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Priests and Brothers Born in Texas of Silesian Descent
Reverend Ty Joseph Bazar
• Son of Ernest C. Bazar and Jamie L. Obsta
• Born in Victoria, Texas
• Ordained on June 1, 2002, in Victoria, Texas
Reverend Blaise Czaja, C.P.
• Son of Blas Czaja and Velma Richter
• Born in Port Arthur, Texas
• Ordained on May 23, 1964, in Louisville, Kentucky
• Passionist Priest
Reverend Edmund S. Dragon 1905 – 1961
• Son of Joseph Dragon and Caroline Jaskola
• Born on November 15, 1905, in Panna Maria, Texas
• Ordained on March 25, 1930
• Died on January 19, 1961; buried in Panna Maria, Texas
Reverend Edmund Leon Dworaczyk 1936 – 1970
• Son of Conrad John Dworaczyk and Lucy Marie Bednorz
• Born on February 17, 1936, in George West, Texas
• Ordained on May 27, 1961, in Corpus Christi Cathedral
• Photograph from Priest Forever: History of St. John’s Seminary, San Antonio, Texas 1915-1965, page 112
• Died on November 6, 1970; buried in Three Rivers, Texas
Reverend Edward Joseph Dworaczyk 1906 – 1965
• Son of Julius Dworaczyk and Mary Jarzombek
• Born on October 7, 1906, in Yorktown, Texas
• Ordained on March 25, 1930
• Author of The First Polish Colonies of America in Texas, published in 1936
• Photograph from Centennial: St. Ann’s Catholic Church Kosciuszko, Texas 1898-1998, page 182
• Died on September 2, 1965; buried in Cestohowa, Texas
Reverend Julius Valerian Dworzczyk 1919 – 1993
• Son of Julius Dworaczyk and Mary Jarzombek
• Born on November 28, 1919, in Kosciusko, Texas
• Ordained on March 19, 1946
• Died on March 14, 1993; buried in Cestohowa, Texas
Reverend Jonathan William Felux
• Son of Wilbert John Felux and Brenda Marie Pawelek
• Born in Floresville, Texas
• Ordained on May 2, 2009
• Photograph from Archdiocese of San Antonio Vocation Office website: www.savocations.org
Reverend Monsignor Peter L. Foegelle 1901 – 1986
• Son of Michael Foegelle and Frances Wróbel
• Born on January 12, 1901, in Panna Maria, Texas
• Ordained on April 4, 1932
• First photograph from The First Polish Colonies of America in Texas, page 80
• Second photograph from Diamond Jubilee book, Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874-1949, page 81
• Died on September 26, 1986; buried in Kosciusko, Texas
Reverend Monsignor Theodore Joseph Thaddeus Janysek 1905 – 1989
• Son of Joseph Janysek and Carolina Reiman
• Born on April 19, 1905, in Helena, Texas
[Immaculate Conception of the BVM Church, Panna Maria, Texas, Baptism Records, page 10, entry #72]
• Ordained on March 25, 1930, at San Fernando Cathedral
• Photograph from Priest Forever: History of St. John’s Seminary, San Antonio, Texas 1915-1965, page 74
• Died on August 7, 1989; buried in Panna Maria, Texas
Reverend Casimir Jarzombek 1933 – 2019
• Son of Thomas Jarzombek and Elizabeth Wollny
• Born on August 15, 1933, in Falls City, Texas
[Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Falls City, Texas, Baptism Records, page 77, entry #7.
