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 the Diocese of Saginaw in Michigan from 1950 to 1968. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit in Michigan from 1937 to 1950.

Biography

Early life Stephen Woznicki was born on August 17, 1894, in the Miners Mills section of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to Stephen and Michalina (née Jablonski) 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. After his ordination, Woznicki was assigned as a curate at St. Joseph Parish in Danville, Pennsylvania. At St. Hyacinth, he appealed to parishioners to not anglicize their Polish surnames or move to the suburbs. As an auxiliary bishop, he continued to serve as pastor of St. Hyacinth until 1950. He served as president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference from 1956 to 1957. He also attended the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1965.

Resignation and legacy On October 30, 1968, Pope Paul VI accepted Woznicki's early retirement as bishop of Saginaw for health reasons; he was appointed titular bishop of Thiava on the same date. Stephen Woznicki died in Saginaw on December 10, 1968. at age 74.