Fr. Daniel (Emil) Balcerak, OFM Conv., son of John and Maria (Dondakewska) Balcerak, was born on January 28, 1911, in Buffalo, NY. He had two brothers who belonged to the Franciscans, namely Fr. Victor (+October 5, 1960) and Fr. Aloysius. Fr. Daniel received his elementary education at the Parish School of Corpus Christi and his secondary training at Canisius High School in Buffalo. Prompted by the grace of a religious vocation, he entered the Conventual Franciscans and received his initial training in the Novitiate of St. Anthony of Padua, Friary, Buffalo, NY, professing his first vows on September 15, 1927. His philosophical and theological studies were in Cracow, Poland and he was ordained on May 6, 1934, in Cracow.
His first assignment was at St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA, where he taught for 11 years. He was recognized by the students in Granby as an excellent professor in Polish, Ethics, Homiletics, Patristics and Moral Theology, as well as a capable model and director for three years in the formation program. When the Literary Circle of St. Bonaventure was founded in 1935 at St. Hyacinth's, Fr. Daniel, who was President of the Circle's monthly periodical, The Aurora Seraficka – Seraphic Aurora, which contained many historical, moral and literary articles. He was the initiator of the annual Academies in honor of the Blessed Virgin which were presented on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8. The Academic Program consisted of a literary essay on the Blessed Mother, a patriotic-historical event, recitation of poetry, and music rendered by the Seminary Choir. The events were long-remembered by the audience. In 1945 Fr. Daniel was assigned to the Philosophical Seminary of St. Joseph Cupertino, Ellicott City, MD, where he served as the Master of Clerics. He was a zealous and conscientious educator in the philosophical and religious training of the seminarians entrusted to his care. In 1948 Fr. Daniel entered the parochial apostolate by serving as an assistant pastor at Corpus Christi Parish, Buffalo, NY, serving there until 1954. In 1954 the Provincial Chapter appointed him as Guardian of St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA. The tenure of his Guardianship was of a short duration, for on July 24, 1955 he suffered a heart attack in the 45th year of his age, 28th of his profession and 22nd of his priesthood. The circumstances of his death was narrated in the following fashion: "After the regular Sunday dinner, it was customary for Fr. Daniel and the priests of the Seminary to sit in conversation on the back porch of the second floor, discussing current events of the world and the future plans for the daily Horarium. Shortly after this, Fr. Daniel announced that we will go in for a siesta. He entered his room for the last time and was found by Fr. Stephen Majewski on the floor of his bedroom - motionless and short of breath. This is the way he met Sister Death." The first ceremony of Christian Burial was celebrated in the Seminary Chapel of St. Hyacinth, Granby, MA, in the presence of confreres, the seminarians, family members and friends of the Seminary. The second ceremony was held on July 28, 1955 in Corpus Christi Church, Buffalo, NY. After the service, the mortal remains of Fr. Daniel were laid to rest in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Buffalo, NY (Cemetery #2, "New Cemetery," Circle 3, Line 1, Grave 12).
His first assignment was at St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA, where he taught for 11 years. He was recognized by the students in Granby as an excellent professor in Polish, Ethics, Homiletics, Patristics and Moral Theology, as well as a capable model and director for three years in the formation program. When the Literary Circle of St. Bonaventure was founded in 1935 at St. Hyacinth's, Fr. Daniel, who was President of the Circle's monthly periodical, The Aurora Seraficka – Seraphic Aurora, which contained many historical, moral and literary articles. He was the initiator of the annual Academies in honor of the Blessed Virgin which were presented on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8. The Academic Program consisted of a literary essay on the Blessed Mother, a patriotic-historical event, recitation of poetry, and music rendered by the Seminary Choir. The events were long-remembered by the audience. In 1945 Fr. Daniel was assigned to the Philosophical Seminary of St. Joseph Cupertino, Ellicott City, MD, where he served as the Master of Clerics. He was a zealous and conscientious educator in the philosophical and religious training of the seminarians entrusted to his care. In 1948 Fr. Daniel entered the parochial apostolate by serving as an assistant pastor at Corpus Christi Parish, Buffalo, NY, serving there until 1954. In 1954 the Provincial Chapter appointed him as Guardian of St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA. The tenure of his Guardianship was of a short duration, for on July 24, 1955 he suffered a heart attack in the 45th year of his age, 28th of his profession and 22nd of his priesthood. The circumstances of his death was narrated in the following fashion: "After the regular Sunday dinner, it was customary for Fr. Daniel and the priests of the Seminary to sit in conversation on the back porch of the second floor, discussing current events of the world and the future plans for the daily Horarium. Shortly after this, Fr. Daniel announced that we will go in for a siesta. He entered his room for the last time and was found by Fr. Stephen Majewski on the floor of his bedroom - motionless and short of breath. This is the way he met Sister Death." The first ceremony of Christian Burial was celebrated in the Seminary Chapel of St. Hyacinth, Granby, MA, in the presence of confreres, the seminarians, family members and friends of the Seminary. The second ceremony was held on July 28, 1955 in Corpus Christi Church, Buffalo, NY. After the service, the mortal remains of Fr. Daniel were laid to rest in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Buffalo, NY (Cemetery #2, "New Cemetery," Circle 3, Line 1, Grave 12).