Baptismal name: James Leo Jarzombek]
• Ordained on May 26, 1960, at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Corpus Christi, Texas
• Died on February 15, 2019; buried in Falls City, Texas
Reverend Dennis Anthony Jarzombek
• Son of Chester Ignatz Jarzombek and Esther Rita Pawelek
• Born in Bexar County, Texas
• Ordained on May 18, 1979
Reverend Monsignor Erwin Alexander Juraschek 1921 – 1993
• Son of Alexander Juraschek and Mary Helen Pyterek
• Born on August 12, 1921, in San Antonio, Texas [St. Michael Catholic Church, Baptism Record, page 20, entry #8]
• Ordained on March 19, 1946, in San Antonio, Texas
• Photograph as National Chaplain from American G I Forum: 30th Annual National Convention Message, August 10, 1978
• Died on January 26, 1993; buried in St. Mary Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
• Funeral card courtesy of Gladys Jendrush Waclawczyk
Reverend Emmett Benedict Kolodzie 1905 – 1986
• Son of Frank Kolodzie and Cecelia Sheehy
• Born on June 20, 1905, in Falls City, Texas
• Ordained on May 1, 1933
• Photograph from centennial book, Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874-1974, page 270
• Died on April 30, 1986
Reverend Joseph Everest Kolodziejczyk 1914 – 1996
• Son of Dennis Kolodziejczyk and Agatha Respondek
• Born on October 26, 1914
• Ordained in 1982 [after being widowed] in the Diocese of Amarillo
• Died on January 22, 1996, in Lubbock, Texas
• Buried in Englewood Cemetery, Lubbock County, Texas
Reverend Gregory Thomas Labus
• Son of Emil John Labus and Cecilia Kotzur
• Born in Edinburg, Texas
• Ordained on May 27, 2006
Reverend Francis Joseph Ledwig 1889-1947
• Son of Lawrence Ledwig and Louisa Stortz
• Born on March 19, 1889, in Yorktown, Texas
• Ordained on July 31, 1913
• Died on July 18, 1947; buried in San Fernando Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
Reverend Thomas Lyssy 1926 – 1990
• Son of William John Lyssy and Regina Wiatrek
• Born on June 5, 1926, in Kosciusko, Texas
• Ordained on May 30, 1952
• Photograph of Rev. Thomas Lyssy with his grandmother, Eva Sowa Wiatrek, from The Sowa Family History: Six Generations of Polish-Texans, published in 1981, page 192
• Photograph on right from the centennial book, Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874 – 1974, page 271
• Died on October 28, 1990; buried in Kosciusko, Texas
Reverend Monsignor Henry I. Moczygemba 1914 – 1995
• Son of Frank Moczygemba and Julia Sekula
• Born on April 4, 1914, in Cestohowa, Texas
• Ordained on May 28, 1949, at San Fernando Cathedral
• Ordination card courtesy of Helen Pawlik
• Photograph on left courtesy of Lynn Highley
• Photograph on right from the centennial book Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874 – 1974, page 272
• Died on March 2, 1995; buried in Cestohowa, Texas
• Funeral card courtesy of Gladys Jendrush Waclawczyk
Reverend Leon (Leo) Vitalis Stanislaus Moczygemba 1894 – 1959
• Son of Jacob Moczygemba and Joanna Keller
• Born on April 8, 1894, in Panna Maria, Texas
• Ordained on June 9, 1919
• Photograph from Our Polish Pioneers on un-numbered page prior to brief biography on page 32
• Died on November 17, 1959; buried in Panna Maria, Texas
Reverend Leopold Moczygemba 1858-1892
• Son of Anton Moczygemba and Philippina Wenz
• Born on May 4, 1858, in San Antonio, Texas
• Ordained in 1884 and celebrated his First Solemn Mass in Lemont, Illinois, at Saints Cyril and Methodius Church on June 29, 1884
• Nephew of the pastor, Father Leopold Moczygemba, who had thirty years earlier founded Panna Maria
• Photograph from A Century of Search 1876-1976, Immaculate Conception Church, Elmhurst, Illinois, 7th page
• Died on April 14, 1892; buried in Lemont, Illinois
Right Reverend Monsignor Thomas Moczygemba 1863-1950
