St. Joseph's Polish Church — World War II Newsletters
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 10th & Mechanic Street, Camden — 2008
Three of the parish bulletins from the war years are presented below. These are dated November 29, 1944; February 7, 1945; and the “VE edition,” which would be May 1945. For more on the men lost while serving, visit the Camden County World War II War Dead Index, which is set up alphabetically. Every soldier, sailor, and airman from St. Joseph’s Church lost in World War II has a memorial web-page which can be accessed from the index.
July 2009
St. Joseph's Parish Bulletin — November 29, 1944
Service Bureau of St. Joseph’s Church, 1010 Liberty Street, Camden, N.J. — Rt. Rev. Msgr. Arthur B. Strenski, Chairman; Rev. Leon S. Winowicz, Rev. Lawrence Faber and Rev. Henry Blaszczynski, Vice-Chairmen.
We hope this Bulletin, as those in the past, helps to serve as a medium of cementing the bond between you men and women in the Armed Forces and Saint Joseph’s Parish. You are gallantly fighting and undergoing sacrifices at the battlefront or preparing yourself for your future task. With proud hearts we congratulate you sturdy men of this Parish fighting so valiantly and facing danger on land, in the air and on the sea with proven bravery and staunch courage. We Priests and parishioners on the home front have you in mind and heart always. In Church and at home we pray for your safety and continued success.
America’s fourth wartime Christmas is close at hand and, as in former years, the Service Bureau is sending Christmas packages to parishioners in Service whose forwarding addresses we have on file. More than 700 Xmas packages have been sent to those in Service overseas.
Statistics: the files of the Service Bureau indicate that there are 1520 men and women of this Parish in the Armed Forces of the United States. Twenty-four women are serving in various branches. The Service Bureau has been in existence for three and one-half years, during which more than 24,000 letters and Bulletins, 1,255 packages of religious articles, 1,724 birthday packages and over 3,000 Christmas packages have been sent out. On Sunday, November 19th, a special collection taken in Church realized $690.35, and the Red Cross Parish Unit donated $50.00 to the Service Bureau.
In Memoriam
With saddened hearts we inform you that now there are 17 gold stars on the Parish Service Flag and Honor Roll. We pray for the following seventeen young men who made the supreme sacrifice in defense of their nation. Requiescant in pace:
Sgt. Gustave Dziengowski; Pvt. John Lozowski, USMC; S/Sgt. Roman Drapinski; Pvt. Walter Koscianski; Corp. Stephen Koscianski; Joseph Piotrowski, MM 1/c; Pvt. Frank J. Owsianka; S/Sgt. John E. Shuler; Lt. Francis Scandell (Skedzielewski); Pfc. Chester Gdowik; Pfc. Chester Smurlo, USMC; Lt. Chester Stelmach; Pvt. Alfred Mrowczynski; Pvt. John Napiorkowski; S/Sgt. Henry Popiolek; Pvt. Louis Bontkowski; and Lt. Leopold Poduszczak.
Lieutenant CHESTER A. STELMACH, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Antoinette Stelmach, of 1172 Atlantic Avenue, was killed in an airplane accident over Abilene, Texas on August 9th. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on February 1, 1943 and received his wings at Foster Field, Texas in March, 1944. Chester attended St. Joseph’s Parochial School and graduated from Camden High School as an Honor Student. Besides his parents, he is survived by three brothers, S/Sgt. John Stelmach, Bruno and Ferdinand, and two sisters, Mrs. Helen Smiechowski and Lillian.
Pvt. ALFRED MROWCZYNSKI, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. John and Frances Mrowczynski, of 1371 Park Boulevard, is reported killed in action in Normandy on July 13th. Alfred was attached to the Field Artillery. He enlisted on March 31, 1943 and had been overseas for one year, and was employed at the New York Shipyard prior to his enlistment. A brother, Corp. Stanley Mrowczynski, is in the European battle area.
