The Adoration Chapel
In 2016, the old Convent/School/Museum was remodeled to serve as an Adoration Chapel. Eucharistic Perpetual Adoration, a long held devotion of the Catholic Church, allows adorers to pray in the presence of the living God. St. Stanislaus Parishioners have carried on this tradition in the parish since November 1999. All are welcome to worship in the chapel 24 hours a day.
The focal point of the chapel is the monstrance, which resides at the front of the room, and contains the Body of Christ. The interior design is simple and clean, so as to intensify the focus on the worship of Christ.
There are various symbolisms worth noticing in the transformation of this 1876 pioneer-era convent ...
Blue Walls – are in honor of Mary; blue is the color most often used to depict her robe and/or veil.
Limestone – The use of limestone rock connects the interior of the chapel to its exterior. The large piece of limestone at the base of the altar can remind adorers of the Bible verse:
… and upon this rock I will build my church … ~Matthew 16:18
The limestone pavers on the walls are mortared with powder saved from the shaping of the stones so as to cure them back into a single form – a metaphor for the One Church built by God.
I pray … so that they may all be one. ~John 17:20-21
The color of the limestone mirrors the wainscoting in the main church. The use of limestone can also remind us of Jesus’ burial and resurrection. It is widely asserted that his tomb/place of resurrection had been carved out of limestone.
Three Rocks – behind the monstrance symbolize the Holy Trinity.
Glass – the three layers could suggest the Holy Trinity. In addition, the glass can nudge us to recall a passage in the Book of Revelation describing a vision of God enthroned: In front of the throne was something that resembled a sea of glass like crystal. ~Revelation 4:6
Stained Glass Windows – represent elements of the Holy Eucharist and the Divine Mercy of Jesus.
HISTORY OF THE ADORATION BUILDING
(As shared with parishioners during the Dedication of the St. Stanislaus Museum)
DEDICATION OF MUSEUM
July 4, 1971
HISTORY OF ST. STANISLAUS PARISH
AND OF ST. STANISLAUS MUSEUM
July 4, 1971
HISTORY OF ST. STANISLAUS PARISH
AND OF ST. STANISLAUS MUSEUM
The first Catholic Polish settlers came to Bandera on April 2, 1855, just six weeks after the first Polish Church had been founded in Panna Maria, Texas. St. Stanislaus is the second oldest Polish Parish in the United States. By 1858, the first Catholic Church had been erected – it was about 20’ x 30’ and was built of logs. There the Polish people gathered each Sunday for prayer and their hymns, and the recitation of the Rosary, especially the Devotion to Our Lady of Czestahowa, patroness of Poland and of the Polish people. The priest came to Bandera only about once a month.
In 1874 a two-room rock limestone building was erected for the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. It was only in 1876 that the present church building was erected. The Sisters soon found the people asking them to teach their children, and so a one-room lean-to was added on the side facing the church. It was in this lean-to that the Sisters cooked, ate, and slept while the children attended school in the original rock building. So the “old Convent” was the first convent and also the first Catholic School. In 1922, a second story of lumber was added to accommodate more Sisters, since the Sisters also taught high school until 1929.
Meanwhile, back in the early 1880’s, the Polish Sisters left and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word came in 1882 to conduct the school. They left almost immediately when they found no permanent priest in Bandera. During the 1880’s they taught in the Public School District # 2 in Bandera. In 1897 they reopened the Catholic School and taught until 1968 when the school was closed.
In 1968 the Catholics of Bandera began talking about doing something about the “old convent” which had been plastered and the second story added in 1922. Someone suggested that we make a Museum out [of] it, housing some of the antiques, relics, and pictures of the early Polish, Mexican, Irish, and German Pioneers. In 1970, the “old convent” was restored and today it is “The St. Stanislaus Church Museum”.
The Museum will also house the many religious articles of the early pioneers and those used in the official divine services of the Church over a period of 100 years. The Museum will be open free to the public from 9 to 5pm each day. The Official Medallion marking it as one of the historical sites of Texas has been provided by the Texas State Historical Survey Committee. And is being unveiled by His Excellency Archbishop Frances J. Furey today.
The original stone limestone structure of the present St. Stanislaus Church was dedicated on April 2, 1876 and an addition was made, which comprises the present sanctuary and sacristies, in 1906 by Msgr. John J. Robling, and the present steeple was added. The “old rectory” was remodeled by Fr. Kickx in 1934. Father Bovin was pastor when the present rock structure of St. Joseph School was built and finished in 1922. During [the] pastorate of Father Strobel (1935-1945) the beautiful stained glass windows were installed. Fr. Lambert Schiel made many improvements to the church and grounds during his pastorate. Father Albert Henkes also served as Pastor of Bandera for a short time. During the pastorate of Father Victor “Tex” Schmidtzinsky, a new convent was built for the Sisters. St. Joseph School was closed in 1968 due to the fact that only 90 children were registered in eight grades and also due to the fact that the Sisters were no longer able to supply teachers for the small school.
Today the church stands completely redecorated and equipped with an air conditioning and heating system, a far cry from the wood stoves that use to heat the building during the cold winter months in the years gone by.
