Wooden Church of Our Lady of Fatima on Stecówka

The Church of Our Lady of Fatima on Stecówka stands in a broad mountain meadow in Istebna, at about 760 m above sea level, right on the red Main Beskid Trail. Today's wooden church is a faithful rebuild of the one that burned down on the night of 2–3 December 2013. Since July 2018 it has been part of the Silesian Wooden Architecture Route.

History: a church built as a "sheepfold"

Local carpenters built the first chapel in 1957–1958, on the 40th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions. The communist authorities were hostile to the Church, so – as local women recall – the building was presented as a sheepfold, with the tower added quickly afterwards. The chapel was blessed on 12 January 1958, the tower and sacristy followed in 1959, and in 1981 it became a parish church. Its interior featured work by Istebna artists such as Jan Wałach and Ludwik Konarzewski junior.

Fire and rebuilding

After the fire the parish priest, Fr Grzegorz Kotarba, and parishioners decided to rebuild in wood: a log structure with a shingle roof. Work began in 2014, and Bishop Roman Pindel consecrated the fully furnished church in autumn 2018. Two dates are carved on the beam in front of the altar – 1957 and 2014 – marking the start of each building. The image of Our Lady of Fatima was repainted by Iwona Konarzewska.

What to see

• A stone shrine next to the church holding fragments of the bell and the cross from the burnt church.
• Reliefs of the Stations of the Cross and a figure of Christ by Grzegorz Kuśnierz.
• The shingle roof laid by Marek Bielesz, wrought fittings by Jan Juroszek and an 8-stop organ chosen to suit the acoustics.

Tripto tips

The red Main Beskid Trail leads to Stecówka: about 1 h 15 min from Kubalonka Pass, and about 2 h 15 min on to Barania Góra via Przysłop. The meadow makes a good rest stop on a longer hike and looks out over the Istebna area. The church is an active parish church, so visit respectfully during services or wait until Mass is over. Check Mass times with the parish before setting off.