Pvt. JOHN CLEMENS NAPIORKOWSKI, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Napiorkowski, of 1145 Liberty Street, was reported killed in action on July 27 at Myitkyina, Burma. He entered the Army on February 7, 1943 and had been overseas for four months. Besides his parents he is survived by three brothers, Pvt. Meceslaus, U.S. Army, twins Sigmund and Edward, and a sister, Veronica.
S/Sgt. HENRY A. POPIOLEK, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Rose Popiolek, of 1205 Lansdowne Avenue, was reported missing in action on June 6th. He was a member of a bomber crew and already had 47 missions to his credit. On September 12 his parents received a telegram notifying them that Henry was killed in action over Orleans, France, on May 23. He attended St. Joseph’s Parochial School and Lincoln School, and was employed previously by the Campbell Soup Company. Surviving, besides his parents, are a brother, Benjamin Popiolek, S2/c U.S. Navy, and a sister, Mrs. Adele Baus.
Second Lieutenant LEOPOLD S. PODUSZCZAK, 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. Boleslaus Poduszczak, of 1105 Lowell Street, was reported missing in action since July 27, 1943 when he participated in a raid over Hanover, Germany. On November 15, 1944, his parents received a letter that he is now considered as having been killed in action. He attended Camden Schools and also studied in Universities in Poland. Besides his parents he is survived by two brothers, Corp. Richard and Pvt. Thaddeus, both of the U.S. Army.
Lieutenant FRANCIS SCANDELL (Skedzielewski), 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Antoinette Skedzielewski, of 1443 South Tenth Street, was previously reported missing in action since May 10, 1944 over Austria. On November 12th his parents received notice from the International Red Cross that he was killed in action on that day. Besides his parents he is survived by three brothers, Sgt. Edmund, Pvt. Karol and Lt. Michael, all serving overseas.
Private First Class LOUIS BONTKOWSKI, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Theodosia Bontkowski, of 1191 Liberty Street, died on September 18th in Germany as a result of wounds received in action. He entered Service on May 5, 1943. Louis attended St. Joseph’s Parochial School and Camden Vocational School and helped his parents with their grocery business. Besides his parents he is survived by a sister, Regina, and a brother, Edward.
Although not of this Parish, we wish to report that Corp. Adam Przywara, 30, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Przywara of Gibbstown, N.J., was reported as having died in Italy from wounds received in action September 19. Adam received the Purple Heart in July during the Anzio and Rome drive, after 26 months overseas.
We also pray that the following men, reported missing in action, may by divine Providence be found: Pfc. Theodore Yurkiewicz, Pvt. Alexander Janczewski, Pfc. Alfred Tomczyk, S/Sgt. Matthew Wnorowski and Pfc. Theodore Korch. Among those reported injured are: Sgt. Edward Emerle, Pfc. Edward Olszewski, Pvt. Anthony Wysocki, Pvt. Vincent Dworonczyk, Pfc. Stanley Jaroszewski, Pfc. Stanley Przytula and Edward Dobrucki, Coxswain. (These surname-only rosters were transcribed from a low-resolution scan; some spellings are approximate.)
Parish news: on October 15th a fire broke out in the Sisters’ Home adjoining the Convent; the Camden Fire Department quickly extinguished the blaze and all 24 Nuns are temporarily quartered in the Convent proper. On December 3rd the Most Reverend Bartholomew J. Eustace, Bishop of Camden, will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation in this Parish. — The Service Bureau of St. Joseph’s Church, Msgr. Arthur B. Strenski, Chairman.
St. Joseph's Parish Bulletin — February 7, 1945
Service Bureau of St. Joseph’s Church, 1010 Liberty Street, Camden, N.J. (Vol. IV no. 1) — Rt. Rev. Msgr. Arthur B. Strenski, Chairman; Rev. Leon S. Winowicz, Rev. Lawrence Faber and Rev. Henry Blaszczynski, Vice-Chairmen.
