Pinkowski Files

Rev. Jan Jozef Dekowski
(1882-1946)
A priest in the missionary order of the Holy Ghost Fathers, chaplain in General Haller's Army, colonel.
He was born on June 17, 1882 in Wygoda near Plock, a son of farmers, Michal and Maria nee Strychalska.
His parents emigrated to the United States when he was but a year old. They settled in Scranton, PA. His father worked in the coal mines. After completing Holy Ghost College in Pittsburgh he studied at the Polish Seminary in Detroit and the Holy Ghost Seminary in Ferndale, CT. In 1911 he finished his theological studies at the Holy Ghost Seminary in Paris. On July 30, 1911 he was ordained in Paris at the hands of archbishop Alex Le Roy, the father general of the Holy Ghost order. After ordination he returned to the United States where he worked as assistant pastor and catechist in Pittsburgh.
On October 25 1917 he joined the Polish Army Organization in the United States. He took his training at Niagara on the Lake in Canada. At the beginning of 1918 he arrived in France becoming the chaplain of the 3rd Rifle Regiment of the Polish Army in France. He participated in the fighting at Wogezach [?].
A burning and sincere patriot, even before joining the Army he dedicated all of his time and effort to the Polish cause, campaigning successfully on behalf the army among the Poles settled in America. After joining the army, without hesitation, he sacrificed his comfort and well being to contribute giving of his strength and abilities to organizing Polish regiments.
In Wogezach, on the line occupied by the 3rd Rifle Regiment from August to October 1918 he gave an example, through his behavior, of manhood and virtuous citizenship to the Polish soldiers. He distinguished himself during a German attack on the line held by the regiment at the beginning of September, for which he received the Croix de Guerre from the French.
For this he was also decorated with the Virtuti Militari Cross, V class, number 5626 (given September 27, 1922, by the Commission of the Virtuti Military Order).
On January 3, 1919 he was demobilized and returned to Canada. On August 21, 1920, he became the pastor of St. Mary's parish in Toronto, and in 1922 the pastor of St. Stanislaw Kostka parish in Toronto. He founded the "Ulga" [Relief] Mutual Aid Organization, a parish choir and a library to which he contributed his personal book collection. In September 1937 he became chaplain of the College de la Salle in Aurora, Ontario, while on August 21, 1941, he became the pastor of the Mother of Perpetual Help in St. Catherines, Ontario.
He died on March 26, 1949 in St. Catherines. He is buried at the cemetery in Niagara on the Lake among the Polish soldiers.
He wrote a volume of poetry which was published in Canada.
He was also a recipient of the Croix de Guerre.
From: Szwedo, Boguslaw, Zawsze w Pierwszej Linii [Always in the Front Line]; Chaplains decorated with the Virtuti Militari Order 1914-1921, 1939-1945. Oficyna Wydawnicza Rytm, Warsaw
Sources: CAW, VM 63-5303, AP 4850; Leksykon parafii [Parish Lexicon] according to index; Teofil Lachowicz, Weterani Polscy w Stanach Zjednoczonych Ameryki Polnocnej do 1934 roku [Polish Veterans in the United States of North America to 1934] Rytm, Warsaw 2003; Lukomski, Polak, Suchcitz, Kawalerowie Virtuti Militari [Cavaliers of the Virtuti Militari medal] p. 135; Radzilowicz, Blekitna Armia [The Blue Army] p. 134; Rev. John. J. Dekowski who served in this city since 1937 is mourned, The St. Catherines Standard, March 28, 1949, p. 20; Sp. Ks. Pulkownik Jan J. Dekowski umarl w ubiegla sobote w Kanadzie [The dear departed Rev. Colonel Jan J. Dekowski died last Saturday in Canada] "Dziennik dla Wszystkich," March 28, 1949, p. 2; Walter, Czyn zbrojny wychodztwa [Military Deeds of Emigrants] according to index; Waszkiewicz, Duszpasterstwo [Shepherds of Souls], p 37; Wesolowski, Order Virtuti Militari, p. 238, 472; information from Stanley Haidasz of Canada and Paul Vlask of Chicago.
Translation by: Peter J. Obst, December 18, 2007