St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Cedar Lake IN

We are...

A Catholic Church

We adhere to the faith of the undivided Church. The material aspects of each parish are governed by a parish committee elected by each parish. The clergy and church members meet at local, diocesan and national synods to discuss and decide matters of Church administration and management. Each parish elects delegates to attend these meetings.

A Sacramental Church

We acknowledge the Seven Sacraments: Anointing of the Sick, Baptism and Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Holy Orders, Matrimony, Penance, and The Word of God.

A Worshipping Church

We encourage regular Mass attendance on Sundays and holy days of obligation. Through these services we give praise and honor to God.

A Responsive Church

We meet the religious needs of our faithful through Mass, the Sacraments and other services. We meet social needs through various service organizations.

A Teaching Church

We have First Holy Communion and Confirmation classes as well as School of Christian Living and Bible Study. Each year either a diocesan youth gathering or a national youth convocation is held for our young people.

A Counseling Church

Our pastors are available to help those who are having personal, family or spiritual difficulties. Our parishoners offer spiritual and moral support as well.

An Ecumenical Church

We work with other churches and religious groups to make our community a better place in which to live.

 

https://smapncc.org/  

 

 

1880's - 1910's

By the 1880's a sizeable community of Polish immigrants existed on the south side of East Chicago, Indiana and a Polish Roman Catholic parish was established. The organizers of our parish were orginally part of that congregation. In that parish was an organization called the St. Michael's Mens Society whose main purpose was to provide financial assistance to its members in times of need. A disagreement developed when the pastor of the Polish Roman parish insisted that the acquired funds of this organization be transferred to the parish treasury. Eventually, this resulted in bitterness and disappointment in the church. It was at this time that the disappointed families decided to leave the Roman Catholic Church and organize a Polish Catholic parish under the independent banner. These families became the organizers of our parish.

On May 11, 1903 St. Michael the Archangel Polish Catholic parish was established and a few years later it became part of the Polish National Catholic Church. The original parish committee was elected and purchased five lots on Wegg Avenue in East Chicago, Indiana. On September 18 Bishop Anthony Kozlowski of Chicago, Illinois came to bless the new church which seated 170 people. Reverend Joseph Plaga was the first pastor of St. Michael's Parish and provided a good example of faith and courage for the first parishioners during this difficult period.

In 1904 the St. Michael's Mens Society was reorganized and before long consisted of over ninety members. Land was purchased on 169th street in nearby Hammond, Indiana to be used as a cemetery for our parish and members of two nearby Polish Catholic parishes. On June 19, 1910 Bishop Francis Hodur, Organizer of the Polish National Catholic Church, came to East Chicago to visit St. Michael the Archangel. In 1914, Reverend Plaga was transferred to All Saints parish in Chicago, Illinois.

1920's - 1950's

In the 1920's the cemetery debt was paid in full - the cemetery was ours! In 1921 Reverend Plaga returned to St. Michael's. A night school was instituted in 1923 so that children could study religion and learn the Polish language. The first Social Hall was built in 1925. In 1928 a road was built through the wooded land at the cemetery. In the first twenty-five years parish membership had increased from the original few dozen families to 144 families. They always remembered those less fortunate than they and found ways to assist them.

In the 1930's a Drama Circle was organized and successfully presented numerous plays and musicals. Reverend Plaga urged the parish to build a chapel at the cemetery. On January 3, 1938 Reverend Plaga died after serving our parish for over thirty years. Although he did not live to see it, the chapel was built and on May 29, 1938 Bishop Leon Grochowski came to bless the new Holy Family Chapel. The Very Reverend Stanley Cybulski assumed the pastorate at St. Michael's in 1938.

In the 1940's most of our early parishioners were born in Poland and proud of their Polish heritage but dearly loved America and were loyal to it. Many sons of our parish served in the American Armed Forces. A Serviceman's Honor Roll was built and given a place of honor in the church. Our congregation had increased to 280 families. Reverend Stanley Cybulski died on November 22, 1947 having served our parish for nine years. Early in 1948 the Very Reverend Ladislaus Sienko became our new pastor. A Sunday School was organized with one classroom for all and one teacher, Suzanne Sienko, our pastor's wife.

