St Maximilian Maria Kolbe's Church in Stróżna

The Church of St Maximilian Maria Kolbe in Stróżna is a Roman Catholic parish church in Gorlice County. It is a modern building: it was constructed over thirteen years, from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, and its patron is the Franciscan who gave his life in the Auschwitz camp.

Construction and consecration

The church was built in 1983-1996 to a design by Marek Jasiewicz. The foundation stone was blessed by Pope John Paul II in Kraków and laid on 1 July 1984 by Bishop Józef Gucwa. The same bishop consecrated the finished church on 14 June 1996. The dedication refers to the liturgical day of St Maximilian, which falls on 14 August.

Interior

The interior decoration and the altars were designed and made by Maciej Kauczyński. The same artist designed the stained-glass windows, which were made in the stained-glass workshop of Zbigniew Gustab. The sources do not give details of the layout of the interior or of historic furnishings, so it is hard to judge whether the church is a destination in itself.

Nearby

Stróżna lies a few kilometres from Bobowa, where the Synagogue in Bobowa stands. Close by are also Stróże with the Beekeeping Museum in Stróże, and not far away is also the Manor House in Szalowa.

Practical information

• Locality: Stróżna, Gorlice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship.
• It is a parish church, so it is quietest to enter outside services; check Mass times with the parish.
• The site's website is not known, so it is worth confirming information on access to the interior before your visit.