• Born: April 1, 1866, in the village of Żarki, six miles from Kraków, Poland. Studies at St. Anne’s Gimnazjum (Kraków, Poland), the Jagełłionian University (Kraków, Poland), and St. Vincent’s Archabbey (Latrobe, Pennsylvania)
• Ordained to the Holy Priesthood: August 19, 1893, in St. Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton, Pennsylvania by Bishop William O’Hara.
• Called by the People: To take charge of Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish, March 14, 1897.
• Blessed and Dedicated the first Polish National Catholic Parish: July 4, 1897.
• Elected Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church: September 6, 1904 at the First Holy Synod of the Polish National Catholic Church
• Consecrated to the Episcopacy: September 29, 1907 at Utrecht, Holland by Archbishop Gerard Gull with co-consecrators Bishop John Van Thiel and Bishop Peter Spit of the Old Catholic Church of Holland.
• Organized the Polish National Union: February 24, 1908.
• Established Spójnia Fram and the Home for the Aged: July 4, 1929.
• Called to his Final Reward: February 16, 1953 in the rectory of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Cathedral. Scranton, Pennsylvania.
• Funeral and Burial: Saturday, February 21, 1953 from St. Stanislaus Cathedral. He was laid to rest in the Grotto of Christ the Benign. His remains were later exhumed and re-interred in the Monument of Gratitude in St. Stanislaus Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton, Pennsylvania.

In prayerful remembrance on the 56th Anniversary of the death of our organizor and first bishop, Franciszek Hodur.

[audio:https://www.konicki.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/07-tyle-lat.mp3]

Through the years unto Thee, O Lord,
Faithful service we have rendered,
At the break of dawn marched sunward,
At the chains of bondage straining,
At the chains of bondage straining.

Unto Thee we built a temple,
Which for us became a treasure,
Pouring gifts of faith and courage,
In it is our hope forever,
In it is our hope forever.

Christ Himself speaks from its altars,
As He spoke throughout the ages,
To the poor among His people,
When their blinded eyes He opened.
When their blinded eyes He opened.

Now again He comes from heaven,
Midst the lab’ring, toiling people,
In the form of Bread and God’s Word,
To His humble, needful people.
To His humble, needful people.

When in doubt by Him we are strengthened,
From degrading sin He lifts us,
Animates us and enobles,
From a dormant slumber wakes us.
From a dormant slumber wakes us.

He pours new life into our souls,
Fires our hearts with passion sacred,
In contrition He refines us,
As a sword of steel we’re tempered.
As a sword of steel we’re tempered.

Through the storms of life He guides us,
`Midst the thunder and the tempest,
Christ is ever there before us,
But are we, Lord, always faithful?
But are we, Lord, always faithful?

Would to God we be faithful ever,
Would to God this sacred banner
In our souls and hearts be opened,
Until death our life does sever,
Until death our life does sever.

The Hymn of the Polish National Catholic Church as composed by Bishop Hodur.

Tyle lat my, Ci, o Panie,
służbę wiernie wypełniali,
szli ku słońcu w świt zaranie,
łańcuch niewoli targali.

Dla Ciebiem wznieśli świątynię,
co nam skarbnicą się stała,
z niej moc i wiara nam płynie,
w niej nadzieja, przyszłość cała.

Chrystus mówi z jej ołtarzy,
jak ongi mówił przed wieki,
do żydowskich szedł nędzarzy,
otwierać ślepym powieki.

I dziś znowu schodzi z nieba,
między ludzi pracy, trudu;
w Słowie Bożym, w kształcie chleba,
do nas biednych, swego ludu.

W zwątpień chwili nas umacnia,
dźwiga z grzechów poniżenia,
i ożywia i uznacnia,
budzi z martwoty, uśpienia.

Nowe życie wlewa w duszę,
serce ogniem świętym pali,
przetapia w żalu i skrusze,
jak miecz hartowny ze stali.

Pośród burzy życia wiedzie,
wśród piorunów, huraganu,
zawsze Chrystus jest na przedzie,
a my, wierni zawsze Panu!

O bodajem wierni byli,
o bodaj ten sztandar święty,
aż do zgonu naszej chwili,
w duszy, w sercu był rozpięty.