Church of the Stigmata of St Francis of Assisi in Koszarawa Bystra

The Church of the Stigmata of St Francis of Assisi in Koszarawa Bystra is part of a Franciscan monastery belonging to the Province of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Order of Friars Minor. It lies in the municipality of Koszarawa, in Żywiec County, within the Diocese of Bielsko-Żywiec.

History of the foundation

The Franciscans established a house here in 1985 as an independent vicariate of the then Archdiocese of Kraków, at the will of Cardinal Franciszek Macharski. The parish was established in 1989 under the title of the Stigmata of St Francis, and the religious house in 1995.

At first services were held in a makeshift chapel. The present church and monastery were built from 1993 to 2005, and the church was blessed by Bishop Tadeusz Rakoczy.

Practical information

• Village: Koszarawa Bystra, municipality of Koszarawa.
• This is a working parish church by the monastery, so visiting the interior depends on services.
• Mass times must be checked with the parish.