Trinity. These include the painting of Our Lady of Czestocowa from over the main altar, the statue of Saint Stanislaus, candle holders and the Cross, now on the main altar, two beautiful candelabra and the processional Cross which will lead Holy Week and Easter processions at Holy Trinity.
On the weekend of March 21st and 22nd, 2009, Holy Trinity parishioners formally welcomed Saint Stanislaus during all weekend Masses and in the Church Social rooms following Mass. Also welcomed were new parishioners from other area churches that recently closed as the result of reconfiguration. The new parishioners now share in the parish life of Holy Trinity as lectors, ushers, and choir members as well as in other social activities. Young people will share as altar servers and in religious education programs and First Holy Communion and Confirmation preparation. Father Hapanowicz stated at all Masses: "A warm welcome to all new parishioners!"