Stephen Stanislaus Woznicki


Stephen Stanislaus Woznicki was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Saginaw from 1950 to 1968.

Biography

Woznicki was born in Miners Mills, Pennsylvania, near Wilkes-Barre, to Stephen and Michalina Woznicki. He began his studies for the priesthood at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan. He completed his studies at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.
On December 22, 1917, Woznicki was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of St. Paul. His first assignment was in his native Pennsylvania, as a curate at in Danville. From 1919 to 1937, he served as secretary to Bishop Michael Gallagher of Detroit. He was named a domestic prelate in 1926, and became pastor of , a Polish parish in Detroit, in December 1936. At St. Hyacinth, he appealed to parishioners to not to Anglicize their family name and to not to flee to the suburbs.
On December 13, 1937, Woznicki was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Peltae by Pope Pius XI. 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. He selected as his episcopal motto: Veritatem In Caritate. As an auxiliary bishop, he continued to serve as pastor of St. Hyacinth until 1950.
Woznicki was appointed the second Bishop of Saginaw by Pope Pius XII on April 15, 1950. His installation took place at St. Mary Cathedral on May 24 of that year. 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. He served as president of the from 1956 to 1957. He also attended the Second Vatican Council.
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. He died shortly afterwards, at age 74.