• Son of Joseph Moczygemba and Caroline Szyguda
• Born on December 11, 1863, in Panna Maria, Texas
• [Immaculate Conception of the BVM Church, Baptism Record, entry #242]
• Nephew of Father Leopold Moczygemba
• Ordained on January 5, 1890, in Victoria, Texas
• Photographs on left and center from Schulz family picture collection
• Photograph on right from St. Michael’s Catholic Church 1866 – 1966 Centennial, 39th page
• Died on June 28, 1950; buried in San Fernando Archdiocesan Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
Reverend Charles William Neumann, Jr., S.M. 1923 – 1997
• Son of Charles William Neumann and Margaret Schulze
• Born on March 21, 1923, in San Antonio, Texas
• Grandson of Carl Schulze and Agatha Sobeczek, who was born in Łubie, Silesia
• Ordained on July 20, 1952; Society of Mary
• President of St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas, from 1961-1963
• Author of The Casper Sobeczek Family in Texas, privately published in 1991
• Photograph from the centennial book, Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874 – 1974, page 272
• Died on May 9, 1997; buried in the Marianist Cemetery, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas
Reverend Paul Edward Neumann, S.M. 1929 – 2017
• Son of Charles William Neumann and Margaret Schulze
• Born on August 22, 1929, in San Antonio, Texas
• Grandson of Carl Schulze and Agatha Sobeczek, who was born in Łubie, Silesia
• Ordained on July 19, 1959, in Fribourg, Switzerland; Society of Mary
• Photograph on left taken in 1968 from http://www.marianist.com/
• Photographs in center and on right from Today’s Catholic, June 5, 2009, page 15; June 9, 2017, page 21
• Died on May 11, 2017; buried in the Marianist Cemetery, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas
Reverend Monsignor Marcel Carroll Notzon 1906 – 1992
• Son of Aloysius Joseph Notzon and Marguerite Rose Zizik
• Born on October 3, 1906, in San Antonio, Texas
• Ordained on May 29, 1930, in St. Mary Cathedral, Galveston, Texas, by Bishop Christopher Byrne
• Photograph from Priest Forever: History of St. John’s Seminary, San Antonio, Texas 1915-1965, page 74
• Funeral card courtesy of his godson and nephew, Al Notzon
• Died on December 21, 1992; buried in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, Houston, Texas
Reverend Monsignor Joseph R. Nowak 1925 – 1969
• Son of Roman Charles Nowak and Tekla Kolonko
• Born on March 17, 1925, in San Antonio, Texas
• Ordained on May 28, 1949, at San Fernando Cathedral
• Photograph from Priest Forever: History of St. John’s Seminary, San Antonio, Texas 1915-1965, page 90
• Died on January 18, 1969; buried in San Fernando Cemetery No. 2, San Antonio, Texas
Reverend Wencil Charles Pavlovsky
• Son of Wencil Charles Pavlosky and Mary Margaret Dugie
• Born in Pasadena, Texas
• Ordained on June 29, 1991, in Canada
Brother Emil John Pawelek, S.M. 1909-2001
• Son of Charles Pawelek and Florence Pollock
• Born on October 19, 1909, in Wadsworth, Texas
• Professed his final vows as a Marianist Brother on July 15, 1939
• Photograph from centennial book, Falls City Holy Trinity Catholic Church, unpaged
• Died on February 17, 2001; buried in the Marianist Cemetery on the campus of St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas
Reverend Edward Bernard Postert, OMI 1900 – 1977
• Son of Joseph Postert and Ludvina (Philimina) Mazurek
• Born on October 13, 1900, in Bandera, Texas
• Grandson of Thomas Mazurek and Mary Gruszka, who were from Silesia
• Ordained on June 3, 1934
• Photo on right from the centennial book, Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874 – 1974, page 273; photos on left from a family scrapbook
