History of the Basilica of St. Stephen and Our Lady of Bogucice in Katowice, Poland
Introduction
The Basilica of St. Stephen and Our Lady of Bogucice in Katowice is a Roman Catholic parish church in Katowice, belonging to the Parish of St. Stephen , entered in the register of immovable monuments of the Silesian Voivodeship. It is located at the intersection of Fr. L. Markiefki and Leopolda Streets , in the Bogucice district. The neo-Gothic church was built as the third parish church in the years 1892–1894 and is believed to have been designed by Paul Jackisch. On June 21, 2015, it was granted the title of minor basilica. The Bogucice basilica is also a Marian sanctuary, where the cult of Our Lady of Bogucice is devoted, a painting of whom from around the 15th century is located in the main altar.
History of the Basilica of St. Stephen and Our Lady of Bogucice in Katowice, Poland
The Basilica of St. Stephen and Our Lady of Bogucice is the third parish church built in the Bogucice area of Katowice. The idea to build it originally came from Father Leopold Markiefka, who wanted to replace the old church, but he didn’t manage to get construction started. Still, he set aside 6,000 marks for the project. Eventually, it was Father Ludwik Skowronek who got things moving.The old church was torn down in 1891, and while the new one was being built, services were held in a makeshift church made out of a converted barn next to the rectory. The cornerstone was blessed on July 17, 1892, and two years later, on October 25, 1894, the church was officially consecrated by Cardinal Georg Kopp, the Bishop of Wrocław. The final cost of building the church ended up being much more than planned 346,000 marks. A builder named Paul Müller from Chełm Wielki oversaw the construction. Although architect Paul Jackisch is usually credited with the design, later research has raised doubts about whether he was really responsible for the final version. One proposed design by Viennese architect Hugo Heer was rejected for being too grand and too expensive. That design ended up being used for a church in Gliwice instead. When the church was consecrated, it already had a main altar and two side altars one for St. Florian and another for St. Barbara. The St. Barbara altar was funded by the “Ferdinand” mine (later called “Katowice”), but no one really knows who paid for the St. Florian one. The old main altar from the previous church was placed in the right transept, and in 1898 the Calvary altar was added on the left side. The church also had three bells St. Michael and St. Raphael (cast in 1890), and St. Gabriel (cast in 1892). One cracked in 1898 and had to be replaced in 1900. Sadly, during World War I, the bells were taken by German troops. In 1919, new ones were installed from a company called F. Otto in Hemelingen. The same thing happened again in 1942 during World War II, and it wasn’t until 1958 that new bells were hung, this time made at the Małapanew steelworks in Ozimek. In 1926, a plaque honoring fallen Silesian insurgents was placed in the chancel by Father Franciszek Ścigała, though it likely didn’t survive the war.
A major renovation happened in 1929–1930, funded by the Katowice Joint-Stock Company for Mining and Metallurgy.The church interior went through big changes in the 1950s, especially for the 100th anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. A new polychrome with a strong Marian theme was painted by Katowice artists Edmund Czarnecki and Jan Stasiniewicz. The main altar was rebuilt in 1954, and a painting of Our Lady of Bogucice was moved there and placed in a special triptych by Paweł Sznel. More renovations came in the late 1970s due to damage from mining in the area. At the same time, changes were made to reflect the reforms from the Second Vatican Council. In 1982, the main altar was rebuilt once again, and a bas-relief of St. Stephen was added below the image of Our Lady. The church was officially recognized as a historical monument in 1988. In 1994, to mark the 100th anniversary of the church’s consecration, a lot of work was done. The roof and tower were covered in copper, the interior was painted again, the area around the church was cleaned up and landscaped, a gate was added on Leopolda Street, and lighting was installed. The centennial celebration itself was held in October and brought back many of the church’s former priests. In 2004, the tower clocks were finally fixed after being out of order for years. Then in 2006–2007, more restoration work was carried out by conservator Adrian Poloczek, including restoring angels on the Calvary altar and adding a new tabernacle. After 2010, more stone and brickwork was cleaned up, and in 2012–2013 the polychromes inside were touched up. Finally, on June 21, 2015, the church was named a minor basilica. This made it the second basilica in Katowice and the sixth in the entire archdiocese.
