SAINT STANISLAUS CHURCH IS A CATECHISM
As children, we learned Catholic doctrine from the Catechism. As adults, we continue to learn Catholic teaching on our journey through life. The best way to describe Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church is a Catechism.
The structure of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church is a cruciform, to remind us of the reality of Christ’s presence and sacrifice. At the head of the cruciform format is the altar and pulpit, where the Word of God is preached and the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ is present, celebrated, and received. The pulpit is at an important place at the left of the sanctuary where the sacred readings are proclaimed. Incased in the altar is an image of the last supper, a powerful reminder of what we celebrate as a believing community.
Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church is abundantly filled with religious sacramentals. Sacramentals in the Catholic Church are holy things or actions that the Church uses to obtain spiritual and temporal blessings from God, through divine intercession.
Marble holy water fonts are positioned at the doors to remind us of the Sacrament of Baptism. The sanctuary of the church is rich with magnificent stained-glass windows featuring the joyful, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries of the Rosary. The upper sections contain images of various notable saints and statues of angels.
The framed canvas images of numerous saints were at one time mounted on the ceiling of a closed church. With the renovation and closure of that church some time ago, we were able to procure the images. These priceless pictures were restored, framed, and posted in our church for the benefit of the faithful.
To the right side of the sanctuary is the Shrine of Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina, the Saint of Divine Mercy. Her first-class relic is also included. Across from the Divine Mercy image are housed over two hundred sacred relics of Our Lord and various saints.
Why is our Church a Catechism? As Christian believers, we never stop learning. The beauty of our magnificent church challenges and teaches us much about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the lives of hundreds of saints who give us powerful examples. As a Church, we are in communion with the saints and hope to be with them when we pass from this life to eternity.
We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities to learn more and more about the many religious images and sacred relics displayed in our church. Every saint whose image is displayed lived a Christ-like life. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are challenged to imitate their example and follow the Gospel message in our lives.
We conclude with the message, “Jesus, I trust in you.”
Father Walter Ciesla, Pastor