After moving to the new Motherhouse in 1886, Fr. Piotr Semenenko, co-founder of the Congregation, in collaboration with architect Pio Piacentini, began the construction of the church, which today forms part of the Motherhouse. Fr. Walerian Przewłocki was responsible for the construction works. The church was consecrated on November 5, 1889. The current appearance of the church interior is thanks to renovation works completed in 1979 during the generalate of Fr. Tadeusz Kaszuba CR.
You can find in the church several paintings by well-known Polish artists: “The Ascension” by Henryk Siemiradzki, “Doubting Thomas” and “Mary Magdalene” by Franciszek Krudowski, as well as “The First Resurrectionists’ Vows” and “Approval of the Congregation by Pius IX” by Franciszek Unierzynski.
It should be noted that some details of the painting “The First Vows” are historically inaccurate regarding the participants and the circumstances of the first profession. Regarding the participants, Edward Duński, Hipolit Terlecki, and Walery Wielogłowski (witness of the vows) are missing, while Bogdan Jański, Walerian Przewłocki, and Cezary Plater appear, who did not participate in this event. Regarding the circumstances, the vows were made after Mass, when Fr. Semenenko was no longer wearing liturgical vestments.
The marble throne-niche, where a copy of the statue of Our Lady of Mentorella is currently located, is a gift from Prince Władysław Czartoryski. Two marble holy water fonts are the work of sculptor Wiktor Brodzki. Above the main entrance to the church is a bas-relief dedicated to the resurrection of Christ, carved by sculptor Piotr Weloński. The main altar comes from an old Roman basilica, while the three stained glass windows in the presbytery depict the Risen Christ, the Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph.
In the church, on the left side, there is a tomb where the mortal remains of our Founders rest, transferred here from the Roman cemetery Campo Verano. Above it is a memorial plaque dedicated to the first Resurrectionists.
In the courtyard of the General House, there is a sculpture of Nicolaus Copernicus by Oskar Sosnowski, fragments of archaeological finds discovered during the excavation of the church foundations, currently embedded in one of the courtyard walls, and a bas-relief of the Risen Christ by Michał Paszyn, a gift from the Chicago Province in 1954.
Currently, the church is used for the daily prayers of the religious living in the General House and many of our guests. Mass is celebrated there daily. On January 4, 1987, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Congregation, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in this church.
