A SHORT HISTORY OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH, 1914 - 2005

The story of St. Mary's Church began IN THE YEAR 1914 in the midwest of the United States. A group of devoutly-Catholic Polish immigrants were attracted to the fabulous State of Florida by land-promotion sales-pitches published in the local newspapers. The promotions emphasized cheap farm land at $35 an acre, the possibility of three crops a year, and a local climate free from ice and snow. The group decided to relocate to Florida and selected the rural area in the northern part of Volusia County. In 1917, this area became part of Flagler County and later the City of Korona.

EARLY IN 1914 the first 35 families arrived. The new settlers were characterized by strong family traditions centered on God, Country and Honor. Their first task after acquiring land was to build their homes and a duplex home for their Priest, Rev. Father Andrew Baczyk. Since the area chosen did not have a Catholic Church, a committee was formed for this purpose. They raised $1000 to build a church. Within a short time the first Mass was celebrated with all the pomp and ceremony they could arrange. The Church was named St. Mary, Queen of Poland in honor of Poland's Patron Saint. The Church as it existed in about 1964 is shown in the photograph to the right.

From the very beginning the families suffered numerous problems varying from poor land drainage to hordes of mosquitoes, poor roads and farm land not up to what they expected. These and other trying conditions forced many to return to the midwest: others stayed on to eke out a thin living. Slowly the land was cleared and gradually more families began to arrive. Regardless of how dismal the outlook was in the beginning, these families would get together on Saturdays and sing and dance in true Polish style and traditions. Father Baczyk was called to be a military chaplain during World War I, and Rev. Radka of Titusville came to say mass once a month until his death.

FROM ABOUT 1933 to 1954 St. Mary came under the administration of the Redemptorists Fathers of New Smyrna Beach and was served alternately by several priests from that Order. It was a happy day when Rev. Hoffman of the Redemptorists became resident pastor. His outgoing personality and drive made friends for him all over this section of the State. His desire to help his Church influenced him to start building the St. Christopher's Shrine located next to the Church and shown to the left in the above photograph. This was his gift to Korona and to all motorists who would stop at the Shrine and pray to the Patron Saint of Travelers. At that time Route 1 which passes adjacent to St. Mary was the main north/south highway for motorists traveling thru Florida.

IN 1954, the Parish was transferred to the Dioceses of St. Augustine and has been served to the present time by Pastors under the Diocesan Administration.

IN 1957, as the Catholic population increased, St. Stephen's, a Mission Church under St. Mary's administration, was built in the City of Bunnell.

IN 1964, St Mary celebrated its 50th Anniversary with A Solemn Pontifical Mass. The commemorative program was attended by numerous guests including several Priests from central Florida. At this time Father Diego Conesa was Pastor. Bishop Hurley of the Diocese of St. Augustine in a letter of congratulations to the Parish praised the parishioners,"who for a half century have held the line of the faith in Flagler County and have left a Christian imprint here which can never be effaced."

IN 1965, Father Leon arrived as Pastor of St. Mary's Church in Korona and the Mission Church, St Stephen's, in Bunnell.

IN 1970, as the Flagler County area continued to grow, Father Leon built Santa Maria del Mar Church in Flagler Beach. With the development of Palm Coast, Father Leon then initiated Mass at the Palm Coast Yacht Club to serve the Catholics in that area.

IN 1974, Father Cody came to St. Mary's Parish. He reorganized St. Mary's Cemetery and built St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Palm Coast. In 1977 Father Cody become Pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and St. Stephen's Church. Father Julien replaced Father Cody at Santa Maria Del Mar and St. Mary. During this period the name of the Church was changed to St. Mary Catholic Church in recognition of the change in the Church's character from mainly ethnic Polish parishioners to a generally non-ethnic parish.

During this transition period St. Mary Church was not growing fast enough in comparison with Santa Maria Del Mar and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church to sustain itself and was in danger of being relinquished.

IN 1979, Father Bayer, a recently retired Polish Priest, moved to Korona and assisted Father Julien. Father Bayer's hard work helped St. Mary to become a self-sustaining parish. Father Bayer kept the Polish tradition alive by offering a Mass in his native Polish Language and continued to be active in St. Mary's until his death in 2002. It is of great interest to know that Father Bayer was a hero in the Polish underground during WWII. He was arrested and several members of this family killed for helping Jews escape the Nazis. After the War, Father Bayer worked as a teaching Priest with a Father Karol Wojtyla who would become Pope John Paul II.

IN 1980, Father Sebra replaced Father Julien as Pastor of Santa Maria del Mar and St. Mary.

IN 1989, St. Mary Catholic Church celebrated its 75th Anniversary. As Father Sebra pointed out,"St. Mary's continues to be an active and growing local Parish that had been founded by Polish Immigrants in 1914 and in fact is the Mother Church to all the Catholic Parishes in Flagler County" i.e. St. Stephens, Santa Maria del Mar and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

IN 1990, Father John P. O'Flaherty became Pastor of Santa Maria del Mar and of St. Mary. In his quiet and forthright way, he accomplished many improvements for both Churches and was a great favorite of those who needed his help which was always available. He undertook the construction in 1994 of the much needed new Church structure on St. Mary's property. The new St Mary Church is shown in the photograph to the right. The Church has a seating capacity of 300 in comparison with the old Church's capacity of 65. The original St. Mary Church still stands in quiet beauty, nearly unchanged and is used occasionally for weddings, baptisms and funerals.

IN 2003, after Father O'Flaherty's retirement, St. Mary came under the Pastorship of Father Slawomir with the able assistance of Father Artur both of the nearby St. Joseph Carmelite Monastery. The Monastery contains one of the most beautiful and simple outdoors Stations of the Cross in the world. St Mary continues to offer a Mass in the Polish Language for the numerous Polish speaking people from surrounding Counties.

Under Father Slawomir, the Church has added several new Ministries and organizations, such as, the Woman's Club, the Fellowship Ministry, the Food Pantry, the annual Christmas Giving Tree, the Respect Life Ministry and other services for the needy families of the general public.

IN 2004, Under the direction of the Woman's Club, Mary Jenzen, President, St Mary held its 90th Anniversary with a Celebration of the Holy Eucharist followed by a gala dinner party at Halifax Plantation Restaurant. The festivities of the evening were much enlivened by the contributions of Mr. Tom Decker as Master of Ceremonies and Father Slawomir's words of wisdom and encouragement. The Parish expects to continue to have a long and happy relationship with the extraordinary Carmelite Fathers.

NOTE: This file was compiled in 2005 by A.R.Pagano mostly from the 50th Anniversay book of St. Mary, Queen of Poland 1914-1964, author unknown and more recent articles from various newspapers. Comments concerning the History may be addressed by e-mail to A.R. Pagano at St. Mary Church. All comments will be appreciated.