Encouraged by the splendid manner in which you received our Bulletins in the past, we hope that this first Bulletin of 1945 provides you with interesting and enjoyable reading. We salute all who are so courageously and gallantly fighting at the various battlefronts and enduring such tremendous sacrifices to bring about an early victory. The fall of Germany is imminent and Japan’s end comes closer with each day. More than 1200 packages were sent overseas and in the States for the Christmas holidays, and a collection taken in Church on January 28th amounted to $511.07.
Statistics: the files of the Service Bureau indicate that there are 1542 men and women of St. Joseph’s Parish in the Armed Forces — deceased 20; missing in action 5; prisoner of Japan 1; prisoners of Germany 2; interned 2; women in service 25.
In Memoriam
Private First Class ANTHONY BIBINSKI, 26, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Fulgence Bibinski, of 1235 Lansdowne Avenue, was reported killed in action in France on November 20th. He had been overseas for a year and participated in the Anzio beach drive and the fight toward Rome, and had been wounded three times. Anthony attended St. Joseph’s Parochial School and Hatch Junior High, and before entering the service was employed at the John R. Evans Co. A Solemn Mass of Requiem was celebrated on December 23 in St. Joseph’s Church.
Sergeant JOHN MLYNARCZYK, 25, of 1333 Princess Avenue, was reported killed in action on October 28th, 1944, on Leyte Island, according to a telegram received by his wife in the first week of December. He received his elementary education in St. Hedwig’s Parochial School in Wilmington, Del., and later the family moved to Camden. Besides his wife, he is survived by his father, John, and a two-year-old son.
Sergeant STANLEY F. PRZYTULA, 20, son of Mrs. Michalina Przytula, of 1521 Newport Street, was reported killed in action on January 20th, 1945, in Luxembourg. He had been wounded previously and spent three months in a hospital in England before returning to action on September 7th. He attended St. Joseph’s Parochial School and Camden High School. Besides his mother, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. Joan Kozlowski.
Reported missing in action: Private JOSEPH F. MURAWSKI, 30, of 1212 Louis Street, since December 19th in Luxembourg; and Lieutenant JOHN MOSES, 26, of a bombing squadron, since September 18th, 1944 over Rimini, Italy — both were later confirmed to have been killed. Also reported missing were Sergeant Edward L. Ramowski, of 1404 Rose Street, in France since December 23, 1944, and Joseph Matyjasik, 20, of 1407 South 10th Street, in Luxembourg since December 17th.
Among those reported wounded are: Lt. Leon Deets, Pfc. Edwin Poplawski, Pfc. Stanley Wojciechowski, Henry Grzeszkowski, Sgt. Theodore Bogacki, Stanley Jaroszewski, Frank Chrzanowski, Joseph Kwiatkewski, Matthew Pawlowski, Edward Szmele, Theron Wm. Bull, Joseph Duochowski, Edward Dobrucki, Theodore Gawel, Henry Zbieratzki, Myron Nicgorski, Anthony Wysocki and Walter Oskiera. (This surname-only roster was transcribed from a low-resolution scan; some spellings are approximate.)
St. Joseph's Parish Bulletin — VE Edition, May 1945
Dear Members: When this bulletin reaches you we hope and pray that the dawn of a lasting peace will have already been discernible on the horizon. We, the Priests, Nuns and parishioners on the home front, have you in mind and heart always. That long-awaited and joyous V-E Day inspired all to express heartfelt thanks to God, and now we fervently pray for that complete Victory in the Pacific. The St. Vincent de Paul Society has organized a Consulting Board to assist the service men upon their return home relative to the G-I Bill of Rights.
