The village in this area, the second Polish colony in Karnes County, grew out of a small settlement known as St. Joe and was formally established in 1873. At times the priest at Panna Maria conducted services at St. Joseph School in what would become Czestochowa. After the “Mother Colony” church at Panna Maria was destroyed by lightning in 1877, Czestochowa settlers decided to build their own church, a decision that caused much controversy among the Polish pioneers of Karnes County. Anton Jarzombek and Frank Mutz each donated land for the church, and area residents contributed their labor to build the eighty-five by forty foot building with Gervase Gabrysch as contractor. Bishop Anthony D. Pellicer blessed the church on February 10, 1878, and Father W. Pelczar was assigned as the first pastor that September. As a sign of reconciliation, parishioners from the newly rebuilt Panna Maria church presented the new parish with a large painting of the Virgin Mary of Czestochowa, the Patroness of Poland, and the two congregations often shared leadership in the ensuing years. The Cestohowa church, adopting the Americanized spelling of the community, thrived into the 20th century. In the 1930s the church underwent intensive additions and remodeling: the original walls remained, but the roof was completely removed, the ceiling was raised, the north and south wings were added, and the steeple was increased in height. In 1998 the church celebrated its 125th anniversary, and at that time the parish consisted of 380 members. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church continues in the traditions of its founders.