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| Address: | 324 Townsend Street Dunkirk, New York 14048 |
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| Telephone: | 716-366-1615 | |
| Founded: | Aug 1902 | |
| Pastor: | Rev. Joseph Janaczek | |
| Mass Schedule: | Saturday 5 PM ; Sundays 9 & 11 AM | |
| Parish census: | 600 Families | |
| School: | Parish school closed in 1972. | |
| Year Built: | Unknown | |
| Style: | Unknown |
With a steady growth in the Polish immigrant population of Dunkirk, N.Y., thought was given to provide another Polish parish for those living on the "Gorka" or hill. The distance from their homes to St. Hyacinth church and school was a long one, and complicated by the fact that the children had to cross railroad tracks to get to school daily.
These facts were presented to the Bishop of Buffalo who approved the petition for the establishment of St. Hedwig's Parish in August 1902 with the appointment of Rev. Dr. Piotr Szulc as first pastor. With monies collected, property was purchased bounded by Roberts Road and and Townsend St., where a wooden church was first built and completed in time for their traditional Pasterka or Christmas Eve Mass.
Some 7 months after his appointment, Rev Szulc was transferred and replaced by Rev. Dr. Tomasz Stabenau, who built the combination church/school building in 1905. Fire destroyed the completed building but it was quickly rebuilt and would serve into the 1970s when the new church was built. Rev. Piotr Letocha followed Fr. Stabenau as pastor and was responsible for the purchase of land for use as a parish cemetery.
Following a period of tough economic times in the late 30's and early 40's, the parish did prosper and expand. In more recent times, due to changing economics and the moving away of younger families, the parish has lost members and has consolidated with other parishes in Dunkirk in order to provide for a Catholic education. Presently, the Rev. Joseph Janaczak is serving as pastor of St. Hedwig as it nears its centennial in 2002.