News of a new pope reverberated even in Cowboy Capital of the World, where tourists found themselves unexpectedly reflecting on history—both global and local—inside one of the oldest Polish Catholic churches in the United States.
“It was by pure chance,” said Barbara Koppel, a Bend, Oregon, resident visiting Bandera with her husband, Ted. “We’re in Bandera visiting and this place wasn’t on our list. It felt right given the news.”
VCardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago native and former missionary, was elected pope on May 8 and will take the name Pope Leo XIV.
He becomes the first American- born pontiff in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history. A member of the Augustinian order, Prevost served in Peru for years before rising to prominence as the Vatican’s prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis.
His choice of name nods to Pope Leo XIII, known for his landmark 1891 encyclical on workers’ rights and Catholic social teaching.
In his first remarks as pope, Leo XIV began with, “Peace be with all of you,” signaling a pastoral tone and a possible continuation of his predecessor’s focus on social justice and the dignity of the marginalized.
The Koppels lit one of the church’s electronic candles before taking in the ornate interior of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, a limestone building originally constructed in 1876 by Polish immigrants from the Silesia region.
Under the guidance of Franciscan priest Rev. Leopold Moczygemba, a group of Silesian families arrived in Texas in 1854.
Some were brought to Bandera in early 1855 by ox-cart, thanks to early developers Charles de Montel and John James.
Lured by the promise of land, access to the Medina River, and economic opportunity through a local sawmill, they established what would become a cornerstone of the region’s faith community.
Today, the church still stands as a testament to their perseverance—with original limestone walls, colorful stained glass donated by parishioners in the 1940s and ‘90s and hand-painted murals completed as recently as 2008.
Inside the presbyterium, a large mural depicts the Coronation of the Blessed Mother.
Other artworks throughout the sanctuary include scenes from the life of St. Stanislaus, symbols of the four evangelists painted on the ceiling and oil paintings of Divine Mercy and Our Lady of Guadalupe.
While some visitors, like the Koppels, stumbled upon the church in light of the Vatican announcement, others came with a broader interest in history.
“I love visiting cemeteries,” said another visitor, Paul Chandler of Austin. “We have an interest in the history. Like, there’s a girl who passed away from polio. Tragic, but important history. We’re Baptists and are happy the Catholics have a new mascot, but it doesn’t really impact us much.”
Behind the church lies a cemetery with graves dating back more than a century— many marked in Polish, telling stories of immigration, hardship and faith.
The church’s last major renovation was completed in 2008, capping off more than 150 years of evolution with new artwork, electrical upgrades, and modern comforts like climate control and electronic bells.
But the spirit of the original community still lingers in the stone walls and quiet chapel, drawing both the faithful and the curious.
“We didn’t expect to end up here,” Barbara Koppel said. “But with the news today, it just felt like the right place to pause.”
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