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1. 

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   Tomasz says:

   June 4, 2025 at 5:48 am

   What a sad and regrettably overpriced publication. It is nothing more than a list rather than a scholarly book. The saddest feature of all are the many unacceptable misspellings! Didn’t you take time to proof read before printing? The misspelling of St John Cantius both in your pamphlet and in the so-called book is particularly aggregious. Polonia is rightfully embarrassed by this publication.

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     Reply

     Ania Fink says:

     July 26, 2025 at 1:24 am

     Dear Tomasz,

     Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I’m sorry to hear that the book did not meet your expectations.

     I would like to clarify a few things that may help provide context. The full title of the book is “56 Churches: Catalog of Polish Roman Catholic Parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago Founded Between 1867 and 1928.” As the title indicates, this is a catalog, not a scholarly or academic study. It was created to serve as a clear, bilingual reference for those interested in the history of Polish parishes in Chicago—especially for members of Polonia and others who care about preserving our community’s heritage.

     This is a self-published work, born out of passion and necessity. No such catalog existed before, and I felt it was important to create one. Many people—both from Polonia and beyond—have expressed their appreciation for this effort. They’ve told me it helped them reconnect with their roots, learn about our shared history, and even discover churches they didn’t know existed.

     Yes, there are a few unfortunate misspellings, including the one you mentioned. I am aware of them, and they are being addressed in the second edition. I take full responsibility for these errors, and I assure you they were not due to carelessness. At the time of finalizing the book, I was caring for my terminally ill father at home, and my printer was also going through a personal tragedy. Despite the help of four editors—whose contributions I deeply value—some corrections were unintentionally omitted in the final print.

     This book was not created for profit or prestige. In fact, I’ve invested more into it than I’ve earned. It was created out of love for our community and a desire to preserve its memory. If you had reached out to me directly with your concerns, I would have welcomed your feedback and possibly incorporated your suggestions into the next edition. Constructive criticism is always appreciated—especially when it comes from a place of shared care for Polonia.

     I hope this helps explain the intent and circumstances behind 56 Churches. I stand by the purpose of this book and the many people who have supported it. I also hope we can all continue to support each other in preserving and celebrating our heritage with kindness and respect.

     Sincerely,
     Ania Fink
     Author of 56 Churches