St. Stanislaus Kostka (Archdiocese of Newark, Garfield)

Saint Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church
Dedication:	Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Venerated Saints:	None specified
Diocese:	Archdiocese of Newark
Deanery:
Address:	155 Washington Place, Garfield, NJ 07026
Coordinates:	40.8797, -74.1125
City:	Garfield, NJ
Subdivision:	New Jersey
Country:	United States
County:	Bergen County
Website:	https://ststangarfield.org/
Founded:	1914
School:	Yes
Email:	office@ststangarfield.org, office@ststangarfield.org

Saint Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church is a territorial parish in the Archdiocese of Newark, located in Garfield, New Jersey. Dedicated to Saint Stanislaus Kostka, the sixteenth-century Polish Jesuit novice and patron saint of Poland, students, and young people—venerated for his piety, obedience, and early death at age 18—the parish serves a diverse, multicultural community in Bergen County with a strong historical Polish heritage.

Founded in 1914 to minister to Polish immigrant families settling in Garfield, the parish grew rapidly with the borough’s industrial and residential development. The current church building, reflecting early-to-mid-twentieth-century design, was dedicated in the postwar era. As of January 10, 2026, Saint Stanislaus Kostka offers regular Masses in English and Polish, faith formation programs, and ministries supporting spiritual growth, community service, and charitable outreach.

The parish community honors its patron through special devotions on November 13 (his feast day) and promotes his example of youthful holiness and trust in God.

History

Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish was established in 1914 by the Archdiocese of Newark to provide pastoral care for Polish immigrant families arriving in Garfield, New Jersey.

The early community celebrated Masses in temporary locations before constructing a permanent church. The current church building was dedicated in the mid-twentieth century, accommodating the increasing number of parishioners during the postwar period of growth in Garfield.

Over the decades, the parish has adapted to demographic changes while preserving its Polish devotional traditions, including Polish-language Masses and cultural celebrations. The parish school, established in the mid-20th century, continues to provide Catholic education for local families.

Special features

• Masses in English and Polish, maintaining the parish’s historical Polish heritage
• Devotion to Saint Stanislaus Kostka, with special observances on November 13 (his feast day)
• Active faith formation programs and community outreach
• Associated Catholic school serving local families

Relics

According to established Catholic tradition, the main altar contains deposited relics, as is customary in dedicated churches. Specific details regarding the saints associated with these relics are not publicly documented in available sources. This follows common practice where first-class relics, often of martyrs, are sealed within the altar.

Architecture

The current church building at 155 Washington Place, Garfield, NJ, is an early-to-mid-20th-century (likely 1920s–1950s) Roman Catholic parish structure, reflecting the era's emphasis on traditional ecclesiastical design with functional elements suited to growing immigrant communities.

Exterior Features

• The façade is constructed of red brick laid in a running bond pattern, with a central projecting portico or gabled entrance featuring a cross above the main doors.
• A prominent bell tower rises above the entrance, topped with a cross, providing vertical emphasis and serving as a landmark in the neighborhood.
• Tall, narrow vertical stained-glass or clear glass windows flank the entrance, allowing natural light into the nave while maintaining a symmetrical, traditional appearance.
• The roof is pitched with a gable or parapet, finished in dark shingles.
• Side elevations feature large rectangular stained-glass windows, visible in Street View, which suggest biblical or devotional themes.
• Overall style blends Gothic Revival influences (e.g., verticality in windows and tower, pointed-arch motifs) with functional Modern elements, common for Polish-American churches built in the Archdiocese of Newark during the early-to-mid-20th century.

Interior Features

• Publicly available interior images are scarce, but churches of this era in the region typically feature a central nave with side aisles, a raised sanctuary, and a prominent crucifix above the altar.
• Stained-glass windows often depict biblical scenes or saints, with warm color palettes.
• Wood or marble altars, statues of Mary and Joseph, and devotional shrines are standard.

Art and devotional features

Specific details on stained glass windows, statues, sculptures, or other interior artwork are limited in publicly available sources. Devotional elements typically include representations of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, often portraying him in Jesuit habit with a lily (symbol of purity) or holding a crucifix, reflecting his youthful holiness and devotion.