Western Mass. church raising funds to remain open

ADAMS, M.A. (NEWS10) – A church in Berkshire County attempts to remain open to its parishioners. The Adams church – which has deep ties to the Polish community – has until later this year to hit its goal of raising over $1 million. 

The Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church is at risk of closing, if they don’t hit their fundraising goals, and for some parishioners they stand to lose much more than a place of worship.

“It's the center of our spiritual life,” said Eugene Michalenko, who is the president of the Adams Historical Society. He has been immersed in the church since he was baptized there and it means a lot to his Polish family. “We just buried a cousin the other day. We are all connected here. This is our church.” 

This church was built in 1905 by Polish immigrants. He said there’s a vibrant Polish community revolving around this church. It became the center of the Polish community in adams. and today it remains a part of their heritage.

“It would be a major loss to the town, it would be a major loss to our heritage especially in this town,” said Michalenko. 

Michalenko is also a member of the Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church Preservation Fund Committee. 

The committee was formed after the Springfield Dioceses attempted to close the church, for good, in 2008. Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church parishioners held a sit-in vigil, around the clock, for 1,150 days at the church to prevent the closure. Over 200 people participated in the vigil.

“Time has passed and some of those people have gone. So we are hoping for a new generation to come and support the church,” said Michelanko.

The church hired an attorney and took the case to Rome. The Vatican’s highest appeals court reversed the closure in 2012.

The committee was formed in 2022 and presented a four phase, $4 million plan to preserve the church so it can remain open. Father Paul Norman said there’s one goal with the first phase.

“Stop the bleeding, because what the first phase initially is a structural phase and at this point in time, what we're finding that’s causing the most damage for the church is structural damage from the roof,” said Norman.

Damage from the roof has allowed water to seep into the basement and has caused a black mold issue.

“And that end of itself is going to cost us roughly between $1.3 to $1.5 million,” said Norman.

They have until November 13 to raise the remaining funds. So far they have a total of $199,993. 

Norman said this church houses a sacred relic, the Western Hemisphere’s first public depiction of Divine Mercy.