In the 1950's it was apparent that our original buildings had to be replaced. The church, rectory and hall were all in need of major repairs. Father Sienko encouraged the parishioners to begin by building a new House of Worship. In 1956 the contract for building the new church was signed and construction began immediately. On March 16, 1958 Bishop Joseph Kardas came to bless our new House of Worship. Over fifty stained glass windows were purchased by families to be placed throughout the new building.

1960's - 1970's

In the 1960's the parishioners voted to add one English Mass to the two Sunday Polish Masses. Our largest enrollment in Sunday School was in 1964 when we had 110 students! Seven Sunday School classrooms were built in the lower level of our new church. On December 17, 1963 the Very Reverend Ladislaus Sienko died having served as our pastor for 15 years. In February 1964 the Reverend Edward Brzostowski arrived to assume the pastorate. In 1969 the cemetery road was paved and a proposed plan for a new rectory was accepted by the parish.

On March 7, 1971 Right Reverend Francis Rowinski came to bless the new rectory. In 1972 a ground breaking ceremony was held for the new National Hall and in 1973 it was dedicated. The Queen Hedwig Ladies Society and the Love of God Society united to form one ladies society: The Society for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrement. In January 1974 Suzanne Marchlik was sworn in as the first female Parish Committee Chairman. In 1974 land was purchased across the street from the church for additional parking.

In 1976 a Bicentennial Program was presented through the combined efforts of the St. Cecilia Choir, Archangel Children's Choir and the School of Christian Living along with parish organist Virginia Kulka. In November 1977 Reverend Brzostowski was transferred and Reverend Thomas Falkowski arrived to begin his pastorate at St. Michael's Parish. In October 1978 the 75th Anniversary was celebrated with a Mass of Thanksgiving, Banquet and Ball. In 1979 Reverend Falkowski was transferred and Reverend Zbigniew Stanley Kaszubski arrived to assume the pastorate.

1980's - 1990's

In November 1980 the old Wurlitzer organ was replaced with a new Allen Digital Computer Organ. On November 22, 1981 Father Kaszubski's 25th Anniversary of Ordination was celebrated. The 80th Anniversary of St. Michael the Archangel Parish was celebrated on October 9, 1983 with a Mass of Thanksgiving, Banquet and Ball. In 1986 the PTO published and sold 800 copies of a cookbook with favorite recipes of our parishioners. Past Parish Committee Chairmen were honored at the annual St. Michael's Day Dinner and Reverend Dr. Kaszubski's 30th Anniversary of Ordination was celebrated.

In 1987 past and present SOCL teachers and assitant teachers were honored for their service. St. Michael's Parish hosted the Four Chaplains Service on February 1, 1987 at the request of American Legion Post No. 369. In 1988 Reverend Dr. Zbigniew Stanley Kaszubski was transferred and Reverend Francis C. Rowinski was assigned to the pastorate. The St. Cecila Choir and Reverend Rowinski participated in an Ecumenical Service sponsored by the East Chicago Ministerial Association at the St. Catherine Hospital Chapel. In September 1988 the 85th Anniversary of St. Michael the Archangel Parish was celebrated.

On June 16, 1990 the Northern Indiana Circle Choir hosted the United Circle Choir Diocesan Convention-Concert at the Star Plaza in Merrillville, Indiana and the convention Mass was celebrated at our parish. St. Michael parishioner Stanley Kulka was elected to the Supreme Council of the PNCC during the 18th General Synod. St. Michael's witnessed the first female altar server in the parish's history at the Holy Sacrifice of Mass in 1990. After serving our parish for four years, Reverend Francis C. Rowinski's pastorship came to a close in January 1992 and Reverend Richard Wosiak arrived to assume the pastorate.

A new public address system was installed in the church and initally used during Mass on December 6, 1992. In 1993 the PTO published a new edition of their cookbook. The 90th Anniversary of the parish was celebrated in September 1993 with a Mass of Thanksgiving, Banquet and Dance. In January 1999 our parish participated in an Ecumenical Prayer Service held at Saint Margaret Mary Roman Catholic parish in Hammond, Indiana.

2000-2007

In 2000 street signs directing traffic to our parish were installed. After serving our parish for eight years, Reverend Wosiak was transferred and Reverend John P. Kowalczyk, Jr. assumed the pastorate. Rev. Kowalczyk began publishing a monthly newsletter entitled The Archangel's Voice. Since June 2000 both Sunday Masses have been celebrated in English. A group of lectors were trained by Rev. Kowalczyk in the fall of 2000. A joint prayer service was held on Ecumenical Sunday, Jan. 21, 2001 at our parish with the St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Roman Catholic Parish. In March 2001 the Contemporary Rite was officially instituted at the Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass.

