Ansonia church to mark diamond jubilee
New Haven Register - 08/21/2001
By Patricia Villers
RegisterStaff

ANSONIA - Members of St. Joseph Church are preparing for a special event in the life of the predominantly Polish parish: the 75th anniversary of its founding. A bishop from the Archdiocese of Hartford will celebrate an anniversary Mass at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 9.

At 1 p.m. Sept. 16, a banquet will be held at Grassy Hill Lodge in Derby.

"In 1923 the people (Polish immigrants) decided to build their own church," said Martha Lachowska, 76, a lifelong congregant. "They wanted to have their own church because they were all walking to St. Michael's Church in Derby, which was the only church for the Polish community."

The priest from St. Michael's walked door to door collecting money to start construction of a church in Ansonia, Lachowska said. The cornerstone was blessed May 2,1926.

"At that time, the building was everything - school, church and convent," Lachowska said. "The three were connected in one building."

The Rev. Marek Sobczak, pastor, said he is happy to be able to celebrate such a milestone.

"We have quite a number of people who remember the founding of the church," he said. "Although small in size, they try to keep their traditions that they learned from their parents." Lachowska wrote a history of the church for its 50th anniversary, and is updating the history, for the 75th anniversary.

She has a special link to the church. "On the day I was born (in 1925) the church celebrated its first Mass," she said. "It was a 10:30 a.m. Mass and my mother was having me at home."

Parishioners had rented a hall to begin services while the building was being constructed, she said. The first Mass was held July 12,1925, in what is now home to Polish Falcon Nest 212 at 108 Central Street. 

In 1957, a convent for the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth was added to the building.

Next month, Lachowska will mark her 62nd year as church, organist.

"I remember the weekend I started as organist was just after Germany attacked Poland," she said. "I was at the World's Fair in New York the day before with friends when we heard the news." The Sept. 1, 1939, invasion of Poland marked the beginning of World War 11 in Europe.

Lachowska said the parishioners are putting together a portrait book for the anniversary, "Since November, families, husbands and wives have been posing for portraits to be included in a book," she said.

For tickets to the Sept. 16 banquet, call Helen Ptak, parish council member, at 734-0095.