Kościół pw. Matki Bożej Królowej Polski
Churches of Kraków
Parish church (Roman Catholic), Dębniki district. A parish is a community of believers tied to a particular church.
History
The Church of Our Lady Queen of Poland stands in Kobierzyn, a former village that is now part of Nowy Ruczaj. It began as a garrison chapel built by the army in 1909-1911: at the time the 8th Uhlan Regiment was stationed in Kobierzyn. After the First World War the regiment was withdrawn, and the chapel was taken over by the Diocese of Kraków and became a branch of St Joseph's parish in Podgórze.
Independence came with a decree issued on 3 May 1934 by the Metropolitan of Kraków, Adam Stefan Sapieha. A new parish covering the whole village of Kobierzyn was then carved out of the Podgórze parish, and the former chapel became the parish church. Our Lady Queen of Poland became the patron of the church and the parish. The first parish priest, Father Jan Lupa, had the presbytery built, and it is still in use today.
Over time the parish area began to be built up and divided. In 1989 part of it became the parish of the Descent of the Holy Spirit in Ruczaj, and in 1998 the Pastoral Centre of Our Lady of Częstochowa at the Dr Babiński Hospital was separated from it. Another parish, of St Raphael Kalinowski, was created on 1 January 2002. Meanwhile, in 1997-2000, the church was extended to a design by Piotr Sobański. The enlarged church was consecrated on 3 December 2000 by Cardinal Franciszek Macharski.
Did you know?
During the Nazi occupation Father Jan Lupa fell into the hands of the Gestapo. For several years he was held first in prison and later in the Camaldolese monastery in Bielany.