Church of St Hyacinth in Katowice

The Church of St Hyacinth in Ochojec, Katowice, is a parish church of the Archdiocese of Katowice that was begun in 1937 and finally completed only in 1975. It belongs to the Katowice-Panewniki deanery.

Construction before the war

The land for the church was bought in 1937, and the first excavations were made soon afterwards. The design was prepared by Henryk Cambiok and Emmanuel Witt, and work lasted from 1937 to 1940. The foundation stone was blessed on 7 May 1939. On 20 August of that year the first service was held in the still unfinished building.

The church was consecrated during the war, on 23 June 1940, because the bishop of the diocese had been expelled by the German authorities. It was done by the parish priest of Mikołów, Canon Karol Wilk.

Extension after the war

The interior was finished after the war, and in 1953 a new organ was blessed. The authorities' permission to complete the building was issued only on 7 December 1970. The chief designer of the extension was Professor Mieczysław Król, the decoration was designed by Jerzy Egon Kwiatkowski, and the stained glass by Lidia Kwiatkowska.

Work began on 26 June 1972 and lasted until 1975. In 1973 the cross was placed between the church's towers, and on 15 June 1975 the chapel of St Maximilian Maria Kolbe was blessed, at a ceremony attended by Franciszek Gajowniczek, who had been saved by Fr Kolbe.

Nearby

Closest is Zadole Park, and it is about 3.5 km to Kościuszko Park.

Practical information

• Location: Katowice, Piotrowice-Ochojec district, near ulica Bolesława Prusa.
• It is an active church; check service times and the possibility of visiting with the parish.