Campaign Stresses Urgency in Saving the Windows of St. Stanislaus Kostka
The stained-glass windows of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church — a beloved house of worship and historic landmark in Pittsburgh’s Strip District — have been a source of awe and inspiration for countless parishioners and passersby for generations. However, after more than 130 years of wear and tear and the recent strain of encroaching development, they are now at risk of being damaged beyond repair and lost forever unless urgent action is taken.
To save the windows and ensure they can be enjoyed for centuries to come, the leaders of St. Stanislaus initiated an extensive project focused on restoring the delicate glass and surrounding woodwork. They turned to M:7 Agency — an award-winning marketing and communications firm based in the Greater Pittsburgh area — to craft a campaign that sought to raise financial support and awareness by building a diverse coalition of support, conveying to interested stakeholders the legacy of the church and the critical need for resources to help protect that legacy through the project.
Working closely with parish leaders, staff, and volunteers, M:7 Agency created an engaging narrative centered on St. Stan’s historic, cultural, and spiritual impact on the city of Pittsburgh. From there, a script was created and paired with captivating video taken inside and outside the church, including aerial drone footage showcasing the stunning architecture as well as the meticulous preservation work already in progress. As the perfect Pittsburgh touch, Larry Richert — “The Voice of Pittsburgh” and co-host of KDKA Radio’s The Big K Morning Show — was brought in to narrate the script.
“It’s a privilege for us to work with the St. Stan’s team in their ongoing efforts to preserve the windows of this Pittsburgh treasure,” said Jim Christiana, managing partner of M:7 Agency. “Our goal in the campaign is to bring the visual, verbal, and strategy together in exactly the right way to tell the fascinating story of St. Stanislaus, capture its awe-inspiring beauty, and stress the urgent need for funds from the community.”
Dedicated in 1892 and located at 21st and Smallman Street in the heart of the Strip, this Polish Cathedral-style church is a true architectural marvel created to serve Pittsburgh’s first Polish-American ethnic parish originally founded by 200-some immigrant families.
Designed by Frederick C. Sauer, a German-American architect highly-regarded for his contributions to Pittsburgh’s religious architecture, St. Stanislaus blends Romanesque, Baroque, and Byzantine influences into an iconic structure featuring soaring stone archways and intricate interior murals. Without question, its most notable feature is its breathtaking collection of stained-glass windows depicting key figures of the Catholic faith and originally crafted in the “Munich style” by The Royal Bavarian Art Institute. Yet, despite their magnificent design and meticulous craftsmanship, nearly a century and half of exposure to Pittsburgh weather, pollution, and neighborhood construction has jeopardized the future of these windows.
“It’s not just the delicate, intricate windows that need urgent restorative work, but the wood frames that support them and keep them in place,” said Deacon Tony Giordano, the parish’s Director of Operations. “Some of the wood has become so rotten and worn down that if you grabbed a piece with your hand, it would crumble into almost sawdust. Unless we repair that wood and the windows now, they may not survive much longer.”
Now part of the Strip’s unified St. Patrick–St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, the church hosted the future Pope John Paul II during his 1969 visit to Pittsburgh, with then Cardinal Karol Wojtyła praising its beauty and how much it reminded him of his native Poland. In the early 1970s, in recognition of its historic and cultural significance, the church was listed on both the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2019, the Pittsburgh Diocese named St. Stanislaus one of the Shrines of Pittsburgh — “five Catholic churches of unique historical and spiritual significance working to build up the Kingdom of God in the heart of Pittsburgh.” The other four are St. Patrick in the Strip District, St. Anthony’s Chapel in Troy Hill, St. Nicholas in Millvale, and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Polish Hill. While these designations have assured that St. Stanislaus will continue to be a part of the Pittsburgh landscape into the future, there is still much work to be done to save its stained-glass collection before it’s too late. If you would like to donate to protect these irreplaceable Pittsburgh treasures, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-st-stans-stained-glass.