SAYREVILLE — St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish and School is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, with the congregation looking back on a rich history and looking forward to a bright future.
According to the Rev. Kenneth Murphy, pastor of St. Stan’s, Polish immigrants founded the church in June 1914.
“They came to Sayreville in search of greater opportunities and found they could not get ministry in the regular parishes because [services weren’t in] Polish,” Murphy said. “So, they established their own churches.”
St. Mary of Ostrabrama in South River was one of those churches, but it proved to be too far for Sayreville residents, according to Murphy.
The Rev. Jan Pawlowski, associate pastor at St. Mary’s, founded St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish and School in response to a request from the community.
In those days, the church could not afford a separate facility for the school, so classes met in the basement and on the first floor, while the parish was located upstairs, Murphy said.
“In 1964, for the 50th anniversary, Father Latislaus Madura built the school that we have,” he said. “So, we are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of that building, but the school is 100 years old.”
Elena Malinconico, who assumed the position of school principal at St. Stan’s in July, said she is hoping to maintain the traditions that have become characteristic of the school during its 100-year existence.
Those traditions, both Polish and Catholic, are hallmarks of the parish and school, but Malinconico — who has been with St. Stan’s as a teacher for seven years — said she also wants to expand the amount of community outreach the school performs.
“This [St. Stan’s] community is a very faithful community and steeped in tradition,” she said. “We’re looking to maintain those traditions, but also open up to the community as a whole.”
According to Malinconico, the school will be conducting public service programs including a recycling initiative and putting together care packages for soldiers overseas.
In addition, Malinconico is seeking to update technological tools and curriculum for the next century at St. Stan’s, without upsetting the church’s hallowed traditions in the process.
“We are looking to implement … new technology in our classrooms for educational purposes,” she said. “We’ve got a new math and language arts series to help meet the needs of our learners in the 21st century.
“But, in the same token, we still do Mass every first Friday,” she added. “We do litanies, benedictions, rosaries and Stations of the Cross. There are those traditions that we maintain and that we don’t touch.”
Traditions, both Catholic and Polish, have always underscored everything that St. Stan’s has done, Murphy said.
In that same spirit, a traditional polka dance is being planned in celebration of the 100th anniversary, according to Murphy.
The yearlong observance will be capped with a Dec. 14 centennial celebration, followed by a reception at the Grand Marquis in Old Bridge, he said.
“It’s a wonderful celebration. It’s a very special parish,” Murphy said. “The people here have a sense of ownership of the church, the school and the cemetery, and they work very hard to support it.”