Father Leopold Moczygemba
Leopold Bonaventura Maria Moczygemba was born on October 18, 1824, in the tiny village of Płużnica Wielka in the county of Opole, in the region of Upper Silesia. When he was 19, Leopold made the solemn decision to become a priest. Father Leopold was ordained in 1847. He had always dreamed of becoming a missionary. His chance came when Bishop Jean-Maria Odin of the Diocese of Galveston came to Europe seeking priests and funding for his far-flung diocese that included all of Texas. One of the priests recruited to work among the German settlers in Texas was “a Polish priest,” Father Leopold Moczygemba.
Illustration, Wood, Ronsaville, Harlin, Inc., Annapolis MD