Stephen Stanislaus Woznicki

Stephen Stanislaus Woznicki (August 17, 1894 – December 10, 1968) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Saginaw from 1950 to 1968.

The Most Reverend

Stephen Stanislaus Woznicki
DioceseSaginaw
AppointedApril 15, 1950
InstalledMay 24, 1950
Term endedOctober 30, 1968
PredecessorWilliam Francis Murphy
SuccessorFrancis Frederick Reh
Orders
OrdinationDecember 22, 1917
ConsecrationJanuary 25, 1938
by Archbishop Edward Mooney
Personal details
Born(1894-08-17)August 17, 1894
Miners Mills, Pennsylvania
DiedDecember 10, 1968(1968-12-10) (aged 74)
DenominationRoman Catholic
ParentsStephen and Michalina (née Jablonski) Woznicki
Alma materSt. Paul Seminary
MottoVeritatem In Caritate (Latin: "Truth in Charity")
Styles of
Stephen Stanislaus Woznicki
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleMonsignor
Posthumous stylenone

Biography

Woznicki was born in Miners Mills, Pennsylvania, near Wilkes-Barre, to Stephen and Michalina (née Jablonski) Woznicki.[1] He began his studies for the priesthood at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan.[2] He completed his studies at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.[2]

On December 22, 1917, Woznicki was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of St. Paul.[3] His first assignment was in his native Pennsylvania, as a curate at St. Joseph Church in Danville.[1] From 1919 to 1937, he served as secretary to Bishop Michael Gallagher of Detroit.[1] He was named a domestic prelate in 1926, and became pastor of St. Hyacinth Church, a Polish parish in Detroit, in December 1936.[4] At St. Hyacinth, he appealed to parishioners to not to Anglicize their family name and to not to flee to the suburbs.[4]

On December 13, 1937, Woznicki was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Peltae by Pope Pius XI.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on January 25, 1938 from Archbishop Edward Mooney, with Bishop Joseph C. Plagens and William J. Hafey serving as co-consecrators.[3] He selected as his episcopal motto: Veritatem In Caritate (Latin: "Truth in Charity").[5] As an auxiliary bishop, he continued to serve as pastor of St. Hyacinth until 1950.[4]

Woznicki was appointed the second Bishop of Saginaw by Pope Pius XII on April 15, 1950.[3] His installation took place at St. Mary Cathedral on May 24 of that year.[3] Known as a "great builder," he established 21 new parishes and missions, permitted the building of 30 schools, and led a nearly $4 million campaign to open the doors of St. Paul Seminary, which currently houses Nouvel Catholic Central High School and the main diocesan offices.[6] He served as president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference from 1956 to 1957.[1] He also attended the Second Vatican Council (1962–65).[3]

Due to his advancing age, Woznicki resigned as Bishop of Saginaw on October 30, 1968; he was appointed Titular Bishop of Thiava on the same date.[3] He died shortly afterwards, at age 74.

References
  1. Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  2. "MOST REV. STEPHEN S. WOZNICKI". Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw.
  3. "Bishop Stephen Stanislaus Woznicki". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  4. "A BRIEF HISTORY". St. Hyacinth Roman Catholic Church.
  5. "Most Rev. Stephen S. Woznicki". Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw.
  6. "The past four bishops of Saginaw" (PDF). Faith Saginaw Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-10.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
William Francis Murphy		 Bishop of Saginaw
1950–1968		 Succeeded by
Francis Frederick Reh
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