Panna Maria (meaning Virgin Mary) is the oldest Polish settlement in
the United States. Panna Maria was founded by Father Leopold
Moczygemba and about 100 Silesian families from Pluznica, and
surrounding villages of Silesia, Poland. They left Poland and after
a nine-week voyage at sea, they reached the Port of Galveston. They
hired carts to carry their belongings and walked to the junction of
the San Antonio River and the Cibolo Creek where they celebrated
their first Mass on December 24, 1854 under an oak tree (pictured
above on the bottom right).
In 1855 they built their first church next to the oak tree and
dedicated it to the Virgin Mother. The first church was destroyed by
lightning in 1875. The present church was completed in 1877 and was
enlarged in 1937. During a recent renovation, it was discovered that
the church has a painted ceiling. The ceiling has been restored and
is very beautiful.
The Polish immigrants wanted to ensure that their children were
properly education. They held school in various buildings in Panna
Maria as early as 1855. In 1868 they built St. Joseph School - the
first Polish private school in the United States. The children were
taught English and Polish.
The Panna Maria Historical Society was founded in 1966 to ensure
historical preservation and education. Our volunteers at the
Visitors Center welcome everyone and will give tours of the church
and the St. Joseph School Museum upon request.
Panna Maria (meaning Virgin Mary) is the oldest Polish settlement in
the United States. Panna Maria was founded by Father Leopold
Moczygemba and about 100 Silesian families from Pluznica, and
surrounding villages of Silesia, Poland. They left Poland and after
a nine-week voyage at sea, they reached the Port of Galveston. They
hired carts to carry their belongings and walked to the junction of
the San Antonio River and the Cibolo Creek where they celebrated
their first Mass on December 24, 1854 under an oak tree (pictured
above on the bottom right).