In July 2001, Rev. Kowalczyk was the subject of a one-and-one-half page feature article in The Times newspaper portraying his role as a little league coach in East Chicago. The St. Cecila Choir, under the direction of Virginia Kulka, caroled at the Munster Med-Inn in July and December. An Upper Room Service was initiated at our parish on March 17, 2002. In 2002 the parish cemetery plots were reviewed and updated for a new map. On the first anniversary of the World Trade Center tragedy, a We Remember service was held at our parish. In the fall of 2002 Rev. Kowalczyk initiated a weekly Bible Study class. A Charitable Giving project began in 2003 with a different organization being selected each month.

In preparation for the 100th Anniversary of our parish, major maintenance projects were conducted in 2002 and 2003. A rededication of our stained glass windows took place on July 20, 2003 and a Homecoming Picnic was held on August 24, 2003. The 100th Anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving and Banquet was held on September 28, 2003. In September 2004 our parish hosted the Western Diocese SOCL seminar. In April 2005 our parish was honored to be the host of the Fifth National Mission & Evangelism Workshop. In 2006 we started our monthly Fish & Shrimp Fry's. A Dozyiki Dinner and Dance was held on October 21, 2007. In 2007 we sold our East Chicago location and began the relocation to Cedar Lake. We celebrated our last Mass in the old church building on November 18, 2007 and our first Mass in Cedar Lake at Great Oaks Banquets on December 16, 2007.

2008-2011

As we settled into our space at Great Oaks Banquets, they invited us to start a dessert table at their weekly Chicken & Fish Dinners. So at the end of January 2008 we started our weekly dessert table in which we are currently still participating. In what has become a tradition at St. Michael's, we held another successful Fish Fry on Good Fry at Great Oaks Banquets in 2008.

To help introduce ourselves to the Cedar Lake community during 2008, we participated in their annual Summerfest over the 4th of July weekend. We sold our homemade Pierogi ready to eat and our Pierogi were loved by all! In July we finally purchased 7.75 acres of land on W. 133rd Ave. in Cedar Lake. At the end of September we sold desserts at the Cedar Lake Hometown Fest. December 2008 marked our first year at Great Oaks Banquets in Cedar Lake.

On March 8, 2009 we celebrated Holy Mass and held a Groundbreaking Ceremony of our new land. We are now one step closer to realizing our dream of a new church complex!

Once again in 2009, we participated in Cedar Lake's Summerfest and Hometown Fest. We also hosted our first Ecumenical Service with three other area churches in September 2009. As 2009 drew to a close we marked two years at Great Oaks Banquets.

The year 2010 has seen us host two Fish Fry's during Lent, participate in Cedar Lake's Summerfest and come closer to begining the building process of our new church complex. In July we once again sold our Pierogi and Stuffed Cabbage at the Cedar Lake Summerfest. In August, we began construction of Phase 1 of the church complex. We held our second Ecumenical service with three local churches. As 2010 drew to a close, we marked three years at Great Oaks Banquets.

The first half of 2011 has been a very busy one for our parish. Construction continued on the new church complex. We held Fish Fry's during Lent at Great Oaks. In June, two young people received First Holy Communion and on Father's Day we celebrated our last Mass at Great Oaks Banquets. On June 26, we dedicated our new church complex. Once again we sold Pierogi and Stuffed Cabbage at Cedar Lake's Summerfest. Starting July 29, we began hosting weekly Fish and Shrimp Fry's at our new church complex.

The second half of 2011 continued to keep us busy. We once again hosted an Ecumenical Service with three other area churches to remember the 10th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks of the World Trade Center and surrounding areas. We also participated in the Cedar Lake Hometown Fest and celebrated our first Christmas in our new complex.

2012-2013

In 2012 as we began our first full year in our new church complex, we continued to see new faces in the congregation each week. The weekly Fish and Shrimp Fry's were being well attended as word spread of the delicious food being served. During Lent, we saw record numbers of people attending our Weekly Fish and Shrimp Fry's. We celebrated our first Easter in the new church complex and it was wonderful to see so many people in church.