• Died on March 24, 1977; buried in Oblate Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
Reverend Benedict Anthony Pruski 1917 – 1993
• Son of Felix Pruski and Cecilia Skloss
• Born on December 24, 1917, in Kosciusko, Texas
• Ordained on June 4, 1942
• First photograph from Centennial: St. Ann’s Catholic Church Kosciuszko, Texas 1898-1998
• Second photograph from Diamond Jubilee book, Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874 – 1949, page 75
• Died on January 20, 1993; buried in Kosciusko, Texas
Reverend Francis Joseph Pyka, C.M.F. 1921 – 2012
• Son of Sylvester Leonard Pyka and Lydia Mary Stegle
• Born on April 2, 1921, in Miami, Arizona
• Grandson of Frank Pyka and Frances Jureczki, Bandera, Texas
• Ordained on December 21,1946, in Santa Barbara Mission, Santa Barbara, California
• Ordination cards and First Solemn Mass card courtesy of Theresa Batto Helbert
• Claretian Missionary priest
• Photograph from Douglass & Zook Funeral Home, Monrovia, California
• Died on August 23, 2012; buried in San Gabriel Mission Cemetery, San Gabriel, California
Reverend Alton Alois Rudolph 1932 – 1997
• Son of Richard G. Rudolph and Agatha Euphrasina Henke
• Born on March 20, 1932, in Karnes City, Texas
• Ordained on March 17, 1956
• Photograph from the centennial book, Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874 – 1974, page 274
• Married after 26 years in the priesthood
• Died on January 12, 1997; buried in Fashing, Texas
Reverend Mark Scheffler, C.Ss.R.
• Son of Edmund Lawrence Scheffler and Doris Evelyn Bennett
• Ordained on June 20, 1970
• Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, popularly known as Redemptorists
• Latin: Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris – C.Ss.R.
Reverend Monsignor Victor G. Schmidtzinsky 1915-2005
• Son of Adolph Schmidtzinsky and Augusta Jenschke
• Born on January 27, 1915, in Fredericksburg, Texas
• First photograph from Priest Forever: History of St. John’s Seminary, San Antonio, Texas 1915-1965, page 84
• Second photograph from Diamond Jubilee book, Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874 – 1949, page 263
• Third photograph from the centennial book Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874-1974, page 275
• Anniversary cards courtesy of Bishop Emeritus John W. Yanta
• Died on February 25, 2005, in San Antonio, Texas; buried in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Texas
Father Lawrence Swierc/Swartz, O.C.S.O. 1907-2005
• Son of Joseph Swierc and Salomea Kyrish
• Born Thomas Joseph Swierc on April 30, 1907, in Falls City, Texas
• Ordained a priest on February 24, 1934
• Changed his surname from Swierc to Swartz in 1963
• Spent 79 years in monastic life as a Trappist monk, longer than anyone else in the USA
• First photograph from Priest Forever: History of St. John’s Seminary, San Antonio, Texas 1915-1965, page 78
• Photograph from Monastery of the Holy Spirit News, October 2005, page 5
• Died on September 26, 2005, at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers, Georgia
Reverend Thomas Swierc
• Son of Thomas Swierc, Jr. and Deanne Pruski
• Born in San Antonio, Texas
• Grandson of Thomas Swierc, Sr., Georgia Hons, Edward Pruski, and Annie Wiatrek
• Ordained on June 17, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas
Reverend Monsignor Benton Alfred Thurmond 1921 – 2009
• Son of Benton A. Thurmond and Rose Montag
• Born on March 27, 1921, in Inez, Texas
• Great-grandson of Franz Gasch from Warłów, Silesia, and Rosalia Brzezina from Myślina, Silesia
• Ordained on March 19, 1946, in San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio, Texas
• Photograph on left from centennial book, Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874 – 1974,
page 276
