Czestochowa - America

The American Czestochowa was begun in 1953 when Fr. Michael M. Zembrzuski was sent by his superiors to the United States to establish the Order of St. Paul the First Hermit on American soil.
Additionally, Fr. Michael had a dream that a magnificent shrine would be constructed in honor of the Holy Virgin of Czestochowa.

Having purchased a parcel of land amid the rolling hills of Bucks county, near the town of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, renovations began on the conversion of a barn into a chapel worthy of the Mother of God and her Divine Son.

In June of 1955 the humble Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa was dedicated and pilgrims began to make their way to Doylestown.

Unable to accomodate the growing number of pilgrims, 170 acres of land was purchased, across the roadway from the barn chapel, on a hilltop, the highest point in Bucks county, and construction began on a larger shrine.

Designed by architect George Szeptycki, and able to accommodate 4000 people, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa was dedicated on October 16, 1966. Attending the dedication ceremony was the President of the United States of America, Lyndon B. Johnson.
The shrine houses the largest installation of stained glass windows in the United States. Incorporated within the magnificent sculpture of the Holy Trinity, above the main altar of the upper church, is a reproduction of the Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa painted by Leonard Torwirt.
This Icon was blessed by Pope John XXIII on February 10, 1962 and travelled to every Polish parish in the United States prior to its installation at the Shrine in Doylestown.

Located in the lower church, the pilgrim to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa can pray in a replica of the original Lady Chapel of Jasna Gora.

Here too, as in the original Lady Chapel in Poland, countless prayers are offered to the Queen of Heaven.

	The American Czestochowa was begun in 1953 when Fr. Michael M. Zembrzuski was sent by his superiors to the United States to establish the Order of St. Paul the First Hermit on American soil. Additionally, Fr. Michael had a dream that a magnificent shrine would be constructed in honor of the Holy Virgin of Czestochowa.
	Having purchased a parcel of land amid the rolling hills of Bucks county, near the town of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, renovations began on the conversion of a barn into a chapel worthy of the Mother of God and her Divine Son.
	In June of 1955 the humble Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa was dedicated and pilgrims began to make their way to Doylestown.
	Unable to accomodate the growing number of pilgrims, 170 acres of land was purchased, across the roadway from the barn chapel, on a hilltop, the highest point in Bucks county, and construction began on a larger shrine.
	Designed by architect George Szeptycki, and able to accommodate 4000 people, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa was dedicated on October 16, 1966. Attending the dedication ceremony was the President of the United States of America, Lyndon B. Johnson. The shrine houses the largest installation of stained glass windows in the United States. Incorporated within the magnificent sculpture of the Holy Trinity, above the main altar of the upper church, is a reproduction of the Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa painted by Leonard Torwirt. This Icon was blessed by Pope John XXIII on February 10, 1962 and travelled to every Polish parish in the United States prior to its installation at the Shrine in Doylestown.
	Located in the lower church, the pilgrim to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa can pray in a replica of the original Lady Chapel of Jasna Gora.
	Here too, as in the original Lady Chapel in Poland, countless prayers are offered to the Queen of Heaven.