Polish Parish to Mark 60 Years

1963: “The 60th anniversary of the establishment of St. Adalbert's parish will be celebrated April 28.

“The parish was officially set up by Archbishop William H. Elder Jan. 5, 1903, when he appointed Father Boleslaus Strzelczok ‘to act as pastor of the Polish people of Dayton and vicinity.’ Previously to this time the Polish community was cared for by Polish speaking priests from Cincinnati and Toledo who held services in Our Lady of the Rosary and St. John's churches.

“Father Strzelczok resided at St. Elizabeth's hospital and held services for the Polish people at Emmanuel parish's school-chapel until the present parish building, containing a church hall, four classrooms, and the rectory, was dedicated by Archbishop Henry Moeller on April 30, 1905.

“When the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help took over the school from the faculty of lay teachers in 1915, the rectory became the Sisters' convent and a new rectory was purchased across the street. A new rectory adjoining the church was constructed in 1958.” (See The Catholic Telegraph, April 26, 1963)