• Died on November 7, 2009; buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, Inez, Texas
Reverend Monsignor Emil James Wesselsky
• Son of Emil John Wesselsky and Paulina Agnes Klos
• Born in Shiner, Texas
• Grandson of Anton Wesselsky who was born in Lautsch, Austria-Silesia
• Ordained on March 17, 1956, at San Fernando Cathedral
Bishop John Walter Yanta
• Son of John Andrew Yanta and Mary Magdalen Pollok
• Born in Runge, Texas
• Ordained a priest on March 17, 1956
• Ordained a bishop on December 30, 1994
• Installed as Seventh Bishop of Amarillo on March 17, 1997
Priests and Brothers Born in Present-day Poland Who Have Ministered in Texas
Reverend Adolf/Adolph Sixtus Bakanowski 1840-1916
• Born on March 28, 1840, in Mohylówka, Uszyca County, Podole Region
• Son of Anthony and Olympia Bakanowski
• Ordained in May of 1863, in Kamieniec Diocese, Russian Poland
• Photograph from Institute of Texan Cultures at UTSA, 068-1240. Loaned by John F. Dziuk Family
• Vicar-General of Polish Missions in Texas from 1866-1870
• Died on May 22, 1916, in Krakow, Poland
Reverend Vincent Barzynski, C.R. 1838-1899
• Born on September 20, 1838, in Sulislawice, Sandomir
• Son of Joseph Barzynski and Mary Sroczynska
• Ordained on October 27,1861, in Wyswiecony
• Pastoral work in Diocese of San Antonio, Texas, from 1866-1874
• Portrait from brochure of Sanktuarium Matki Boskiej Sulislawskiej
• Died on May 2, 1899, in Chicago; buried in Niles, Illinois
Brother Ivo William Broll, O.F.M. 1877 – 1966
• Son of Adrian Broll and Francisca Korcz
• Born on January 2, 1877, in Kielcza, Silesia, present-day Poland
• Resided in DeWitt County, Texas, from 1886 – 1904
• Entered Franciscan Monastery in Chase, Oconto County, Wisconsin, in 1905
• Professed his vows as a Franciscan Brother on September 1, 1909
• Died on June 28, 1966; buried in the Franciscan Fathers Cemetery, Pulaski, Brown County, Wisconsin
Reverend Ludwig (Louis) Dombrowski 1844 – 1912
• Born on December 26, 1844, in Gustynia
• Ordained on September 21, 1867
• Photograph from St. Michael’s Catholic Church 1866 – 1966 Centennial, 39th page
• Died on August 9, 1912; buried in St. Michael Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
Reverend Canon Stanislaw Fiuk, Phd
• Son of Joseph Fiuk and Janina Jurak
• Born in Puszno, Poland
• Ordained on June 2, 1990, in Lublin, Poland
Very Reverend Canon Bernard Marceli Goebel 1905-2001
• Born on January 16, 1905, in Brusy
• Son of Jozef Goebel and Marcjanna Knopik
• Ordained on December 21, 1929, in Brusy, Poland
• Imprisoned in Dachau Concentration Camp for five years
• In 1951, began pastoral work in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas
• Photograph from the centennial book Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874-1974, page 268
• Died on June 24, 2001; buried in Panna Maria, Texas
• Click here to see photo of grave marker
Reverend Peter Kolton 1910-1981
• Born on June 29, 1910, in Zaloscie [Reniów], Poland
• Son of Damian Koltun / Kolton and Anna Angela Koltowski
• Ordained on December 16, 1958, in Rome, Italy, by Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński
• In 1966, to commemorate the millennium of Christianity in Poland, built a museum and shrine to Our Lady of Częstochowa at 138 Beethoven Street in San Antonio, Texas
• Photograph from the centennial book, Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874-1974, page 270
• Died on April 26, 1981, in San Antonio, Texas; buried in San Fernando Cemetery #2, San Antonio, Texas [Texas State Death Certificate #24679]
• Grave marker in Our Lady of Częstochowa Cemetery, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, due to his previous plan to be buried there
• Click HERE to read biographical article about him.
