Stanislaus Joseph Brzana

Who was Stanislaus Joseph Brzana?

Stanislaus Joseph Brzana was the tenth Roman Catholic Bishop of Ogdensburg.

Stanislaus Brzana was born in Buffalo, New York, to Frank and Catherine Brzana. He studied at Christ the King Seminary at St. Bonaventure University, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1941. He then did missionary work at the Cattaraugus Reservation and during World War II served as a chaplain with the Ninth Armored Division, ministering to troops in the Battle of the Bulge. After returning to New York and doing pastoral work, he earned a Doctor of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1953.

On May 24, 1964, Brzana was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo and Titular Bishop of Cufruta by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 29 from Bishop James A. McNulty, with Bishops Celestine Damiano and James Johnston Navagh serving as co-consecrators. After Thomas Andrew Donnellan was made Archbishop of Atlanta, Brzana was named Bishop of Ogdensburg on October 22, 1968. During his tenure, he served on committees of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and took part in deliberations of the Second Vatican Council. He also established several churches and education centers, and was active in regional civic and social activities, including caring for striking miners and their families. In addition to receiving a Caritas award from Catholic Charities, he was made an honorary Mohawk Indian chief in 1977.