Fr. Joseph Weber

Fr. Joseph, or Józef in Polish, Weber (pronounced Veber) was born June 12, 1846, the son of Polonized German settlers. He firmly considered himself Polish. Upon completion of his gymnasium education, roughly the equivalent of a high school degree, he entered the Catholic seminary of Lviv, formerly in Poland, where his superiors found him to be of outstanding character and integrity. He continued his theological education in Rome at the newly founded Polish College, administered by Fr. Semeneńko, a co-founder of the Resurrectionists. While in Rome, Weber became seriously ill. During his illness, he solemnly vowed that, if he recovered, he would enter the Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. God heard his prayer, and Weber recovered. When he requested release from the diocese, the Bishop agreed that he could fulfill his vow, but at a later time. He was needed in the diocese. The young seminarian was obedient to the Bishop, and remained at his service.

After his ordination to the priesthood at the Lateran Basilica of Rome, Weber returned to Lviv. Bishop Morawski needed a young talented priest to serve as Chancellor, and Weber was his top choice. The bishop wanted to renew and revitalize the spiritual life of his diocese, which was being consumed by Josephinism, the 18th century Habsburgian politician who created the State run Church. Josephinism sought to intervene in Church’s affairs, such as ministries, spiritual formation of the clergy and laity, liturgical regulations, and even the consciousness of believers. It went so far as to confiscate Church property, shut down seminaries, and dissolve of religious orders. Confident in Weber’s abilities, Bishop Morawski believed he was the man to implement these necessary reforms. The bishop appointed him the rector of the Lviv seminary to start the revitalization with priestly training. Filled with the spirit of Christ and apostolic zeal, Weber showed an outstanding ability to relate to others. Weber inspired this same love for Christ and His Church in his students. His seminarians recognized him as an ascetic; demanding of himself yet understanding of others. Everyone whom he met was impressed by his extraordinary peace, bright intellect, and living faith; all based on union with God.

Providentially, Weber became the priest to whom God directed Mother Columba. In the midst of her conflict with Fr. Leszczyński and in need of spiritual direction, she found Weber to be a faithful friend and life-long supporter. When, in 1880, Leszczyńskileft Wielowieś due to health conditions, Mother Columba promptly turned to the local ordinary to request Weber be nominated the new episcopal assistant to the Congregation. Without hesitation, he was assigned on September 7, 1881. For the next 25 years, Weber kept the Congregation in his care.

In 1895, seven years after Mother Columba’s death, Weber was nominated the auxiliary Bishop of Lviv. A few years later, Pope Leo XIII raised him to the dignity of the archbishop of Darnis. In 1904, he received permission from Pope Pius X to resign from office. At last the time had come for Weber to fulfill the vow he made as a seminarian. He joined the Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

He died on March 24, 1918 and was buried in Chicago, IL, USA.