Northumberland County PA Archives Biographies.....Misicki, Thomas 1866 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 31, 2005, 9:31 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. REV. THOMAS MISICKI, D. D., was born in Przeworsk, Galicia, Austria, December 31, 1866. He attended the schools of his native city and when ten years of age further continued his education at Cracow, where he attended high school for a period of eight years, studying the Latin, Greek, German, French and Polish languages, together with mathematics, geography, history and the physics; after graduating therefrom he entered the Catholic Seminary, where he began the study of theology. He completed his education and preparation for the priesthood by a four years' course at the Jagellonic Austrian University, and was ordained a priest by the late Cardinal Albin Dunajewski, Prime Bishop of Cracow, May 19, 1889, after which he visited Germany, France and Spain. During his extensive travels through these countries he prepared his doctorate of theology, and the degree of D. D. was conferred upon him February 1, 1892, which degree in Austria is given only to candidates passing four rigorous examinations showing proficiency not only in theology, history of the church and common law, but also a thorough knowledge of the four Eastern languages, viz: Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldaic and Arabic, as well as all Bible sciences. With the permission of the Austrian University, after four years of study in Latin and Greek, on August 30, 1892, he was made eligible as a teacher of these languages in Austria. In 1893 our subject came to the United States and first located in Winona, Minn., where he was connected with the clergy of the St. Stanislaus Church for a brief period. His next pastorate was in Berea, Ohio, where he was appointed rector of St. Adalbert's Church in the Diocese of Cleveland, and, after a term of service there, he went to Meriden, Conn., as pastor of the Polish church, and while there enjoyed the distinction of being the only Polish priest in the state. A few months later he was transferred to Mount Carmel, where, under Bishop Thomas McGovern of Harrisburg (now deceased) he had supervision of one of the largest parishes in the state. He remained there until February 13, 1897, when he was transferred by the Bishop to the pastorate of St. Stanislaus Kostki's Church at Shamokin. A brief history of the church is here appended. The Poles began to settle in and around Shamokin about the year 1854, but they worshiped with the members of St. Edward's Parish until the members of St. Stanislaus Kostki's Beneficial Society organized what has since grown into this big and growing congregation. Rev. Emanuel Goch, the first Polish priest sent to Shamokin, soon erected a small frame church at Race ancl Cherry streets, where the substantial rectory now stands. Rev. Joseph Juszkiewicz was his successor, and in 1874 he broke ground for the construction of the present brick edifice. There was a considerable number of Lithuanians here at that time and they joined with the Poles in founding the parish, but it required several years before sufficient funds could be raised for the completion of the edifice. The Poles and Lithuanians have since worked together harmoniously, just as their ancestors had done before coming to America. Bishop Shanahan dedicated the new church on December 8, 1881, but Rev. Florian Klonowski had been sent there on July 13, 1876. Soon after the completion of the church a parochial school was built; this has been changed into the rectory; and a comfortable home was also prepared for the Sisters of the Order of St. Francis. In 1893 a handsome three-story brick structure was added to the parish and is devoted entirely to educational purposes, and contains about 450 pupils, taught by seven sisters and a layman. The church membership includes about 2,800 souls in 650 families. Since Father Misicki took charge of this parish he has lifted $3,500 of the church debt and added to the inside appearance of the church by remodeling and redecorating. The decorator having charge of the work is Francis Baraldi of Philadelphia, one of the most famous decorators in Pennsylvania. The windows are from Munich, Bavaria, and cost $225 each, and are works of rare artistic merit. Father Misicki is assisted in his labors by Rev. Francis Wengrzynowski. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb