REV. JOHN C. DEMBINSKI 1883-1931
Ossowski Photo Collection Hagen History Center
REVEREND JOHN C. DEMBINSKI
Born in Zerkow, Poland – November 18, 1883.
Attended Saint Adrian’s Elementary School and Saint Bonaventure’s College and Seminary – Received a B.A. Degree.
Ordained by Bishop Charles H. Colton of Buffalo at Allegany, New York on June 13, 1908. Celebrated his first Mass on June 21, 1908, at Saint Adrian’s Delancey.
Received an exeot from the Diocese of Posen (Posnaniensis) on February 19, 1907.
Appointed Assistant to Saint Stanislaus in Erie from June 1908 to May 1911.
Appointed Pastor to Saint Stanislaus in Tyler from May to September 1911.
Appointed Assistant to Saint Stanislaus Erie from September 1911 to July 1914.
Appointed Pastor to Saint Casimir’s Erie on July 23, 1914..
Died on November 16, 1931, at Saint Vincent’s Hospital.
Funeral Mass held on November 20, 1931 – coram episcopo at Saint Casimir’s.
Submitted by the late Eleanore Dembinski – Niece
REV. JOHN C. DEMBINSKI
PASTOR ST. CASIMIR’S CHURCH
1914---1931
Our Founding Pastor of St. Casimir’s Church was Fr. John C. Dembinski.
He was born in Zerkow, Poland, November 18th, 1883, son of Francis and Magdalena Dembinski.
His uncle, Jan Komendzinski, for whom he was named, was at that time the Mayor of Poznan.
As a young boy he came to the United States with his parents and his sister Genevieve. They settled in De Lancey, Pa. There he attended St. Adrian’s School.
He was the eldest of eight children.
Showing a zealous interest in the religious life, he was encouraged by the pastor Fr. Joseph Zubricki.
He Studied at St. Bonaventure’s College and Seminary and was ordained a Priest on June 13th, 1908, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Buffalo, New York by Bishop Colton.
He celebrated his first Mass at St. Adrain’s Church on June 21st of the year. Being ordained for the Erie Diocese, he was assigned by Bishop Fitzmaurice to be an Assistant at St. Stanislaus in Erie. He served there from June 1908 to July 1914.
Bishop John Fitzmaurice realized that Erie needed an additional Polish Church to accommodate the growing population. Fr. John Dembinski was assigned to build this Church. It would be located on the far northeastern side of town. Fr. John began to organize the new Parish and was met with quick success.
In November of that same year 1914, the cornerstone was laid. Before winter, Church services were being held.
On March 5th, 1916, the Church was dedicated by Bishop John Fitzmaurice.
The Rectory was acquired in 1918. In 1920 the Sister’s Convent was obtained for the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. At that time there were 425 children attending school at St. Casimir’s.
Fr. John was an avid sportsman. He was a very good bowler and had scored a perfect 300 game. He had attended numerous bowling tournaments, coming home with medals.
On September 25th, 1921, when Calvary Cemetery was consecrated, Fr. John assisted Bishop Gannon at the ceremony.
He was a Priest only 23 years when he was met with an unfortunate automobile accident and died soon after at the age of 48 on November 16th, 1931.
Our Beloved Pastor was sadly missed.
The Funeral Mass was sung by Fr. John’s brother Fr. Peter S. Dembinski, Pastor of Assumption of B.V.M. Church in Sykesville, Pa. Fr. Peter had the honor and pain of this privilege.
The funeral sermon was preached by Fr. John’s former Pastor Rt. Rev. Msgr. Andrew Ignasiak of St. Stanislaus in Erie. St. Adrain’s former school boys also attended the Mass with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Richard Guilfoyle (later the Bishop of Altoona – Johnstown.)
Submitted by the late Eleanore Dembinski – Niece
“Fr. John Dembinski probably died of a broken heart as he was only two days from celebrating his 48th birthday. Fr. Dembinski had mistakenly shot to death his housekeeper whom he mistook for an intruder. I do not know the whole story but it happened either late in 1922 or in January 1923. He was completely exonerated of any crime."
This was written for the St. Casimir 75th Diamond Jubilee in 1989.
