St. Josaphat's in Chicago

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St. Josaphat's in Chicago, referred to in Polish as Kościół Świętego Jozafata and in Cassubian as Kòscół Swiãtégò Jozafata, is an historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located 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.

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[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

St. Josaphat's is featured in a number of books on church architecture, among them "Chicago Churches and Synagogues: An Architectural Pilgrimage" by George A. Lane (Loyola Press 1982), "Heavenly City: The Architectural Tradition of Catholic Chicago" by Denis R. McNamara (Liturgy Training Publications 2005) and "The Archdiocese of Chicago: A Journey of Faith" by Edward R. Kantowicz (Booklink 2007).

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