Stanislaus Joseph Brzana
Encyclopedia
Stanislaus Joseph Brzana (July 7, 1917—March 1, 1997) was the tenth Roman Catholic
Bishop of Ogdensburg
(1968-1993).
Stanislaus Brzana was born in Buffalo
, New York
, to Frank and Catherine (née Mikosz) Brzana. He studied at Christ the King Seminary at St. Bonaventure University
, and was ordained
to the priesthood
on June 7, 1941. He then did missionary
work at the Cattaraugus Reservation
and during World War II
served as a chaplain
with the Ninth Armored Division, ministering to troops in the Battle of the Bulge
. After returning to New York and doing pastoral work, he earned a Doctor of Sacred Theology
from the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome
in 1953.
On May 24, 1964, Brzana was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Buffalo and Titular Bishop
of Cufruta by Pope Paul VI
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following June 29 from Bishop James A. McNulty
, with Bishops Celestine Damiano
and James Johnston Navagh
serving as co-consecrators
. After Thomas Andrew Donnellan
was made Archbishop of Atlanta
, Brzana was named Bishop of Ogdensburg
on October 22, 1968. During his tenure, he served on committees of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops
and took part in deliberations of the Second Vatican Council
. He also established several churches and education centers, and was active in regional civic and social activities, including caring for striking miner
s and their families. In addition to receiving a Caritas award from Catholic Charities
, he was made an honorary Mohawk
Indian
chief in 1977.
After 25 years in Ogdensburg, Brzana resigned on November 11, 1993. He spent his retirement in his native Buffalo, and later died at St. Joseph Hospital in Cheektowaga
, aged 79.
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...
Bishop of Ogdensburg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese in New York. It was founded on February 15, 1872.On February 23, 2010, the Most Reverend Terry R...
(1968-1993).
Stanislaus Brzana was born in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, to Frank and Catherine (née Mikosz) Brzana. He studied at Christ the King Seminary at St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
, and was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on June 7, 1941. He then did missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
work at the Cattaraugus Reservation
Cattaraugus Reservation
Cattaraugus Reservation is an Indian reservation of the Seneca Indian Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy located in New York. As of the 2000 census, the Indian reservation had a total population of 2,412. Its total area is about 34.4 mi²...
and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
served as a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
with the Ninth Armored Division, ministering to troops in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. After returning to New York and doing pastoral work, he earned a Doctor of Sacred Theology
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
from the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
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...
in 1953.
On May 24, 1964, Brzana was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Buffalo and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Cufruta by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following June 29 from Bishop James A. McNulty
James A. McNulty
James Aloysius McNulty was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Paterson and Bishop of Buffalo .-Biography:...
, with Bishops Celestine Damiano
Celestine Damiano
Celestine Joseph Damiano was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Apostolic Delegate to South Africa and Bishop of Camden .-Biography:...
and James Johnston Navagh
James Johnston Navagh
James Johnston Navagh was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Ogdensburg and Bishop of Paterson .-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. After Thomas Andrew Donnellan
Thomas Andrew Donnellan
Thomas Andrew Donnellan was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, having served as the 9th Bishop of Ogdensberg, New York from 1964 to 1968, and the 2nd Archbishop of Atlanta from 1968 until his death in 1987....
was made Archbishop of Atlanta
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southeastern United States. It is composed of the northern counties of the state of Georgia and is led by a prelate archbishop, who is also pastor of the mother church, the...
, Brzana was named Bishop of Ogdensburg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese in New York. It was founded on February 15, 1872.On February 23, 2010, the Most Reverend Terry R...
on October 22, 1968. During his tenure, he served on committees of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
and took part in deliberations of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. He also established several churches and education centers, and was active in regional civic and social activities, including caring for striking miner
Miner
A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....
s and their families. In addition to receiving a Caritas award from Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is a network of charities whose aim is "to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same." It is one of the largest charities in the United States...
, he was made an honorary Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
chief in 1977.
After 25 years in Ogdensburg, Brzana resigned on November 11, 1993. He spent his retirement in his native Buffalo, and later died at St. Joseph Hospital in Cheektowaga
Cheektowaga (town), New York
Cheektowaga is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 94,019. The name comes from the Iroquoian word Ji-ik-do-wa-gah, meaning the place of the crab apple tree...
, aged 79.