JoAnn Galinski, a U.S.-born individual of Polish and Lithuanian descent, was 13 years old when her family joined St. Casimir Parish in Yonkers. On Saturday, Galinski, now 79, joined hundreds of fellow parishioners to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the construction of the parish’s current structure. The parish was founded in 1899. 

The parish was initially composed mostly of Polish families. Today, still, many of the families are Polish, and many are Hispanic. The celebration Mass was conducted in English, Polish, and Spanish, led by Cardinal Timothy Dolan and followed by a reception.        

“This is great, it’s wonderful that he’s come to us,” Galinski, in a brief interview with The Good Newsroom before the liturgy, said of the cardinal visiting the parish to celebrate the special Mass. “I volunteer for the flea market every year. This parish is special to me, it’s a family thing. I was baptized here; my mother and father were married here.” Galinski is a mother of three and grandmother of seven.          

Also attending the Mass were David and Maribel Cruz, both Mexican-born. They joined St. Casimir three years ago after their wedding there. Cruz, 32, told The Good Newsroom in his native Spanish that the parish community is important for them and their children, that they appreciate how it guides them in “serving the Lord, in surrendering to God, to the Holy Spirit. And we pray that the Virgin Mary takes care of us.”   

A grateful pastor 

Father Marek Rudecki, St. Casimir’s pastor, who was born in Poland, gave heartfelt welcome remarks to the cardinal and the faithful in English, Polish, and then Spanish, saying in part, “I am very grateful to God. Many thanks to all of you, and we continue loving Christ.” And Cardinal Dolan said, “Father Marek, thank you. Thank you for being a good shepherd.”

“Witamy. Welcome. Bienvenido,” the cardinal said in welcoming all in Polish, English, and  Spanish. “Welcome. You see how many languages I can speak?” he added, drawing laughter from the faithful. 

Later in the homily, Cardinal Dolan spoke of the dedicated priests who served the Polish community in the early years, and in more recent decades, seeing to the spiritual and sacramental needs of the largely Polish and Latino parish “in their beloved Yonkers.” 

“So this parish and this magnificent church came to be, and you continue that tradition, everybody,” the cardinal said. “A lot of things have changed (in the parish, in Yonkers), but one thing doesn’t change, Jesus Christ, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He never changes. He likes to change us; he likes to change us from sinners to saints…And he has always been here for you in this beautiful parish, and he always will be here. He helps us in this life with his grace and his mercy when we fail. He helps us get to eternal life. He wants us to live with him forever in heaven.”

The cardinal cited the day’s gospel reading about “the Good Thief, St. Dismas, who turns to Jesus on the Cross and says, ‘Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And Jesus says to him, ‘This day you will be with me in paradise.’” And the cardinal added, “The promise, the pledge of everlasting life…Congratulations. Happy Anniversary. It is a joy and an honor for me to be here with you.”  

About the parish 

Saint Casimir Parish, located on Nepperhan Avenue, was established in 1899 at the request of Father Joseph Dworzak, who sought to create a Polish parish in Yonkers. At the time, Polish Catholics in the area had to travel to St. Valentine’s Church in the Bronx or Polish parishes in Manhattan to worship in their language.

Initially, Masses for the Polish community were held in a side chapel at Immaculate Conception Parish. In 1903, their first church was built, providing a dedicated space for the growing parish. The current church stands near the site of the original building. It continues to serve as a spiritual and cultural home for Polish Catholics in Yonkers, along with the Hispanic community.

Saint Casimir was a Polish-Lithuanian prince from the 15th century, known for his piety, generosity to the poor, and vow of celibacy. Despite being a prince and a potential king, he lived an ascetic life, preferring prayer and study over worldly power and luxury. He died in 1484 from tuberculosis at age 25 and is honored as a patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.