Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church

The church the plaque describes anchored a farm town now mostly gone. About forty Panna Maria families started the community in 1873, and by 1878 it had 175 people, a gristmill, a gin and a school; a bank was open by 1892. A post office ran from 1883 to 1918, after which mail came through Falls City. St. Joseph's parochial school entered the county system in 1937, and a newer school of 1964 closed in 1974 as enrollment fell. Former residents helped form parishes at Kosciusko in 1898 and Falls City in 1902. About 110 lived here in 1990.

What the plaque says

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church The second Polish colony in Karnes County, the village in this area grew out of a small settlement known as St. Joe and was formally established in 1873. At times the priest at Panna Maria would conduct services at St. Joseph School in what would become Czestochowa. The "Mother Colony" church at Panna Maria was destroyed by lightning in 1877; Czestochowa settlers decided to build their own church. This was the subject of much controversy among the Polish pioneers of Karnes County. Anton Jarzombek (1836-1922) and Frank Mutz (1814-1891) each donated land for the church. Area residents contributed their labor to build the eighty-five by forty foot church with Gervase Gabrysch (1830-1904) as contractor. Bishop Anthony D. Pellicer blessed the church on February 10, 1878. Father W. Pelczar was assigned as the first pastor that September. As a sign of their reconciliation, the parishioners from the newly rebuilt Panna Maria church presented the new parish a large painting of the Virgin Mary of Czestochowa, the Patroness of Poland. The two congregations often shared leadership in the ensuing years. The Cestohowa church (adopting the Americanized spelling of the community) thrived into the 20th century. In the 1930s the church underwent intensive additions and remodeling. Though the original walls remained, the roof was completely removed and the ceiling raised. The north and south wings were added and the steeple was increased in height. In 1998, the church celebrated its 125th anniversary. At that time, the parish consisted of 380 members. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church continues in the traditions of its founders. (2000)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Panna Maria — 4.3 mi
  The Silesian village on a plateau above the San Antonio River that claims the oldest permanent Polish settlement in America, with a church of 1878 and a ceiling found again in 2000.

More markers nearby

• El Fuerte del Cibolo — steps away
• Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Cemetery — 0.3 mi
• Town of Panna Maria — 4.3 mi
• St. Ann's Catholic Church — 6.6 mi