Reverend Ernest Joseph Kostorz 1877-1969
• Born on January 11, 1877, in Silesia
• Son of Leopold Kostorz and Maria Stephany
• Ordained on June 1, 1902, in Winnipeg, Canada
• Died on April 9, 1969, in San Antonio, Texas
• Buried in St. Anthony of Padua Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas
Reverend Monsignor Franciszek (Frank) Kurzaj
• Born in Slawiecice, Silesia, Poland
• Son of Jerzy Kurzaj and Elzbieta Struzyna
• Ordained on May 16, 1976, in Opole, Poland
Reverend Leopold Moczygemba 1824 – 1891
• Born on October 18, 1824, in Pluznica Wielka, Silesia
• Son of Leopold Moczygemba and Ewa Krawietz
• Ordained on July 25, 1847, in Pesaro, Italy
• Photograph from Polish American Crusaders Museum, San Antonio, Texas. ITC 070-0009.
• Died on February 23, 1891, in Dearborn, Michigan
• Buried in Mount Elliot Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan
• Reinterment on October 13, 1974, Panna Maria, Texas
Reverend Paul Aloysius Mosler, O.M.I. 1879-1954
• Born on April 16, 1879, in Urbanowice, Silesia
• Son of John Mosler and Josefa Chrobok
• Ordained on May 14, 1905, in Huenfeld, Germany
• Honorary title: “Apostle of West Texas”
• Died on September 30, 1954, in San Antonio, Texas
• Buried in Oblate Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas
Reverend Stanislaw J. Oleksy, S.D.S. 1956-2015
• Born on September 17, 1956, in Borzecin, Poland
• Son of Stanislaw Oleksy and Czeslawa Smolen
• Ordained on May 8, 1982
• Society of the Divine Savior – Salvatorian Priest
• Pastoral work in Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas, from 2000-2015
• Photograph from Wilson County News
• Died on June 16, 2015; buried in Kosciusko, Texas
Reverend Stanislaus Przyborowski 1872 – 1957
• Born on July 6, 1872, in Poland
• Ordained on November 20, 1897, in Victoria, Texas
• Photograph from The First Polish Colonies of America in Texas, page 134
• Celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination in 1947
• Died on September 12, 1957; buried in Cestohowa, Texas
Reverend Stefan Michal Wiera 1940 – 2023
• Born on September 28, 1940, in Jankowice, Silesia, Poland
• Son of Frank and Valerie Wiera
• Ordained on June 21, 1968, in Kraków, Poland
• Pastoral work in Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas, from 1979 – 2023
• Photograph from Archdiocese of San Antonio, www.archsa.org
• Died on June 14, 2023; buried in Las Gallinas, Texas
Reverend Sigmund Wojciechowski 1915 – 1986
• Born on March 12, 1915, in Inowroclaw, District of Poznan, Poland
• Ordained on June 28, 1942, in Mogila, District of Kraków, Poland
• Arrested by the Gestapo on January 5, 1944, and confined to prison and concentration camps until liberation on April 15, 1945
• Became a citizen of the United States on November 23, 1954
• Incardinated as a priest of the Archdiocese of San Antonio on April 5, 1966
• Photograph from the centennial book, Archdiocese of San Antonio 1874 – 1974, page 277
• Died on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1986; buried in Kosciusko, Texas
Reverend Emanuel Joseph Wróbel 1866 – 1920
• Born on December 25, 1866, in Błotnica Strzelecka, Silesia
• Son of Johann Wróbel and Marianna Moczigemba
• Ordained on June 22, 1890, in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Pastoral work in Meyersville, Texas, 1907-1909
• First photograph, No. 080-0131, UTSA Special Collections – Institute of Texan Cultures
Photograph courtesy of: Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph R. San Miguel
• Second photograph from Our Polish Pioneers by John A. Joyce
• Died on February 11, 1920, in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana
• Buried in Resurrection Mausoleum of the Catholic Cemetery, Adams Township, Allen County, Indiana
Reverend Felix Zwiardowski 1840 – 1895
• Born on December 29, 1840, in Bialystok
• Ordained on April 20, 1867, in Panna Maria, Texas; Congregation of the Resurrection
• Appointed Superior of the Polish Missions in Texas on July 15, 1870
• Photograph from St. Michael’s Catholic Church 1866- 1966 Centennial, 37th page
• Died on August 31, 1895; buried in Panna Maria, Texas
