A sculpture of Christ the King by famed sculptor Professor Czesław Dźwigaj, who also cast the monumental bronze doors at St. Hyacinth's Basilica in Chicago stands in front of the church.

A young Polish immigrant population, although not living in the area, have strong ties to the Black Madonna and call St. Mary of Częstochowa their spiritual home.

Hawthorne's Polish Catholics walked over five miles to St. Adalbert's at 16th and Allport Streets in Chicago in order to attend Masses in their native tongue.

Stephen Bartoszek, one of the pioneer parishioners, transformed his hall at the northwest corner of Jessamine (now 48th Court) and 30th Street into a combination church-school and he offered the rear flat as living quarters for the pastor.

In 1902, the mission of St. Attracta was established at 13th Street and 48th Court for English-speaking Catholics who lived in the northeast section of Cicero, then known as the Grant Works area.

Following Father Wyrzykowski's appointment as pastor of St. Mary of Gostyń Church in Downers Grove, Illinois (now in the Joliet diocese) in July 1904, Rev.

In August 1904, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third order of Francis of Assisi began their work in the parish school which previously had been staffed by lay teachers.

With the generous support of his parishioners, Father Czajkowski was made plans for a new combination church-school building, the cornerstone of which was laid on July 2, 1905.

This imposing brick structure was completed at the southeast corner of 30th Street and Linden (49th) Avenue In 1908, the Sisters moved from their living quarters in the school building into a new convent which had been constructed at 3009 South 49th Court.

Total worth,$303,000.00" Father Czajkowski continued to serve as pastor throughout the Great Depression, a hard time for his parishioners who keenly felt the effects of factory closings in Cicero.

The new pastor carried out a program of reconstruction and expansion that included repair and remodeling all the parish buildings and redecoration of the church in preparation for upcoming the golden jubilee, May 6, 1945.

Father Renklewski made plans for an addition to the convent which was completed early in 1958 and he also purchased a statue of Our Lady of Częstochowa which he placed in front of the rectory.

On November 13, 1960, the diocesan officials granted permission to construct a Youth Center on the site of the former Hawthorne School at 5004 South 31st Street.

Albert Gregory Meyer laid the cornerstone of the Youth Center on February 19, 1961; while work was underway on this structure, a program of renovation began on May 28, 1961 that modernized and expanded the church and refurbished the school and rectory.

Mrs. Frances Wilary catered and donated a dinner held in the parish hail following the jubilee Mass for all clergy, religious, choir members, Knights of Columbus, and special guests.

A civic observance, a commemorative dinner-dance honoring the faithful members of the parish, was held on October 25, 1970, at Richard's Banquet Room, 3243 South Harlem Avenue in Berwyn, Illinois.

On December 12 of each year, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe begins with Mañanitas at 5:00 a.m., a special Mass with the distribution of roses, and a social gathering enjoying hot chocolate.

The convent building today houses the chancery for the Syro-Malabar Eastern Rite congregation for the Diocese of the United States and Canada.

High atop the main altar, which was dedicated to Our Lady of Częstochowa, is a copy of the celebrated "Black Madonna", the miraculous icon ascribed to the evangelist St. Luke.