The Parish of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Leszno

The Parish of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Leszno, belonging to the Błonie Deanery in the Archdiocese of Warsaw, has a rich history dating back to the 15th century. The first mention of its pastors comes from 1440. Over the centuries, the parish had several churches, the oldest of which was a wooden one, built in 1598 by Fr. Benedykt Żaboklicki. In 1725, another wooden church was founded by Walerian Łuszczewski. The current brick neo-Gothic church was built between 1894 and 1898 according to the design of architect Władysław Hirszel. After his death, the construction was completed by Konstanty Wojciechowski, and the church was consecrated by Archbishop Wincenty Popiel on July 6, 1902. It is worth noting that the church is located on the local tourist trail of the West Warsaw County, with an information plaque placed in front of it and a GPS application available for touring. The parish has had many significant pastors, including Fr. Kazimierz Wysocki, awarded the Gold Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari for his participation in the November Uprising, and Fr. Jan Raczkowski, recognized as Righteous Among the Nations. The current pastor is Fr. Piotr Paweł Laskowski, who has been overseeing this historic parish since 2013. Throughout its centuries-long history, the parish in Leszno has not only evolved architecturally but has also enriched the local culture, serving as a place of gathering and spiritual growth for the community.