In Memoriam
Private First Class ADAM E. PIEKARSKI, 30 (the bulletin’s printed surname is illegible; identified from the Camden County WWII Dead index), son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Piekarski of Thurman Street, was reported killed in Luxembourg. Born in Camden, November 22, 1914, he attended Bonsall School and was later employed by Campbell’s Soup and the New York Shipyard. He was inducted together with his brother Joseph and both trained at Camp Maxey and Camp Swift, Texas. He was killed in action November 26, 1944, a few days after his 30th birthday, and buried in Belgium. Besides his parents he is survived by another brother, Stanley, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Fischbach.
JOSEPH ROMANOWICZ, Cook 3/c, 21, was killed January 9, 1945 on Luzon, according to word received by his mother, Mrs. Tillie Romanowicz of 1146 Sycamore Street. His brothers Pfc. Henry (New Guinea) and Sgt. Matthew (Admiralty Islands) were also in the armed forces. Joseph was an employee of the Philadelphia Navy Yard before entering service in December 1943.
1st Lieutenant BRUNO S. ULAK, 30, son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Ulak of 914 Atlantic Avenue, had been reported missing, then a prisoner of war, and now killed in action. Lt. Ulak was taken prisoner by the Japanese when Corregidor fell in 1942, and was being transferred from a Philippine Island prison camp when the ship was sunk in the Pacific last August. A graduate of Camden High and Lehigh University, he was an engineer when he entered the Army prior to Pearl Harbor. He is survived by a sister and a brother, S/Sgt. Alphonse Ulak.
Staff Sergeant THEODORE YURKIEWICZ, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Aloysius Yurkiewicz of 1557 Mt. Ephraim Avenue, has been reported killed in action, after previously being reported missing October 9, 1943 during a raid on war centers in Northeast Germany.
Private First Class RAYMOND A. SZWAK, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Szwak of 1234 Dayton Street, was reported killed in Germany on March 24. Raymond, a paratrooper, entered the Army in October 1943 and was employed at the Camden Pottery Co. before joining the service.
Private EDWARD WIERCISZEWSKI, 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. Casimir Wierciszewski of 1111 Lowell Street, has been reported killed in action in Germany on April 13. Born in Camden, he attended Bonsall School, Hatch Junior High and Camden Vocational School, and before induction was employed by the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore. Besides his parents he is survived by two brothers in service, Stanley and Henry, and a sister, Florence.
Reported missing in action: Lieutenant Stanley Mroz, 23, of 1241 Chase Street, pilot of a B-17 lost over Germany on a mission to Berlin since March 15, 1945; and Lieutenant Richard F. Urban, husband of Mrs. Clara Urban, a former Camden High football star whose B-17 was hit over Yugoslavia March 20, 1945, with eight men seen to parachute from the stricken bomber.
Among those reported wounded are: Pvt. Paul Kobylinski, Pfc. Vincent A. Rzeczkowski, Pvt. Zelon Lewandowski, Pfc. Walter E. Grochowski, Pfc. Henry B. Jablonski, Pfc. Zigmund J. Grygo, Sgt. Theodore E. Swack, Pfc. Richard P. Jablonski and Edward Walat. We are happy to report that S/Sgt. Matthew Wnorowski, a paratrooper once reported missing and then a prisoner of war, arrived home the week of May 7, 1945. (The surname-only wounded roster was transcribed from a low-resolution scan; some spellings are approximate.)
On Monday, May 7, 1945, Rev. Leon S. Winowicz — who formed and worked in the Service Bureau — was appointed pastor of St. Michael’s Church, Gibbstown, N.J. — Service Bureau of St. Joseph’s Church, Monsignor Arthur B. Strenski, Chairman.
St. Joseph Church — Honoring Those Who Serve America
St. Joseph’s Parish in World War II — Photos: A slide presentation of photos of men and women who were serving with the United States armed forces during World War II. This presentation was compiled and first shown at St. Joseph’s Church in June of 2009 in commemoration of Armed Forces Day.
1943 Service Flag of St. Joseph Church
Memorial Plaque Inside of St. Joseph Church
Polish Heroes War Memorial at Cooper River Park
See also: A Self-Guided Tour of Saint Joseph’s Polish Church