St. Stanislaus Parish and its parishioners are also proud of the fact that for the first time they were able to offer three $500 scholarships for the Catholic graduates of Bandera High School in this year of 1971, so that Joe Glasscock, Lupe Fernandez, and Sue Ann Ross, parishioners, will be able to make a start on their college or vocational training for life.
All this has been accomplished by the hard work of the early pioneers and their sacrifices for their Church, as well as by the monetary contributions and manual labor of the present members of St. Stanislaus Church!
In 1874 a two-room rock limestone building was erected for the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. It was only in 1876 that the present church building was erected. The Sisters soon found the people asking them to teach their children, and so a one-room lean-to was added on the side facing the church. It was in this lean-to that the Sisters cooked, ate, and slept while the children attended school in the original rock building. So the “old Convent” was the first convent and also the first Catholic School. In 1922, a second story of lumber was added to accommodate more Sisters, since the Sisters also taught high school until 1929.
Meanwhile, back in the early 1880’s, the Polish Sisters left and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word came in 1882 to conduct the school. They left almost immediately when they found no permanent priest in Bandera. During the 1880’s they taught in the Public School District # 2 in Bandera. In 1897 they reopened the Catholic School and taught until 1968 when the school was closed.
In 1968 the Catholics of Bandera began talking about doing something about the “old convent” which had been plastered and the second story added in 1922. Someone suggested that we make a Museum out [of] it, housing some of the antiques, relics, and pictures of the early Polish, Mexican, Irish, and German Pioneers. In 1970, the “old convent” was restored and today it is “The St. Stanislaus Church Museum”.
The Museum will also house the many religious articles of the early pioneers and those used in the official divine services of the Church over a period of 100 years. The Museum will be open free to the public from 9 to 5pm each day. The Official Medallion marking it as one of the historical sites of Texas has been provided by the Texas State Historical Survey Committee. And is being unveiled by His Excellency Archbishop Frances J. Furey today.
The original stone limestone structure of the present St. Stanislaus Church was dedicated on April 2, 1876 and an addition was made, which comprises the present sanctuary and sacristies, in 1906 by Msgr. John J. Robling, and the present steeple was added. The “old rectory” was remodeled by Fr. Kickx in 1934. Father Bovin was pastor when the present rock structure of St. Joseph School was built and finished in 1922. During [the] pastorate of Father Strobel (1935-1945) the beautiful stained glass windows were installed. Fr. Lambert Schiel made many improvements to the church and grounds during his pastorate. Father Albert Henkes also served as Pastor of Bandera for a short time. During the pastorate of Father Victor “Tex” Schmidtzinsky, a new convent was built for the Sisters. St. Joseph School was closed in 1968 due to the fact that only 90 children were registered in eight grades and also due to the fact that the Sisters were no longer able to supply teachers for the small school.
Today the church stands completely redecorated and equipped with an air conditioning and heating system, a far cry from the wood stoves that use to heat the building during the cold winter months in the years gone by.
St. Stanislaus Parish and its parishioners are also proud of the fact that for the first time they were able to offer three $500 scholarships for the Catholic graduates of Bandera High School in this year of 1971, so that Joe Glasscock, Lupe Fernandez, and Sue Ann Ross, parishioners, will be able to make a start on their college or vocational training for life.
All this has been accomplished by the hard work of the early pioneers and their sacrifices for their Church, as well as by the monetary contributions and manual labor of the present members of St. Stanislaus Church!
Following is an insert of the above program (along with Mass Prayers)
NATIVE SONS OF BANDERA WHO ARE ORDAINED PRIESTS
Msgr. James M. Boyle PA – 1932
Fr. Edward Postert OMI – 1934
Fr. George Montague SM – 1958
Fr. Shaun McCarthy MSST
With Fr. Albert Elkins and Fr. Robert Carabin’s families live in or originate from Bandera.
NATIVE DAUGHTERS WHO BECAME NUNS
Sister Gertrude Nitze – 10/6/80
Sister M. Chantal Kalka – 2/28/82
Sister Josepha Rappold – 1922
Sister Agnes Teresa Turner – 1929
Sister Leona Batto – 1937
Sister Bernadette Anderwald – 1939
Sister Dorothy Batto – 08/15/1964
(All above are Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word)
Sister M. Francilla Gobson CCDP
Sister Raymond Eliz. Batto SSCJ
NATIVE SONS OF BANDERA WHO ARE ORDAINED PRIESTS
Msgr. James M. Boyle PA – 1932
Fr. Edward Postert OMI – 1934
Fr. George Montague SM – 1958
Fr. Shaun McCarthy MSST
With Fr. Albert Elkins and Fr. Robert Carabin’s families live in or originate from Bandera.
NATIVE DAUGHTERS WHO BECAME NUNS
Sister Gertrude Nitze – 10/6/80
Sister M. Chantal Kalka – 2/28/82
Sister Josepha Rappold – 1922
Sister Agnes Teresa Turner – 1929
Sister Leona Batto – 1937
Sister Bernadette Anderwald – 1939
Sister Dorothy Batto – 08/15/1964
(All above are Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word)
Sister M. Francilla Gobson CCDP
Sister Raymond Eliz. Batto SSCJ