St. Joseph's Parish in Krakow

The Parish of St. Joseph in Krakow (Podgórze) was established on April 19, 1818, following earlier attempts to build a church in connection with the foundational act of the city issued by Emperor Joseph II in 1784. The first parish priest was Fr. Alojzy Owsiński, and initially, the faithful used a chapel located in a government building. In 1832, the Church of St. Joseph was constructed according to a design by Franciszek Brotschneider in a classicizing style, which unfortunately proved defective and was demolished in 1905. That same year, the cornerstone for the new church was consecrated, and the completed new building, consecrated in 1909, replaced the old church. In 2021, the Metropolitan of Krakow, Marek Jędraszewski, declared this church an archdiocesan sanctuary. Architecturally, the new church impresses with its simplicity and solemnity, and the only remnant of the original structure is the bell tower from 1879. The parish engages in community life through various groups, such as the Parish Pastoral Council, the Light-Life Movement, the Academic Ministry, and the "Nutki św. Józefa" Schola. The cultural center of the parish is the John Paul II Quarry (Kamieniołom im. Jana Pawła II) located in the basement of the rectory, which serves cultural and pastoral activities. The parish's boundaries encompass many streets of Podgórze, including well-known locations such as Bohaterów Getta Square, Kalwaryjska Street, and Podgórski Market. The parish is not only a place of religious worship but also an important social center where residents actively participate in various initiatives.