St. Josaphat's in Chicago

St. Josaphat Church
St. Josaphat Church
Location	Chicago
Country	USA
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	St. Josaphat's Parish
History
Founded	1884 (1884)
Founder(s)	Polish immigrants
Dedication	St. Josaphat
Dedicated	()
Consecrated	()
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	For Polish Kashubians immigrants
Architect(s)	William J. Brinkmann
Architectural type	Church
Style	Romanesque Revival
Groundbreaking	1899 (1899)
Completed	1902 (1902)
Construction cost	$125,000 (1902)
Specifications
Materials	Brick

St. Josaphat (Polish: Kościół Świętego Jozafata and in Kashubian as Kòscół Swiãtégò Jozafata) is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located at 2311 North Southport Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style' of church in both its opulence and grand scale. St. Josaphat's two massive Romanesque belltowers are a hallmark view of the Lincoln Park skyline.

History

Founded in 1884 as a Polish 'national' parish for Cassubians — also referred to as Kaszubs or Kashubians — who, although Polish in national orientation, possess their own distinct culture and language marked by the distinct influences of their maritime way of life as well as German culture. The parish served as a chiefly Polish congregation well into the second half of the twentieth century, with half of the 450 families belonging to the parish in 1980 being of Polish origin. The parish now serves a very diverse congregation in a newly prosperous, gentrified neighborhood. The recently renovated church, with its excellent music program and traditional architecture, has become very popular for weddings, with over 65 a year.

Architecture

The Romanesque church, built at a cost of $125,000 in 1902, was designed by William J. Brinkmann, who also drew plans for the Neogothic masterpiece of St. Michael's in South Chicago.

See also

• Polish Cathedral style churches of Chicago
• Polish Americans
• Poles in Chicago
• Roman Catholicism in Poland

Church in architecture books

• Sinkevitch, Alice (2004). The AIA Guide to Chicago. Harvest Books. 
• Schulze, Franz; Harrington, Kevin (2003). Chicago's Famous Buildings. University Of Chicago Press. 
• McNamara, Denis R. (2005). Heavenly City: The Architectural Tradition of Catholic Chicago. Liturgy Training Publications. 
• Chiat, Marylin (2004). The Spiritual Traveler: Chicago and Illinois: A Guide to Sacred Sites and Peaceful Places. HiddenSpring. 
• Lane, George A. (1982). Chicago Churches and Synagogues: An Architectural Pilgrimage. Loyola Press. 
• Kantowicz, Edward R. (2007). The Archdiocese of Chicago: A Journey of Faith. Booklink. 
• Kociolek, Jacek (2002) (in pl). Kościoły Polskie w Chicago {Polish Churches of Chicago}. Ex Libris. 

External links

• Archdiocese of Chicago
• PGSA - St. Josaphat Church History