DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. You're rolling through Karnes County, and the land out here holds a story that goes back to 1873 — a story of lightning, controversy, donated acres, and a painting that sealed a peace. Pull your ears open for this one.
The village of Czestochowa — and yes, you heard that right — grew out of a small settlement known as St. Joe. It was formally established in 1873, making it the second Polish colony in Karnes County.
For a while, the priest over at Panna Maria — the so-called Mother Colony — would ride out and conduct services at St. Joseph School in what would become Czestochowa. A modest arrangement.
Workable enough. Then came 1877. Lightning struck the Mother Colony church at Panna Maria and destroyed it.
Now, you'd think that might have pulled the Polish pioneers of Karnes County together in solidarity. But what it actually sparked — pardon the word choice — was controversy. The Czestochowa settlers decided they wanted to build their own church.
That decision did not sit easy with everyone, and the debate among these Polish pioneers was real and heated. Still, the work went forward. Anton Jarzombek, born in 1836, and Frank Mutz, born in 1814, each donated land for the church.
The area residents contributed their own labor to raise it — eighty-five feet long, forty feet wide — with a man named Gervase Gabrysch serving as contractor. On February 10, 1878, Bishop Anthony D. Pellicer blessed the church.
That September, Father W. Pelczar was assigned as its first pastor. And then — here's the moment that lands — as a sign of reconciliation, the parishioners from the newly rebuilt Panna Maria church presented this new parish a large painting of the Virgin Mary of Czestochowa, the Patroness of Poland.
A gift that said: we're still one people. The two congregations went on to share leadership in the years that followed. The church adopted the Americanized spelling of the community — Cestohowa — and thrived on into the twentieth century.
In the 1930s it underwent what the marker calls intensive additions and remodeling. The original walls stayed standing, but the roof came completely off, the ceiling was raised, north and south wings were added, and the steeple was built up taller. In 1998, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church celebrated its 125th anniversary, with a parish of 380 members strong.
From a little settlement called St. Joe, through lightning and controversy and a peace sealed in paint and canvas, this church is still out here, still keeping the traditions of the people who built it.
What the marker says
The second Polish colony in Karnes County, the village in this area grew out of a small settlement known as St. Joe and was formally established in 1873. At times the priest at Panna Maria would conduct services at St. Joseph School in what would become Czestochowa. The "Mother Colony" church at Panna Maria was destroyed by lightning in 1877; Czestochowa settlers decided to build their own church. This was the subject of much controversy among the Polish pioneers of Karnes County. Anton Jarzombek (1836-1922) and Frank Mutz (1814-1891) each donated land for the church. Area residents contributed their labor to build the eighty-five by forty foot church with Gervase Gabrysch (1830-1904) as contractor. Bishop Anthony D. Pellicer blessed the church on February 10, 1878. Father W. Pelczar was assigned as the first pastor that September. As a sign of their reconciliation, the parishioners from the newly rebuilt Panna Maria church presented the new parish a large painting of the Virgin Mary of Czestochowa, the Patroness of Poland. The two congregations often shared leadership in the ensuing years. The Cestohowa church (adopting the Americanized spelling of the community) thrived into the 20th century. In the 1930s the church underwent intensive additions and remodeling. Though the original walls remained, the roof was completely removed and the ceiling raised. The north and south wings were added and the steeple was increased in height. In 1998, the church celebrated its 125th anniversary. At that time, the parish consisted of 380 members. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church continues in the traditions of its founders. (2000)