Jakub W.J. Pacholski

Monsignor J.W.J. Pacholski, circa 1920. Courtesy of Polish Museum, Winona, MN

Jakub Wałenty Jan Pacholski, better known in America as Monsignor James W.J. Pacholski, was born on May 24, 1862, in the village of Pączewo, located in the Polish region of Kociewie.

Biography

Pacholski was educated at Pelplin and Wejherowo, and studied for the priesthood at Leuven, Belgium.[1] After emigration to the United States, he completed his studies at Saint Thomas Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 18, 1886.

Just one month after his ordination, Reverend Pacholski was called upon to organize Holy Cross Parish in Minneapolis. He served as pastor at Holy Cross until 1894.[2] He was then transferred to the Diocese of Winona and installed as pastor of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish, in Winona, Minnesota. This growing parish had experienced a good deal of turmoil in recent years, and it is clear that Reverend Pacholski was expected to bring some needed order. This he accomplished.[3] Winona was already becoming known by this time as the "Kashubian Capital of America;"[4] although not of Kashubian birth himself, he had studied in the Kashubian region and quickly bonded with his new flock.

As pastor of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, Reverend Pacholski oversaw the completion and dedication of the 1895 church, and of the parish school constructed in 1905. He was instrumental in the establishment of Saint Casimir's, a daughter parish of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, on Winona's West End, and celebrated the first Holy Mass at Saint Casimir's on Christmas Day 1905.[5]

Father Pacholski held the office of Consultor to the Most Reverend Joseph B. Cotter, first Bishop of Winona, which was a very unusual honor for a Polish-born priest serving in an American diocese. He was elevated to the rank of Monsignor by Pope Benedict XV on August 17, 1918. He was admired and loved by his parishioners as a stern shepherd who always cared deeply for his beloved flock; in his role as pastor of Saint Stanislaus Kostka he was also regarded as the leader of Winona's Kaszubian Polish community.[6]

The Right Reverend Monsignor Jakub W.J. Pacholski died unexpectedly of a heart attack on July 27, 1932, at the Saint Stanislaus rectory. He was succeeded as pastor by his former assistant, the Winona-educated Father Jozef Cieminski. There were as many as 2,000 mourners at his funeral, including over 100 fellow priests.[7] Reverend Pacholski is buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Winona, alongside other leading clerics of the diocese.

See also

Portals:
  • Biography
  • icon Catholicism
  • flag Poland
  • flag United States

References

  1. ^ Father Waclaw Kruszka, History of the American Poles, volume 4, p. 123.
  2. ^ Holy Cross Parish Jubilee Book (Minneapolis: 1961)
  3. ^ William L. Crozier devotes an entire chapter, "Conflict in an Ethnic Church," of his Gathering a People: A History of the Diocese of Winona (Winona: 1989) to the crisis at Saint Stanislaus: pp. 183-204.
  4. ^ "Kashubian Capital of America – Bambenek.org". bambenek.org. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  5. ^ Saint Casimir Parish Golden Jubilee Book (Winona: 1955)
  6. ^ Leo M. Ochrymowycz, "Derdowski and Pacholski," in Gerald J. Langowski (ed.) The Polish Heritage (Winona: 1981), pp. 71-74.
  7. ^ Winona (Minnesota) Republican-Herald, August 2, 1932, p. 1
  • v
  • t
  • e
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Ordinaries
Bishops
Joseph Crétin
Thomas Grace
Archbishops
John Ireland
Austin Dowling
John Gregory Murray
William O. Brady
Leo Binz
John Roach
Harry Joseph Flynn
John Clayton Nienstedt
Bernard Hebda
Coadjutor archbishop
Leo Christopher Byrne
Auxiliary bishopsChurches
Cathedrals
Cathedral of Saint Paul
Basilica of Saint Mary
Parishes
Guardian Angels Church, Chaska
Saint Peter's Church, Mendota
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Minneapolis
Church of Saint Stephen, Minneapolis
Church of St. Wenceslaus, New Prague
Church of Saint Mary, New Trier
Church of St. Michael, St. Michael
Church of the Assumption, St. Paul
Church of St. Agnes, St. Paul
Church of St. Bernard, St. Paul
Church of St. Casimir, St. Paul
Saint Mary's Church of the Purification, Marystown
Church of the Annunciation, Webster Township
Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Wheatland Township
Historic
Church of St. Hubertus, Chanhassen
Chapel
Our Lady of Victory Chapel
Education
Higher education
St. Catherine University
University of St. Thomas
Seminaries
Saint John Vianney College Seminary
Saint Paul Seminary
Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary (defunct)
High schools
Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield
Benilde-St. Margaret's, St. Louis Park
Bethlehem Academy, Faribault
Chesterton Academy, Edina
Convent of the Visitation, Mendota Heights
Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Minneapolis
DeLaSalle High School, Minneapolis
Hill-Murray School, Maplewood
Holy Family Catholic High School, Victoria
Providence Academy, Plymouth
Saint Agnes K-12 School, St. Paul
Saint Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights
Totino-Grace High School, Fridley
Priests
  • icon Catholicism portal
  • v
  • t
  • e
Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester
Bishops
Churches
Cathedrals
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona
St. John the Evangelist, Rochester
Parishes
Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, Winona
Church of St. Augustine, Austin
Church of St. Adrian, Adrian
Church of the Sacred Heart, Heron Lake
Church of the Holy Trinity, Rollingstone
Church of St. Kilian, Wilmont Township
Education
Higher education
Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
High schools
Cotter High School, Winona
Lourdes High School, Rochester
Loyola Catholic School, Mankato
Pacelli High School, Austin
Other
Austin Area Catholic Schools
Priests
  • icon Catholicism portal