AM-POL Eagle

AM-POL Eagle: Gravity poses challenge for Corpus Christi restoration

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(Kate Cline • Wed, Oct 19, 2011) The copper domed peaks of Corpus Christi Church stand unassailable against Buffalo’s East Side. The commanding architecture combined with the church’s poignant history makes it a hauntingly magnificent Buffalo landmark. In an effort to preserve this beauty, Corpus Christi has recently become the scene of a major restoration project. Efforts to preserve the interior of the church began last March and phase two of the project has commenced this month, just in time for the National Preservation Conference taking place in Buffalo from Oct. 16 to Oct. 20.

Aside from architectural and structural repairs, Corpus Christi Church is restoring the rendering of Raphael Santi’s Disputa, the mural in the sanctuary apse. The mural, painted by Marion Rzeznik, in collaboration with Gonippo Raggi depicts the Church’s theologians and mystics trying to plumb the mysteries of the Eucharist.

The painting has suffered damages due to changes in the atmosphere. “It is the fact that the atmospheric conditions, the heat and cold and changes in climate in the building had really taken its toll,” said Henry Swiatek of Corpus Christi Church.

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AM-POL Eagle: Corpus Christi to be showcased in Preservation Tour

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(Michael Mroziak • Wed, Oct 05, 2011) Western New York is preparing to host thousands of visitors who will come to see some of the Buffalo area’s historic and cultural gems. Corpus Christi Church, one of local Polonia’s cherished sites, will be among those on the schedule.

Beginning Wed., Oct. 19, Buffalo is hosting the National Preservation Conference, sponsored by the Washington D.C. based National Trust for Historic Preservation. The four-day event is the organization’s 65th annual conference but the first to be hosted in Buffalo.

“I feel that this conference is like Buffalo’s debutante party,” said Chuck LaChiusa, chairman of the Sacred Spaces Reborn bus tour that will be conducted as part of the conference. “Buffalo is being introduced to the country in terms of its great Victorian and early 20th century architecture.”

Visitors will have a lot of local architectural beauty on which to feast their eyes. It’s not just about the beauty preserved at these sites. More importantly, visitors will learn lessons about how many of these buildings remain relevant.

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AM-POL Eagle: Corpus Christi Parish shows the way to rescue Polish churches in Buffalo

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Jaroslaw K. Radomski • Wed, Mar 23, 2011

There are a variety of emotional reactions concerning the status of churches founded by Polish emigrants in Buffalo and the Western New York area. Many parishes first were merged with other parishes and then closed, sold or demolished. Corpus Christi Church in Buffalo was on its way to closing just a few years ago. The Pauline Fathers came just in time for the rescue. Fathers Anzelm Chalupka and Matthew Wydmanski found not only the way to bring parishioners together, attract new parishioners, make the parish a strong Catholic center but also raised money for very ambitious plans of renovation and conservation of the church and the parish buildings.

The Pauline Order is widely recognized in Poland. “Jasna Gora” in Czestochowa, Poland, the headquarters of the order, is the destination of uncounted pilgrims coming each year to this holy place to see the famous worldwide picture of the Black Madonna – Queen of Poland and to pray. Czestochowa and the Pauline Fathers are the symbol of the successful defense of Catholicism and Poland in a time of complete disaster in the Polish Kingdom – invaded by the Swedish army which was occupying the whole territory of our country.

In Polish literature this time is known as “Potop” after the title of the novel written by Nobel Prize winner Henryk Sienkiewicz. The miracle of the last place of resistance – the Monastery of Jasna Gora with the picture of the Black Madonna had so strong a moral impact, that finally Poles woke up and stood together to fight for freedom. The King of Poland, who escaped abroad, returned and joined the whole country arising against the invaders. The picture of the Black Madonna is in each Polish church. The Pauline Fathers, in popular meaning, represent high devotion to Mary – Mother of God and defense of our faith.

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