Barzynski, Rev. Vincent Michael, C.R.Pioneer priest. Born in Sulislawice, near Sandomierz, Poland in 1838; the son of Joseph and Mary (Sroczynska) Barzynski. In baptism he received the name of Michael, but during a grievous illness was placed under the protection of St. Vincent and henceforth called Vincent. Entered the diocesan seminary in Lublin in 1856 and was ordained October 28, 1861. Appointed assistant at Horodlo, and later transferred to Tomaszow, which was the scene of great military activity during the uprising of 1863. As organizer (appointed by the secret Polish National Government) he provided the insurrectionists with military supplies. Compelled to flee to Cracow, he found refuge with the Franciscan Fathers in that city. After ten months in Austrian prison, he received his passport enabling him to leave for Paris in 1865. In Paris he met Rev. Jelowicki, C.R., who was instrumental that Rev. Barzynski went to Rome and joined the newly founded Congregation of the Resurrection and after novitiate made his vows on September 18, 1866. On September 19, 1866 he left for U.S. and settled in Texas, where from 1866 to 1872 he was pastor of St. Michael's San Antonio, Texas, a parish organized by him. From 1872 to 1874 he was an assistant at St. Stanislaus Kostka in Chicago. Pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka, Chicago, Ill., 1874-1899. He was one of the greatest organizers of the Polish immigrants in Chicago and United States, Called the first convention of the Polish Roman Catholic Union in America to Chicago on October 10, 1874, which organization has now 200,000 members. In 1890 founded the Chicago Daily News "Dziennik Chicagoski" which is still in existence to this day. In 1891 founded St. Stanislaus Kostka College (now known as Weber High School) the first Polish secondary school in Chicago. He organized nearly forty societies, confraternities and sodalities; assisted in the organization of nearly every parish in Chicago, established before his death. He gave the Poles an orphanage, introduced the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth into the United States. To him are due the first Polish American textbooks, and first Sunday School papers. Died May 2, 1899.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943