LARKSVILLE – More than three years after a devastating fire destroyed the former Saint Hedwig’s Church in Kingston, a cherished symbol of the parish has found a new home.
On Sunday, July 19, 2026, former parishioners and members of the Knights of Columbus gathered at Saint Hedwig’s Cemetery in Larksville to dedicate and bless a statue of the Blessed Mother, which was rescued from the fire scene, preserving an important piece of the parish’s history for future generations.
The statue, which now stands near the entrance to the cemetery, has been placed on a new base that is inscribed with the words, “Mother of Hope … Pray for Our Loved Ones.”
When fire engulfed the vacant church in February 2023, many people praised the quick-thinking of members of the Edwardsville Public Works Department who saved the special statue which had graced the church grounds for decades.
For decades, people paused at the statue outside the church to offer prayers and seek the Blessed Mother’s intercession. It had become one of the parish’s most recognizable landmarks.
“As the church was being torn down, the statue was on the ground and the people that were watching the demolition wanted the statue to be saved. They didn’t want the rubble and things to engulf it, so the folks from Edwardsville borough were kind enough to come with equipment and they took the statue out of the wreckage,” Ed Raver of the Knights of Columbus said.
Over the next two years, members of the Assumpta Council 3987 and Our Lady of Czestochowa Assembly 1928 of the Knights of Columbus worked alongside borough officials and local craftsmen to secure the statue, construct a permanent pedestal, and relocate it to Saint Hedwig’s Cemetery.
The cemetery was chosen as a fitting location because it is the final resting place for generations of parishioners from the parish.
“This is the cemetery for the parish. The statue was purchased by a former pastor (Father Richard Zavacki) as a tribute to his mother,” Raver added. “We see it as a place for people who were members of the parish to come and reflect and find peace.”
For former parishioner Michael Stretanski, who became a member of Saint Hedwig’s Parish when he married in 1969, the dedication brought back memories of a parish known for its close-knit community, vibrant choir, and popular annual bazaar.
“It gives us a memory to hang onto,” Stretanski said. “We no longer have a church. The church was closed and now it’s just an empty lot, and there is nothing to remind us … But to have Mary here is just a lovely gesture. It’s a beautiful spot for her.”
The dedication ceremony reunited several former choir members who spontaneously sang a traditional Polish hymn, the first time many of them had sung together since the parish closed in 2007.
Father Michael Boris, Assistant Pastor of Saint Ignatius Loyola Parish in Kingston, said the statue represents far more than a piece of salvaged stone.
“They realized that it is part of the heritage of the parish and people are very passionate about their roots,” Father Boris said. “They wanted to help keep that legacy going – not forgetting what was – but also looking ahead now.”
Father Boris said the preservation of the statue serves as a reminder of God’s providence and the Blessed Mother’s loving intercession.
“When people see her, driving out or coming in, they will remember that Our Blessed Mother is praying for our loved ones,” he added.
Michael J. Berish, a past grand knight who helped with the project, said the dedication also brought a long-awaited sense of closure.
“A lot of people didn’t know where it (the statue) was at,” Berish said. “Now she’s home. It just goes to show that from a fire, you can rise again.”