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Saint Casimir Church - Last Vigil

Saint Casimir Church
Last Vigil before Reopening

The last Mass held at St. Casimir Church in Cleveland was held on November 8, 2009. Starting the following Sunday, parishioners and supporters met outside the locked church to pray.

On Sunday July 8, 2012 the 139th and final street service was held. St Casimir Church will reopen on Sunday July 15, 2012.

The St Casimir group was the first to meet outside the church and never missed a week despite Cleveland's dramatic weather. They inspired 4 other church communities (St. Emeric, St. Patrick, St. Wendelin and St. James) to begin meeting in the street the following summer.

St Casimir Church supporters


Now their prayers have been answered and St Casimir Church will reopen with a Mass at 11:30AM on July 15th. The loyal group which was exiled outside for so long will be able to enter their beloved church again.

St Casimir Church in Cleveland to reopen

Many believe this to be a miracle delivered to them by the Blessed Virgin as Our Lady of Czestochowa.

Our Lady of Czestochowa icon

Our Lady of Czestochowa icon


Our Lady of Czestochowa icon

Michael Klymiuk-Wieczerski

Michael Klymiuk-Wieczerski told how he was visited by the Blessed Virgin in a dream and she told him "Do not leave me."



Blessed John Paul II visited St Casimir in 1969. In 1985 a monument was installed that dedicated this church to the men and women of the Gdansk shipyards who were murdered (1970) in the streets standing up to the atheist communists.

Solidarnosc - Solidarity at St. Casimir Church

Solidarnosc - Solidarity at St. Casimir Church


Joe Feckanin, one of the leaders of the group, said, "These people were not AFRAID. John Paul told the Poles 'Be not afraid' and they carry it in their hearts along with their Catholicism where they have sacrificed their blood and lives. They follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They have prevailed."

Joe Feckanin at St. Casimir Church in Cleveland

Joe Feckanin





Congratulations to the loyal faithful of St Casimir Church and their supporters from other communities who prayed the rosary, sang songs and never missed a week.

Praying the rosary at St Casimir Church in Cleveland

Wojtek Flezar




Praying in English and Polish

John at St Casimir Church


The Irish Brigade - Irish supporters of St Casimir Church

The Irish Brigade - Irish supporters of St Casimir Church


Crowd at St Casimir Church in Cleveland


Crowd at St Casimir Church in Cleveland




God Bless America

Crowd singing at St Casimir Church in Cleveland


Joe Feckanin and Stanislav Zadnik

Joe Feckanin and Stanislav Zadnik




Girl speaking at St Casimir Church


Crowd at St Casimir Church




Amazing Grace

Man singing at St Casimir Church


Joe Feckanin with Divine Mercy banner

Divine Mercy


Woman with Blessed Virgin icon

Bronislavwa Chelmonski




Singing a song to the Blessed Virgin (in Polish)


Polish Flag at St Casimir Church in Cleveland




Polish National Anthem



See photos and videos of St Casimir Church before it was closed.



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