Fr. Daniel (Emil) Balcerak, OFM Conv., son of John and Maria (Dondakewska) Balcerak, was born on January 28, 1911, in Buffalo, NY. He had two brothers who belonged to the Franciscans, namely Fr. Victor (+October 5, 1960) and Fr. Aloysius. Fr. Daniel received his elementary education at the Parish School of Corpus Christi and his secondary training at Canisius High School in Buffalo. Prompted by the grace of a religious vocation, he entered the Conventual Franciscans and received his initial training in the Novitiate of St. Anthony of Padua, Friary, Buffalo, NY, professing his first vows on September 15, 1927. His philosophical and theological studies were in Cracow, Poland and he was ordained on May 6, 1934, in Cracow.
His first assignment was at St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA, where he taught for 11 years. He was recognized by the students in Granby as an excellent professor in Polish, Ethics, Homiletics, Patristics and Moral Theology, as well as a capable model and director for three years in the formation program. When the Literary Circle of St. Bonaventure was founded in 1935 at St. Hyacinth's, Fr. Daniel, who was President of the Circle's monthly periodical, The Aurora Seraficka – Seraphic Aurora, which contained many historical, moral and literary articles. He was the initiator of the annual Academies in honor of the Blessed Virgin which were presented on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8. The Academic Program consisted of a literary essay on the Blessed Mother, a patriotic-historical event, recitation of poetry, and music rendered by the Seminary Choir. The events were long-remembered by the audience. In 1945 Fr. Daniel was assigned to the Philosophical Seminary of St. Joseph Cupertino, Ellicott City, MD, where he served as the Master of Clerics. He was a zealous and conscientious educator in the philosophical and religious training of the seminarians entrusted to his care. In 1948 Fr. Daniel entered the parochial apostolate by serving as an assistant pastor at Corpus Christi Parish, Buffalo, NY, serving there until 1954. In 1954 the Provincial Chapter appointed him as Guardian of St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA. The tenure of his Guardianship was of a short duration, for on July 24, 1955 he suffered a heart attack in the 45th year of his age, 28th of his profession and 22nd of his priesthood. The circumstances of his death was narrated in the following fashion: "After the regular Sunday dinner, it was customary for Fr. Daniel and the priests of the Seminary to sit in conversation on the back porch of the second floor, discussing current events of the world and the future plans for the daily Horarium. Shortly after this, Fr. Daniel announced that we will go in for a siesta. He entered his room for the last time and was found by Fr. Stephen Majewski on the floor of his bedroom - motionless and short of breath. This is the way he met Sister Death." The first ceremony of Christian Burial was celebrated in the Seminary Chapel of St. Hyacinth, Granby, MA, in the presence of confreres, the seminarians, family members and friends of the Seminary. The second ceremony was held on July 28, 1955 in Corpus Christi Church, Buffalo, NY. After the service, the mortal remains of Fr. Daniel were laid to rest in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Buffalo, NY (Cemetery #2, "New Cemetery," Circle 3, Line 1, Grave 12).
His first assignment was at St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA, where he taught for 11 years. He was recognized by the students in Granby as an excellent professor in Polish, Ethics, Homiletics, Patristics and Moral Theology, as well as a capable model and director for three years in the formation program. When the Literary Circle of St. Bonaventure was founded in 1935 at St. Hyacinth's, Fr. Daniel, who was President of the Circle's monthly periodical, The Aurora Seraficka – Seraphic Aurora, which contained many historical, moral and literary articles. He was the initiator of the annual Academies in honor of the Blessed Virgin which were presented on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8. The Academic Program consisted of a literary essay on the Blessed Mother, a patriotic-historical event, recitation of poetry, and music rendered by the Seminary Choir. The events were long-remembered by the audience. In 1945 Fr. Daniel was assigned to the Philosophical Seminary of St. Joseph Cupertino, Ellicott City, MD, where he served as the Master of Clerics. He was a zealous and conscientious educator in the philosophical and religious training of the seminarians entrusted to his care. In 1948 Fr. Daniel entered the parochial apostolate by serving as an assistant pastor at Corpus Christi Parish, Buffalo, NY, serving there until 1954. In 1954 the Provincial Chapter appointed him as Guardian of St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA. The tenure of his Guardianship was of a short duration, for on July 24, 1955 he suffered a heart attack in the 45th year of his age, 28th of his profession and 22nd of his priesthood. The circumstances of his death was narrated in the following fashion: "After the regular Sunday dinner, it was customary for Fr. Daniel and the priests of the Seminary to sit in conversation on the back porch of the second floor, discussing current events of the world and the future plans for the daily Horarium. Shortly after this, Fr. Daniel announced that we will go in for a siesta. He entered his room for the last time and was found by Fr. Stephen Majewski on the floor of his bedroom - motionless and short of breath. This is the way he met Sister Death." The first ceremony of Christian Burial was celebrated in the Seminary Chapel of St. Hyacinth, Granby, MA, in the presence of confreres, the seminarians, family members and friends of the Seminary. The second ceremony was held on July 28, 1955 in Corpus Christi Church, Buffalo, NY. After the service, the mortal remains of Fr. Daniel were laid to rest in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Buffalo, NY (Cemetery #2, "New Cemetery," Circle 3, Line 1, Grave 12).
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