Architecture Basilica of St. Stephen and Our Lady of Bogucice in Katowice, Poland
Architectural style: Gothic Revival architecture
Architect: Paul Jakisch
External architecture
The Basilica of St. Stephen and Our Lady of Bogucice is a striking example of neo-Gothic architecture. If you look at it from the southwest, especially in daylight, it really stands out with its tall brickwork and sharp angles. The whole building is shaped like a Latin cross and topped with gable roofs. Right where the main nave and the transept cross, there’s a tall bell tower that gives the whole structure a vertical focus.The walls are mostly made of red brick, but near the base and around the decorative elements, you’ll notice stone being used that mix gives the building a solid yet elegant look. The main entrance is on the north side, and it’s framed by two stepped buttresses. There’s a single tower above the entrance that makes the front of the church feel really grand. Over the doorway is a beautiful tympanum with a stained glass window and a mosaic showing Jesus Christ. Above that, there’s a long vertical window, and even higher up, just under the roofline, are clock faces set into recessed wall panels. At the very top of the tower, you’ll see pointed arch windows on each side and a pyramid-shaped roof with small pinnacles at the base it’s a classic neo-Gothic touch. On both the east and west sides, the walls are divided into four sections, separated by more two-step buttresses. These lead into the arms of the transept. Near the chancel, there are small two-bay annexes, and at the very back of the church is a rounded, three-sided apse. Between the apse and the chancel walls on both sides, there are slender turrets, shaped like polygons. At the top of each turret are narrow, pointed windows, and above those, small pyramid-shaped roofs. There are a few more entrances on the north sides of both the nave and the transept. These are topped with decorative gables and have small windows above them. Most of the windows on the church are made up of several panes set in iron frames and finished with pointed arches, which really helps keep that Gothic feel.
Interior design and furnishings
General characteristics
The basilica is a three-nave hall church with a transept, three-sided chancel, and an apse. They have cross-ribbed vaults covering them and a stellar vault at the nave-transept intersection. The naves are the same height and are separated by sets of polygonal pillars four on each side between them. Glazed galleries can be seen above the chapel and the sacristy. Turrets with staircases provide access to the sacristy and chapel. Stone is used for the floors inside the temple, and blue and brown ceramic tiles line the inner side walls.
Altars
The main altar in the basilica has the look of a Gothic reliquary or monstrance. At its center is a painting of Our Lady of Bogucice, which draws the eye immediately. Around her are statues of the Good Shepherd, St. Michael, St. John the Baptist, St. Peter, St. Paul, and the four Doctors of the Church: St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, St. Gregory, and St. Augustine. Just beneath the painting, there’s a bas-relief showing the stoning of St. Stephen one of the most important moments in the story of the church’s patron. The newer, post-Vatican II altar placed in front of the main one includes a bas-relief of the Last Supper. The two side altars match the style of the main one. On the left is the altar dedicated to St. Barbara, the patron saint of miners. She’s shown standing in front of a mine, and below her, you’ll see a scene of miners working underground. At the bottom, there’s also a bas-relief of Melchizedek’s offering. On the right side is the altar of St. Florian, patron saint of metallurgists. Behind him is a typical Silesian landscape, with steel being smelted in the background. Higher up on this altar are figures of St. Anne, St. Adalbert, and St. Joseph. The base shows a bas-relief of the sacrifice of Abel. There are also two more altars in the transept. On the right is the altar of Our Lady of the Scapular, which features paintings of the Nativity and the stoning of St. Stephen. On the left side is the Calvary altar, which includes a series of bas-reliefs: one showing Jesus in Jerusalem, another with the Crucifixion scene surrounded by Our Lady of Sorrows and St. John, and others showing the Agony in the Garden and Jesus entering Jerusalem.
