Paul Breza
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Paul Joseph Breza, Roman Catholic priest and Kashubian American activist, was born in
Saint Stanislaus Kostka School, Cotter High School and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
.
Priestly ministry
After completing his seminary studies, Father Breza was ordained a priest on June 1, 1963 for the
Diocese of Winona.[1] During his nearly fifty years of active priestly ministry, Father Breza has served the Diocese of Winona in a number of roles: pastor, chaplain, teacher, and administrator, tending to people from across the spectrum of society.[2] In his retirement, he continues to fill in for other priests whenever needed in addition to serving as the Diocesan archivist.[3]
Kashubian American activism
See also Kashubians#Diaspora In 1979, Father Breza established the
Sister Cities in 2004,[5] and Bytów celebrated its first annual Dzien Winony ("Winona Day") on September 26, 2006.[6] Under the Polish Cultural Institute's auspices, students from both Winona and Bytów participate in an exchange program, the most recent of which took place in 2012.[7] Father Breza has also been instrumental in highlighting Winona's longtime status, dating back to 1898, as "Kashubian Capital of America."[8]
Honors and awards
Father Breza has received public honors for his priestly ministry and for his service to the Kashubian American community, both in Poland and in the United States. In 2007 his alma mater, Cotter High School, named him its third "Alumnus of the Year."the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Kostka and a banquet at the Polish Museum.[12]
External links
- Stanisław Marmołowski o ks. Paulu Brezie (Stanisław Marmołowski speaks about Fr. Paul Breza") on YouTube, posted by kurierbytowski on February 24, 2010 (in Polish)
- Bytów: Ks. Paul Breza honorowym obywatelem miasta ("Fr. Paul Breza, Honorary Citizen of the City") on YouTube, posted by naszemiastoTV on December 29, 2010 (in Polish)
References
- ^ St. Stanislaus Parish 1871-1971, Winona: privately published, 1971.
- ^ a b Honorowi Obywatele Miasta - Ks. Paul Breza Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine (www.bytow.com; in Polish)
- ^ http://www.dow.org/Departments/AdministrativeOffices/Archives.aspx
- ^ "Winona takes first step in connecting with sister-city, Bytow, Poland," Winona Post, March 7, 2001[permanent dead link].
- ^ Miasta Partnerskie - Winona Archived 2012-05-11 at the Wayback Machine (www.bytow.com; in Polish)
- ^ Bytow Celebrates Winona Day[permanent dead link] (www.winonasistercities.org; in English)
- ^ "Students from Polish sister city getting taste of America." Winona Daily News, August 2, 2012
- ^ "Kashubian Capital of America – Bambenek.org". bambenek.org. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
- ^ "Cotter to honor Rev. Breza," Winona Daily News, February 21, 2007.
- ^ "Breza to enter Polish Heritage Hall of Fame"Winona Daily News, May 1, 2010
- ^ "Visit from Polish Consul-General 2013," www.polishmuseumwinona.org
- ^ "Breza honored for 50 years in priesthood, forging ties with sister city"Winona Daily News, June 1, 2013