Józef Dabrowski
Encyclopedia
Józef Dąbrowski was a Polish
Catholic
priest.
Always the champion of authority, his counsel was ever gentle and calm. He was simple, quiet, and retiring, and entirely devoted to the promotion of God's glory and the welfare of his fellowmen.
He studied at the Gymnasium of Lublin
and at the University of Warsaw
. During the Polish January Uprising
of 1863 he participated in many engagements, and in 1864 fled to Dresden; thence to Lucerne and Berne where he continued his studies in mathematics. Going to Rome, because of his anti-Russian political activities,he came under the direction of the famous Resurrectionist, Father Semenenko, and was ordained priest in Rome
on 1 August 1869.
in America to do pastoral work among Polish American
s, and in a letter dated 22 Jan., from St. Francis Seminary in the Milwaukee
suburb of St. Francis, Wisconsin
, to Father Semenenko he betrays a remarkable grasp of the demoralized conditions among the Poles in the United States, of whom he had actually seen so little.
Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Detroit (1887),
becoming its first rector.
In 1870 he was appointed pastor of Polonia, Wisconsin
, where for five years he fought against the unfortunate conditions existing in one of the oldest Polish communities in the United States.
In 1879 the rectory was destroyed by fire and in 1880 fire totally destroyed the church and the new rectory. Undismayed, Father Dabrowski rebuilt all. In 1882 failing health forced him to resign and leave for Detroit, Michigan. In 1874 he introduced into the United States the Felician Sisters from Kraków
, whose community multiplied its branches throughout the country, welcoming the immigrants, teaching thousands of Polish children, and
caring for a multitude of Polish orphans and working girls.
, a Franciscan who had laboured in America and was then penitentiary of St. Peter's, Rome, went, with papal approval, to America and collected funds ($8000) for a Polish seminary.
Being advanced in years Father Moczygemba felt unable to prosecute the work with vigour, and entrusted the task to Father Dabrowski. The latter began the building of the seminary in 1884, and on 24 July 1885, Bishop Stephen V. Ryan
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo
in the presence of Bishop Borgess of Detroit blessed the cornerstone.
The seminary was opened in 1887, and for nineteen years Father Dabrowski was its rector. In 1902 it was enlarged, and in 1909 was removed to Orchard Lake, Michigan.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
priest.
Always the champion of authority, his counsel was ever gentle and calm. He was simple, quiet, and retiring, and entirely devoted to the promotion of God's glory and the welfare of his fellowmen.
Early life and ordination
Born at Zoltance, Russian PolandHe studied at the Gymnasium of Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
and at the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
. During the Polish January Uprising
January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
of 1863 he participated in many engagements, and in 1864 fled to Dresden; thence to Lucerne and Berne where he continued his studies in mathematics. Going to Rome, because of his anti-Russian political activities,he came under the direction of the famous Resurrectionist, Father Semenenko, and was ordained priest in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
on 1 August 1869.
Pastoral work in America
In 1870 he went to WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in America to do pastoral work among Polish American
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
s, and in a letter dated 22 Jan., from St. Francis Seminary in the Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
suburb of St. Francis, Wisconsin
St. Francis, Wisconsin
St. Francis is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 8,662. It is the smallest incorporated city in Milwaukee County.-Geography:St. Francis is located at ....
, to Father Semenenko he betrays a remarkable grasp of the demoralized conditions among the Poles in the United States, of whom he had actually seen so little.
SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary
He founded the SS. Cyril and Methodius SeminarySS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary
SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary is a four-year private Polish seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan. The seminary, taking its name from Saints Cyril and Methodius, was founded in 1885 in Detroit, Michigan, to prepare candidates for the Roman Catholic priesthood primarily to serve Polish American...
Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Detroit (1887),
becoming its first rector.
Schools of higher education
He urged the Resurrectionists to come to Chicago or Milwaukee and there establish schools of higher education whence they might send out missionaries to the scattered Poles.In 1870 he was appointed pastor of Polonia, Wisconsin
Polonia, Wisconsin
Polonia is an unincorporated census-designated place in the town of Sharon, Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on Wisconsin Highway 66 two miles east of Ellis and about 8 miles southwest of Rosholt. As of the 2010 census, its population is 526. At the 2000 census it was...
, where for five years he fought against the unfortunate conditions existing in one of the oldest Polish communities in the United States.
Erection of new parish buildings
Unable to close the demoralizing inns about the church he obtained by gift from an Irishman 20 acres (81,000 m²) of land for the erection of new parish buildings and abandoned the old site.In 1879 the rectory was destroyed by fire and in 1880 fire totally destroyed the church and the new rectory. Undismayed, Father Dabrowski rebuilt all. In 1882 failing health forced him to resign and leave for Detroit, Michigan. In 1874 he introduced into the United States the Felician Sisters from Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, whose community multiplied its branches throughout the country, welcoming the immigrants, teaching thousands of Polish children, and
caring for a multitude of Polish orphans and working girls.
Polish seminary
At the suggestion of Cardinal Ledóchowski, who was unable to meet the constant appeals of American bishops for Polish priests and ecclesiastical students, Father Leopold MoczygembaLeopold Moczygemba
Fr. Leopold Moczygemba, OFM Conv - founder of the first Polish-American parish in Panna Maria and Bandera, Texas.Born October 18, 1824 in Płużnica Wielka Upper Silesia....
, a Franciscan who had laboured in America and was then penitentiary of St. Peter's, Rome, went, with papal approval, to America and collected funds ($8000) for a Polish seminary.
Being advanced in years Father Moczygemba felt unable to prosecute the work with vigour, and entrusted the task to Father Dabrowski. The latter began the building of the seminary in 1884, and on 24 July 1885, Bishop Stephen V. Ryan
Stephen V. Ryan
Stephen Vincent Ryan, C.M. was a Canadian-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Buffalo from 1868 until his death in 1896....
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo
Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo
The Diocese of Buffalo is a Catholic diocese headquartered in Buffalo, New York, USA. The current Bishop is the Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec.The Diocese of Buffalo was established 23 April 1847. It consists of Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Chautauqua, Wyoming, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties...
in the presence of Bishop Borgess of Detroit blessed the cornerstone.
The seminary was opened in 1887, and for nineteen years Father Dabrowski was its rector. In 1902 it was enlarged, and in 1909 was removed to Orchard Lake, Michigan.