Today, January 19, is the memorial of Saint Joseph Sebastian Pelczar.
Joseph was born in 1842 in southwestern Poland. His parents Adalbert and Marianna already noticed the holiness and intelligence of their son. The young Joseph knew that he had a vocation.
After completing his studies, he was ordained priest in 1864 and was assigned to a parish. He moved to Rome for further studies and earned two doctorates: theological studies and canon law. He became a professor afterwards.
He put up libraries, gave free lectures, and published many books which delved on history and canon law.
In 1891, he founded the Fraternity of Our Lady, Queen of the Polish Crown, which cared for the poor, the orphans, the sick, and the jobless.
In 1894, together with Blessed Ludwika Szczesna, he also founded the Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus with the aim of working with women.
Joseph was appointed by Pope Leo XIII to become Bishop of Przemysl in 1900. He was a tireless bishop, watching over his diocese and supporting the religious orders. He reformed seminaries, built churches, established countless charitable institutions.
He died of natural causes at age 82 in 1924. Pope St. John Paul II beatified Joseph in 1991 and canonized him in 2003.