Born in Zerkow, Poland – November 18, 1883.
Attended Saint Adrian’s Elementary School and Saint Bonaventure’s College and Seminary – Received a B.A. Degree.
Ordained by Bishop Charles H. Colton of Buffalo at Allegany, New York on June 13, 1908. Celebrated his first Mass on June 21, 1908, at Saint Adrian’s Delancey.
Received an exeot from the Diocese of Posen (Posnaniensis) on February 19, 1907.
Appointed Assistant to Saint Stanislaus in Erie from June 1908 to May 1911.
Appointed Pastor to Saint Stanislaus in Tyler from May to September 1911.
Appointed Assistant to Saint Stanislaus Erie from September 1911 to July 1914.
Appointed Pastor to Saint Casimir’s Erie on July 23, 1914..
Died on November 16, 1931, at Saint Vincent’s Hospital.
Funeral Mass held on November 20, 1931 – coram episcopo at Saint Casimir’s.
Submitted by the late Eleanore Dembinski – Niece
REV. JOHN C. DEMBINSKI
PASTOR ST. CASIMIR’S CHURCH
1914---1931
Our Founding Pastor of St. Casimir’s Church was Fr. John C. Dembinski.
He was born in Zerkow, Poland, November 18th, 1883, son of Francis and Magdalena Dembinski.
His uncle, Jan Komendzinski, for whom he was named, was at that time the Mayor of Poznan.
As a young boy he came to the United States with his parents and his sister Genevieve. They settled in De Lancey, Pa. There he attended St. Adrian’s School.
He was the eldest of eight children.
Showing a zealous interest in the religious life, he was encouraged by the pastor Fr. Joseph Zubricki.
He Studied at St. Bonaventure’s College and Seminary and was ordained a Priest on June 13th, 1908, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Buffalo, New York by Bishop Colton.
He celebrated his first Mass at St. Adrain’s Church on June 21st of the year. Being ordained for the Erie Diocese, he was assigned by Bishop Fitzmaurice to be an Assistant at St. Stanislaus in Erie. He served there from June 1908 to July 1914.
Bishop John Fitzmaurice realized that Erie needed an additional Polish Church to accommodate the growing population. Fr. John Dembinski was assigned to build this Church. It would be located on the far northeastern side of town. Fr. John began to organize the new Parish and was met with quick success.
In November of that same year 1914, the cornerstone was laid. Before winter, Church services were being held.
On March 5th, 1916, the Church was dedicated by Bishop John Fitzmaurice.
The Rectory was acquired in 1918. In 1920 the Sister’s Convent was obtained for the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. At that time there were 425 children attending school at St. Casimir’s.
Fr. John was an avid sportsman. He was a very good bowler and had scored a perfect 300 game. He had attended numerous bowling tournaments, coming home with medals.
On September 25th, 1921, when Calvary Cemetery was consecrated, Fr. John assisted Bishop Gannon at the ceremony.
He was a Priest only 23 years when he was met with an unfortunate automobile accident and died soon after at the age of 48 on November 16th, 1931.
Our Beloved Pastor was sadly missed.
The Funeral Mass was sung by Fr. John’s brother Fr. Peter S. Dembinski, Pastor of Assumption of B.V.M. Church in Sykesville, Pa. Fr. Peter had the honor and pain of this privilege.
The funeral sermon was preached by Fr. John’s former Pastor Rt. Rev. Msgr. Andrew Ignasiak of St. Stanislaus in Erie. St. Adrain’s former school boys also attended the Mass with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Richard Guilfoyle (later the Bishop of Altoona – Johnstown.)
Submitted by the late Eleanore Dembinski – Niece
“Fr. John Dembinski probably died of a broken heart as he was only two days from celebrating his 48th birthday. Fr. Dembinski had mistakenly shot to death his housekeeper whom he mistook for an intruder. I do not know the whole story but it happened either late in 1922 or in January 1923. He was completely exonerated of any crime."
This was written for the St. Casimir 75th Diamond Jubilee in 1989.
Grave of Fr. John Dembinski
St. Stanislaus Section of Trinity Cemetery.
The last words on the grave are "Hail Mary."
See Also: Sister Pierre Dembinski RSM
