Although the church was first opened by the late Archbishop James Morrison as a covered basement, fundraising went on until the contract to draw up plans and construct the upper church were formed years later. Members of the Polish community helped throughout the original construction of the church as carpenters, plasterers, plumbers, pipefitters, electricians and other artisans. The excavation for the basement of the church was dug by hand. On Sept. 8, 1913, the cornerstone of the Polish Church of the Nativity of St. Mary was blessed. Work on the church, named the "Parish Church of the Nativity of St. Mary", continued until its completion in 1918, during the pastorate of Rev. C. Grzybala.