Other equipment elements
Just above the main altar, there are stained glass windows showing four saints: St. Elizabeth, St. Joseph, St. Hedwig of Silesia, and St. Louis. In the left transept, you’ll find a stained glass window titled “Jesus, the Friend of Children,” which was donated by miners from what later became the “Jerzy” mine. On the right side, there’s another stained glass piece showing two scenes: Szymon Stock receiving the scapular from the Virgin Mary on Mount Carmel, and St. Dominic being given the rosary. The basilica’s pulpit is richly decorated. It features carvings of the four Evangelists and bears the Latin phrase “Exiit qui seminat” which means “The sower went out..” Above it hangs a wooden canopy, inscribed with “Beati qui audiunt Verbum Dei et custodiunt” “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.” At the very top, there’s a statue of Moses pointing to the tablets of the Ten Commandments. Just behind the pulpit, between it and the canopy, is a bas-relief of Christ teaching. The original confessionals in the church are still in place, and each one is decorated with symbolic carvings. One shows the Prodigal Son and the Repentant Peter, and its door includes a figure of Our Lady of Sorrows. Another confessional features Mary Magdalene and King David in moments of repentance. The door of the confessional near the sacristy has a bas-relief of St. John of Nepomuk. The baptismal font is also worth noting. It shows Jesus being baptized in the Jordan River a simple but powerful image. The organ, located high above the nave, was built by Schlag & Söhne, an organ company from Świdnica. In 1915, it was expanded to 45 stops by the Joseph Goebel company from Königsberg. It still plays an important role in the church’s liturgical and musical life. The basilica also houses four bells. The oldest one, named St. John, actually dates back to the 15th or 16th century and originally came from the first church in Bogucice. The other three St. Michael (1278 kg, tone F), St. Gabriel (900 kg, tone A), and St. Stephanus (608 kg, tone B) were cast in 1958 and are still used today. In the church vestibule, there are plaques honoring past parish priests of Bogucice: Father Ludwik Skowronek, Father Franciszek Ścigała, Father Alfons Tomaszewski, and Father Józef Oleś.
The image of Our Lady of Bogucice
The painting of Our Lady of Bogucice is the most treasured piece in the basilica. It dates back to around the 15th century and has been repainted multiple times over the years. The artwork was created on a linden wood board, measuring 101 x 79 cm, and is about 12 mm thick. Although the artist remains unknown, the painting shows the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus in a half-length portrait. The devotion to Our Lady of Bogucice is most prominent on the first Sunday of June, in connection with the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For centuries, this day has drawn crowds of pilgrims to the basilica to honor her. In 1954, the painting was moved to the main altar, where it remains today. Then, on June 4, 2000, the painting was solemnly crowned with papal crowns, which were consecrated by Pope John Paul II in Gliwice in 1999.
Surroundings
The Basilica of St. Stephen and Our Lady of Bogucice is located on the southeastern corner of the intersection of Fr. L. Markiefki and Leopolda Streets in Katowice, right in the Bogucice district. Interestingly, the basilica isn’t oriented in the usual east-to-west direction. Close to the basilica, there’s a group of six sandstone statues, which were carved in the mid-19th century. These are the remains of the earlier church in Bogucice and depict various saints: Peter, Paul, Stephen, Barbara, Joseph with the Child, and Mary. Nearby, you’ll also find a cross and a Station of the Cross. Just to the north of the basilica, at 1-3 Leopolda Street, is the home of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Jadwiga. The sisters run an educational center for children and youth, as well as a kindergarten. They first came to Bogucice back in December 1866. To the south of the church, there’s the monastery of the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God. The brothers have been running the Hospital of the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God of the Guardian Angels since it opened in September 1874. The hospital is located at 87 Fr. L. Markiefki Street. To the east of the basilica, along W. Wróblewskiego Street, you’ll find the parish cemetery. It’s actually the oldest cemetery in Katowice, with its first mention dating back to 1598. Over the years, the cemetery has expanded several times. In the middle of the cemetery, on the main path, stands the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, built where a church dedicated to the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary once stood. Not far from here, there’s also the Ogrójec Chapel.
Feast Day
Feast Day : 26 December
The main feast day of the Basilica of St. Stephen and Our Lady of Bogucice in Katowice, Poland, is celebrated on December 26th. This day honors St. Stephen, the church’s patron saint. It is a special occasion for the parish community, marked with festive Mass and prayer.
Church Mass Timing
Monday to Friday : 06:30 AM, 08:00 AM, 04:30 PM, 06:00 PM
Saturday : 06:30 AM, 08:00 AM, 05:00 PM
Sunday : 07:00 AM, 08:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 01:00 PM, 03:00 PM, 05:00 PM, 08:00 PM
Church Opening Time:
Open 24 Hours
Contact Info
Address : Basilica of St. Stephen and Our Lady of Bogucice in Katowice Markiefki 89, 40-211 Katowice, Polan
Phone : +48 32 258 47 92
Accommodations
Connectivities
Airway
Basilica of St. Stephen and Our Lady of Bogucice in Katowice, Poland to Katowice International Airport, distance between 34 min (30.5 km) via DW913.
Railway
Basilica of St. Stephen and Our Lady of Bogucice in Katowice, Poland to Train Station Hrvatska, distance between 10 min ( 3.1 km )via Henryk Mikołaj Górecki.