From April 27-29, 2012, we hosted the 12th Annual Mission and Evangelism Workshop for the second time. We enjoyed spending time with our fellow church members from throughout the National Catholic Church. It was a wonderful weekend of learning, fellowship and praising God.

June 2012 marked our one year anniversary of the new church complex. Once again, we participated in Cedar Lake's Summerfest and survived record high temperatures. July 2012 marked the one year anniversary of our Weekly Fish and Shrimp Fry's. Each week we see many returning and new customers and appreciate all those that come to enjoy our delicious homecooked food.

In the Fall, we hosted another Ecumenical Service, participated in Cedar Lake's Hometown Fest, and enjoyed fellowship at our All Soul's Day Service and Fellowship. During the month of December, our PTO sponsored a Christmas Caroling event where members of the parish strolled through the Robins Nest subdivison, our neighbors to the east, to spread Christmas cheer. The carolers as well as the residents enjoyed sharing the Christmas spirit.

In 2013, we have continued to welcome new members and visitors to our parish. During Lent, we once again set new attendance records for our Weekly Fish and Shrimp Fry's. We hosted Corpus Christi for the Northern Indiana Senorate of the Western Diocese. In May 2013, we began the One Hot Meal program, a ministry providing a free meal to members of the community once a month. We also began preparing for participating in Cedar Lake's Summerfest with the making of our homemade Pierogi and Stuffed Cabbage.

Once again in the Fall, we hosted an Ecumenical Service, participated in Cedar Lake's Hometown Fest, and enjoyed fellowhip at our All Soul's Day Service and Fellowship. In December, the PTO sponsored an afternoon of Christmas Caroling through Robins Nest subdivision.Our One Hot Meal program started serving meals two weeks a month in the Fall.

2014-2015

In 2014 we, once again, set new attendance records for our Weekly Fish and Shrimp Fry's. We also sold Homemade Lamb Cakes for Easter. On May 11, 2014 we celebrated our 111th Anniversary with a group picture and Mother's Day brunch. On Memorial Day, Mass was held at our parish cemetery. In July we once again participated in Cedar Lake's Summerfest and some of the youth from our parish participated in the national youth convo. In the fall, SOCL classes started with students ranging in age from 2 years old to 17 years old. We also held our annual garage sale and St. Michael's Day Dinner.

Again, we participated in Cedar Lake's Hometownfest selling our homemade desserts and hosted an Ecumenical service with local churches. We continued to make Pierogi as well as pies and pumpkin rolls for Thanskgiving. In December, we did Christmas Caroling in a local subdivison, sold homemade Polish Christmas cookies,and had a birthday party for Jesus.

The year 2015 began with installation of the new Parish Committee and the annual Christmas Dinner. In February, we sold heart-shaped chocolate chip cookies for Valentine's Day and prepared for Lent with a Lenten Retreat. Weekly online Bible studies took place during Lent. Our weekly Fish & Shrimp Fry continued to set new attendance records during Lent. Preparations began in April for Cedar Lake's Summerfest with the making of Stuffed Cabbage and Pierogi.

At the end of April we hosted three Diaconate Candidates as they gained first hand knowledge and participation in Mass. The month of May saw a Mother's Day Breakfast prepared by the Men's Club and 75 people in attendance at Mass, Closing Ceremonies for SOCL students, Pierogi making days, and a baptism. June started busy with another baptism and First Holy Communion for two youth. A successful Cedar Lake Summerfest was once again had and the addition of the South Lake County Antique Farm and Tractor Show as also a success for our first year attending.

The Fall saw the start of another year of SOCL classes and another well attend Ecumenical service hosted by St. Michael's parish. The weather for Cedar Lake's Hometownfest was perfect for selling homemade desserts. The first Saturday in October saw our first Animal Blessing with four dogs in attendance. Our Pierogi making and Thanksgiving pies and pumpkin rolls continued with tha addition of homemade Sweet Potato Casserole dishes. In December, we once again sang Christmas Carols in a local subdivison and celebrated St. Nicholas Day. The year 2015 saw lots of activity at the parish and in the community along with several new members joining the parish.

