In Awe – St. Adalbert's Parish
c. 1910
Our latest Instagram Meet Up landed at St. Adalbert's Parish – a massive, gorgeous Catholic church on the West Side. This meet up was organized to announce #MySouthBend, a collaboration between local government and creatives to use Instagram and the City's website to tell stories about real life in South Bend.
Founded in 1910, St. Adalbert's was the last of four Polish Roman Catholic parishes in town. Reverend Paul Ybarra explained that the Parish holds a unique history of serving two different immigrant populations (Polish, Latino) as the surrounding neighborhood has changed. Into the views:
After a couple minutes inside the church I was struck by a massive painting dimly lit by an overhanging light. The painting, shown below, is well-described by a Wikipedia article on the Parish:
"The mural on the north wall of the church best, painted by John A. Mallin in 1941, epitomizes the humble but determined beginnings of the church. In the mural Polish immigrants are shown constructing and beating their swords into plowshares. Industrial development can be seen in the form of factories in the distance and above the whole scene the people’s pastor is pointing to a cloud with the fallen Christ under his heavy cross struggling along. This struggle of Christ exemplifies what the Polish people have endured in establishing St. Adalbert’s. Far above the picture of Christ is a Polish inscription which is translated: “By the sweat of your brow you have received the bread of life”
“There’s a group of young, talented, and committed photographers who are launching this initiative”
Cathedral of the West Side
“We don’t have to close down places. We can invite other people to come in .. I think that’s part of what this campaign is aiming at.”
Two photos of myself (directly above) were shot by Jules Delee.
Quotes from Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Rev. Paul Ybarra originated in WSBT's article '#MySouthBend campaign encourages community involvement' by Katlin Connin