Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Our Lady Healer of the Sick in Katowice

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Our Lady Healer of the Sick is a Roman Catholic parish church on ulica Mieszka I on the Osiedle Tysiąclecia estate in Katowice. It consists of two churches, a lower and an upper one, and its construction lasted from 1979 to 1994.

How it was built

The first efforts to obtain a church on the estate were made by Bishop Herbert Bednorz. In 1974, during the men's pilgrimage to Piekary Śląskie, Cardinal Karol Wojtyła appealed for permission to build. The Katowice voivode issued the permit on 27 May 1977. The design of the building and interiors was prepared by the architects Henryk Buszko and Aleksander Franta, the structure by Henryk Raszka and Janusz Mach, and the sculptures were designed by Gustaw Zemła.

The foundation stone was blessed on 6 June 1979 by John Paul II. Construction began on 27 September that year. It was supported financially and by voluntary work by the residents of the estate.

The lower and upper church

The lower church, dedicated to Our Lady Healer of the Sick, was consecrated by Bishop Bednorz on 13 December 1981. The upper one, dedicated to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, was consecrated by Bishop Damian Zimoń on 14 September 1991. The patronal feast falls on the second Sunday of September.

Furnishings

In 2012 the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima was created and the Stations of the Cross were installed. Four bells were blessed in 2015, and the stained-glass windows in the upper church, by Aleksander Kozera, in 2019. In 2020 a figure of St Rita of Cascia was blessed.

Nearby

Closest are the Chorzów sites: the Silesian Zoological Garden and Silesian Park, and in Katowice the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Mieszka I, Katowice, Osiedle Tysiąclecia.
• It is an active parish church; check service times and visiting hours on the parish website.