St. Michael the Archangel's Parish (Bridgeport, Connecticut)

St. Michael the Archangel Parish - designated for Polish immigrants in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States.

Founded in 1899. It is one of the Polish-American Roman Catholic parishes in New England in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Location310 Pulaski Street
Bridgeport, Connecticut
CountryUnited States
DenominationRoman Catholic
WebsiteParish website
History
Founded1899 (1899)
Founder(s)Polish immigrants
DedicationSt. Michael the Archangel
Administration
ParishConventual Franciscans
DioceseBridgeport
ProvinceHartford
Clergy
Bishop(s)Most Rev. Frank Caggiano
Vicar(s)Fr. Stefan Morawski OFM Conv.
Pastor(s)Fr. Norbert M. Siwinski OFM Conv.

History

In 1899 Bishop of Hartford Michael Tierney, assigned Rev. Joseph Sulkowski to the newly formed Polish parish, consisting of approximately 1,000 Polish immigrants in Bridgeport's multi-ethnic East Side. The parish was organized in December 1899 and soon after an old Roman Catholic church on Crescent Avenue was purchased. What was once known as St. Mary's became the new St. Michael's. In 1890, Bishop Tierney transferred Father Sulkowski and assigned Rev. Witold Becker as pastor. Parishioners were disturbed about the transfer of their well-liked Polish priest and some reportedly left the church when Father Becker assumed his pastoral duties. Over time, Father Becker managed to establish a Sunday school and church societies, and brought back some who had left the parish.[1]

Father Becker died in 1906 and the parish was placed under the Conventual Franciscans of the Polish-American Province of St. Anthony and the Franciscans became responsible for finding new priests appropriate for the Polish American parish.[1][2] Rev. Leon Wierzynski ministered to the parish from August to December 1906, when Rev. Felix Baran arrived to take over the parish. The parish members upset at once again losing a well-liked Polish priest demonstrated and even physically blocked the transfer. Police were called in to disperse the protesters and the church was locked to keep them out. Some of the dissatisfied parishioners left St. Michael's permanently, forming St. Joseph's Polish Parish under the Polish National Catholic Church in early 1907.[1]

Buildings
The Church of St. Michael the Archangel
General information
Town or cityBridgeport, Connecticut
CountryUnited States of America
Completed1907[1][3]
ClientRoman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport
Design and construction
ArchitectGeorge P. B. Alderman of Holyoke, Massachusetts

In 1907, the present St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church was built on what is now known today as Pulaski Street.[1][3] The architect for the church was George P. B. Alderman of Holyoke, Massachusetts who also designed Sacred Heart Church, New Britain, CT.

In 1989, the church was closed for a period of time when Bishop Edward M. Egan called on police to evict dissident parishioners who had occupied the church for a week. About 200 parishioners had been protesting the transfer of a popular priest, Rev. Roman Palaszewski, brought from Poland three years earlier.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Bridgeport's Ethnic Background--Late 19th Century". St. Joseph’s Parish. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  2. Roger M. Haas (1984). A History of the American Province of Saint Anthony of Padua of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, 1906-1982. Baltimore: St. Anthony of Padua Province, O.F.M. Conv. p. 89.
  3. "Big Building Year For Catholics". Hartford Courant. 1907-09-27. p. 11. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  4. "Church Shut Amid Protest In Bridgeport". AP. New York Times. February 19, 1989. Retrieved May 24, 2010.

Bibliography
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