2016-2017

In 2016 we, once again, set new attendance records for our Weekly Fish and Shrimp Fry's with well over 300 dinners sold on our busiest night during Lent. We also sold Homemade Lamb Cakes for Easter and the youth sold Butter Lambs. On May 11, 2016 we celebrated our 113th Anniversary. On Memorial Day, Mass was held at our parish cemetery. In June we hosted our first Outdoor Movie Night. We collected donations for the local food pantries at the Outdoor Movie Night and donated them in honor of our local First Responders. In July we once again participated in Cedar Lake's Summerfest, the South Lake County Antique Farm and Tractor Show and some of the youth from our parish participated in the national youth convo. In August, a parish outing was held at the Gary Railcat's Baseball game and enjoyed by all who attended. We added a new festival to our schedule with the Windfield Harvest Festival in October. Once again we had our All Soul's Day Service and Fellowship at our Cemetery in October and in November, we made our Pies, Pumpkin Rolls and Sweet Potato Casseroles for sale. The year ended with our traditional St. Nicholas Day and Christmas celebrations. The year 2016 has been very busy and 2017 will continue to see us active at the parish and local community level.

The year 2017 began with the installation of the new Parish Committee and the annual Christmas Dinner. In February, we once again sold heart-shaped chocolate chip cookies for Valentine's Day. This year, the Society for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament hosted a Lenten Tea with Mr. James Szalony as the guest speaker with a topic of the Old Rugged Cross. Weekly online Bible studies took place during Lent. Again, we made Lamb Cakes and Butter Lambs for Easter. For the first time in many years, St. Michael the Archangel was host to the Mass of Chrism on Holy Tuesday. Our weekly Fish and Shrimp Fry once again was well attended during Lent setting a new record of 338 dinners in one night. In May, the Men's Club sponsored a Mother's Day brunch and SOCL Commencement Ceremonies were held with one graduate. On Memorial Day, Mass was held at our parish cemetery. In July, we participated in Cedar Lake's Summerfest and the South Lake County Antique Farm and Tractor Show. In August, we held our 2nd Outdoor Movie Night, collecting donations for the local food pantries, and held a parish outing to the Gary Railcats Baseball game. For the 2nd year, we participated in the Winfield Harvest Festival. The Society of the Adoration of the Most Blessed held it's first gift basket raffle that was very successful. In September, we held our first Hog Roast. The now annual All Soul's Day Service and Fellowship was held in October and, in November, we made our Pies, Pumplin Rolls and Sweet Potato Cassroles.

2018-2019

The year 2018 began with the installation of the new Parish Committee and the annual Christmas Dinner. In February, we once again sold heart-shaped chocolate chip cookies for Valentine's Day. Again this year, the Society for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament hosted a Lenten Tea with Mr. James Szalony as the guest speaker with the topic of The Cross. Weekly online Bible studies took place during Lent. Again, we made Lamb Cakes and Butter Lambs for Easter. Our weekly Fish and Shrimp Fry once again was well attended during Lent setting a new record of 416 dinners in one night. In May, the Men's Club sponsored a Mother's Day brunch and SOCL Commencement Ceremonies were held. On Memorial Day, Mass was held at our parish cemetery. In July, we participated in Cedar Lake's Summerfest and the South Lake County Antique Farm and Tractor Show. In August, we held our 3rd Outdoor Movie Night, collecting donations for the local food pantries. For the 3rd year, we participated in the Winfield Harvest Festival. The now annual All Soul's Day Service and Fellowship was held in October and, in November, we made our Pies, Pumplin Rolls and Sweet Potato Cassroles as well as held our 2nd Hog Roast. The last Sunday of November saw the confiring of the Sacrament of Confirmation to three people by His Grace, Prime Bishop Anthony Mikovsky.

The year 2019 began with the installation of the new Parish Committee, including the second female Chairman in the Parish's history, and the annual Christmas Dinner. February brought the annual Valentine's Day heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie sale. In March, Lent began with Ash Wednesday Mass and our Lenten Fish & Shrimp Fry's saw increased numbers again. Credit/Debit cards were now being taken at the Fish & Shrimp Fry's. We were the location of an Active Shooter Workshop hosted by the Cedar Lake Police Department and the Cedar Lake Chamber of Commerce. Weekly online Bible studies took place during Lent. Lamb Cakes and Butter Lambs were once again made for Easter. In addition, we started making our own homemade fresh Polish sausage as well as selling smoked Polish sausage.