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Karl R. Josker | all galleries >> Galleries >> Lofty Photos > St.Casimir's RC Church, 160 Cable St. Buffalo, NY
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10-17-03 Karl R. Josker

St.Casimir's RC Church, 160 Cable St. Buffalo, NY

I would guess that most of Buffalo doesn't know of this church, located on a side street, a good block from Clinton St. in the Kaisertown area of Buffalo. It is not easily seen from Clinton St, and remains relatively unseen. The cornerstone was laid in 1927, and is built in the neo-Byzantine style. The church appears complete and intact, with even its' great organ functioning.


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Thomas N. 06-Nov-2016 14:12
My Sisters were Sister Mary Leocadia, Baptist, Orence, Presentation x2 , Apollinaria, Colomancia, & Flavina
tom D 05-Apr-2014 19:20
This church was my families life. From my grandfather washing the stone floors on his hands and knees, to my father directing processions as president of the ushers society. I grew up in this edifice, it was truly my sanctuary. I remember my personal meeting with St.John Paul II, and him laying his hands upon me and blessing me by using my name. I can remember the smell of incense and the ringing of the bells during the Gloria on Holy Thursday. Then silence until Sunrise Mass on Easter Sunday. Hanging wreaths upon the pillars, filling the sanctuary with poinsettia and lilly. Yes this beautiful monument is part of me, its fills me with wonderful memories and is part of my soul. I am inexorable part of St.Casimirs and it is part of me.
Renee L-H 29-Dec-2013 04:29
Monica P.W., I was 1 yr. ahead of you & remember you. I would sit in the choir, 1st seat closest to the organ...your Father beautifully playing our music. The view from the loft was amazing! We were on the level of the chandeliers & I would gaze directly at the paintings of saints above the side arches. The marble altar had angels w/candelabras lit, on each side. The side altars were decorated during Holy Week by the Nuns. One was always agleam w/white & gold linens, flowers, & golden grapes on Holy Thur. (where Boy Scouts would take turns standing guard). On Good Fri. the other altar was draped in
Renee L-H 29-Dec-2013 04:17
This was my parish & school in the 50's & 60's. The Felician Nuns (a Polish order) taught the 600+ students from Kindergarten thru 8th grade. Every weekday, students attended 8AM Mass before school. We also sat w/our classmates & Nun on Sun's. @ the 9:30 Mass. In 7th & 8th grades the students (mostly girls) sang in the choir; English, Polish, & Latin hymns. The Mass was still in Latin then w/ the priest facing the altar (not the congregation). I also attended the Tues. evening Infant of Prague devotions.
Monica Polowy Winter 29-Jan-2011 18:19
This view of St. Casimir's brings tears to my eyes as I recall being in the choirloft with my Dad who was the organist there from 1953 until his death in 1973. I loved to hear him play the organ, espcially the low bass notes which he would play at the end of Mass, looking me in the eye with a smile on his face, to please me.
Here we all sang the beautiful Polish hymns of each liturgical season with our voices and hearts atuned. I will always carry fond remembrances of singing with classmates, many still close friends. And all of the people of Kaisertown in the 1950s and 1960s who made up the warm and caring congregation--in retrospect, like an extended family. The church has a warm glow and is alive with the goodness of those who worshipped there for so many decades. It is truly a sacred place.
Sue 14-Mar-2009 19:24
We are doing the Play "Over The Tavern". It is set in 1959 and the church and the school are mentioned in the play. The playwright must have know the neighborhood.It is good to know it is written true to what it was like. Catechism, confirmation, growing up in that world before it all changed.....I research plays we do to give the characters a more three dimensional view of who they are. Thank you for the trip back in time.
Lisa 31-Jan-2008 04:18
I moved from Buffalo a few years ago, and I think it's really cool I can say my grandparents house is literally on the other side of that wall.
John Kaetzel 07-Sep-2007 18:08
I still live in K Town and i used to go to church on a weekly basis but it has gotten away from with all my hard work in school
Georgia Waczkowski 28-Feb-2007 17:41
I recently moved to west seneca about one year ago. I work on Clinton st. and i started taking the back roads to work everyday. So two times a day for 6 months straight i have been driving past this church and never noticed its beauty before. Until one day about 2 weeks ago i drove by and the snow was melting a little bit and the sun was hitting this church so nicely I had to stop to take in the beauty of this church. It is magnificent I still haven't been inside and i am in awe of its beauty from the outside however...there are words on the front of the building and it is killing me to know what they mean could you let me know if possible?
Jaime F. Jakubczak 05-Feb-2007 01:53
My grandparents and mother lived on Spann St. about 4 blks from St. Casimir's. I remember visiting them in the mid 60's and then again when I live with them in 1971. We attended St. Casimir's and I was always in awe as to the beauty and the workmanship that makes up such a beautiful church. I later learned that my grandparents were married in what was the school blding back in 1915. My sister later married in the church (1997). I think this appreciation later turned into my love of perserving older architecture and me becoming a general contractor.
Margaret 07-Dec-2005 18:40
Thank you for the beautiful picture.I went to school and Church here.We lived about 5 houses before the school. And it brings back so many happy thoughts. My Grandmother and Grandfather were from Poland and I lived with them in my early years. I made my First Communion here. This parrish is so rich in it's polish culture it makes me feel good to know I'm apart of it. Again I thank Mr.Josker
Stan 20-Nov-2003 18:18
St. Casimir's is a beautiful Church, outstanding in design and decoration. Modeled after churches in Istanbul and the former Yugoslavia, it is one of only three like it in the world. The art is beyond compare. Further, because Karol Cardinal wojtyla celebrated Mass there in 1976 and because there is in the church a picture of Our Lady of Czestochowa given in gratitude by Cardinal Wojtyla, St. Casimir's stands as an extremely special place. A bronze plaque in the church commemorates the historic visit of Wojtyla, who would become Pope John Paul II only a year after his visit to St. Casimir's. The traditional Polish devotions and customs are observed with absolute beauty. The choir Mass is beyond heavely and is well worth the trip from anywhere in the region. St. Casimir's is a gem for so many reasons... I urge anyone and everyone to stop by and be moved with gratitude by seeing this magnificent House of God.