New Britain herald., 1929-02-19
FATHER B0JNOWSkI
 IS 6l YEARS OLD
Piosed Priet Hx Renaltihe
 Record u Hold d Plrish

Tomorrow will mark another milestone in the life and work Of Rev. Lucyan Bojnowski. pastor of the Sacred Heart church. who will observe his slst birthday anniver- sary in the quiet of his parish house and going about the daily routine in his usual unassuming manner. There will be no receptions or public felict- tationA
 Father Bojnowski. beloved by thousanas of his parishioners and widely known throughout this coun- try and abroad for his work q . priest aud patriot, was born on Feb ruary Fl. 1868, in . little village near Smoaiki. Poland. the son of Stanis- \ law and Alexandra Bojnowski. He received his early education in the common schools at suwalki and the Real Gymnasium (high school). and when l9 years of age went the way \ of many thousands of other young men. seeking education and freedom of thought in another country. He came to America in 1888 and set- tied in South Glastonbury where he worked to earn enough for further education.
 Ordained in l1o4
 A year later he entered St. Mary's seminary at Detroit and in 1895 was ordained to the priesthood. He serv- ed as curate in several parishes and finally was assigned as pastor of the newly forming Polish parish in New Britain on September 10. 1ss6. At that time the Polish element num- bered about 125 families. but the in- flux of Polish people in the years following was rapid. due to the ever-increasing demand for laborers for the constantly growing indus tries in this city. Due to the untiring efforts and hard work of the pastor. the parish grew rapidly until at one time it numbered approximately IT, 900 souls.
 The first house of worship built more than 50 years ago on Orange street was replaced by a magnificent edifice of stone and brick on Broad street. His work did not stop with the erection of a church. Realizing the necessity of furnishing educa- tional facilities for the children of his parishioners, Father Bojnowski directed all of his efforts in that di- rection and built parochiai school on Gold street and later an addition al building on Orange street, which aAryoa olun os . aotlnu naptor FNr children as we'll as grown-ups. Erects Orphan Asylum Al years rolled by and the parish grew larger, another problem pre- scented itself. There were hundreds of children left destitute orphaned. They had to be clothed, educated and taken care of. He set about solving the problem and after soliciting the help of his parishioners, he erected . huge building on the hilltop on Bur- rit street overlooking the city. as a retreat for the destitute youngsters. To care for these children it was necessary to have help. and he solv- ed the problem by founding a relig- ious order of nuns, the Order of Mary of Immaculate Conception. which today numbers upwards of 100 nuns, for the most part daugh- ters of the parishioners many of whom are in other parts of the coun- try doing similar work in other or- phan asylums.
 Ever ready to look after the af- fairs of his parish and help his peo- pie out in every way. Father Boj- nowski became aware of another problem-that of the care of the old md infirm. and in 1925 the parish- toner's witnessed the dedication of the Home For the Aged at . cost pf $175,00O.
 Home For Immigrants
 His work went beyond the limits Df his own parish and city. There was the problem of caring for the newcomers to this land. In 1925 he purchased some property on West 9th street, New York city. which was dedicated as St. Joseph's Home Tor the Immigrants. The building was purchased for the sum of $1e6,- poo and became haven for the im- migrant. who often found himself lost in 8 strange land and city, with but proper care and in want of help. This was but another milestone in his widespread campaign to help his ompatriots in every way possible. As far back as 1907 he founded the rst Polish newspaper in the state, The Polish Catholic Leader" which t one time reached . circulation of 5000 and was one of the most in- uential weeklies in this country, eing read widely and commented |n freely not only by national con- smporaries but also by journals in Poland.
 His work during the days of the World War was known not only ere but abroad also. When this ountry became identified with the llied forces in 1917. there was talk bout forming . Polish legion. The erm idea soon took on . cloak of bality and . widespread campaign throughout the state was on foot. he fever spread simultaneously in very Polish community and the pung blood began to enroll by the housands. Father Bojnowski. as biritual leader in this community. ecame also the patriotic leader and trough his efforts a unit compris-
 g some 800 men left this city to
 lin the main forces in Canada and len in France. For this service, was decorated by General Joseph aller, commander-in-chief of the boys in blue" in France.
 Accorded Maay Hooofs
 For his work. both in spirituad hd patriotic endeavors, Father Bot- pwski received many honors. He
 one of the 5z men in the whole