The prosperous parish of St. Mary's, Schenectady, New York, owes much of its present prosperity to the untiring efforts of its organizer and present pastor, Rev. Joseph Dereszewski, who was born in Poland, March 13, 1858, son of Jacob and Catherine Dereszewski. He grew up to manhood in Poland, and in 1885, with his parents and three sisters, embarked for the United States. On the voyage the father, Jacob, died, and was buried at sea. The family located in New York City, where Joseph pursued his theological studies. He prepared at St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy, where he was ordained and consecrated to the service of his fellowmen on December 19, 1891, by Archbishop Corrigan. He celebrated his first mass at the Seminary, December 20, 1891. He was soon afterward assigned to the Polish congregation at Schenectady, then without church or parish organization. The parish was organized in 1892 and in 1893 a church built which in a few years was inadequate to accommodate the large and growing congregation. In 1903 the present edifice was commenced and in 1906 was dedicated. The building was erected at a cost of $125,000 and seats one thousand five hundred people. In addition to this valuable property the parish owns St. Mary's school, a seven-room building, where four hundred and fifty pupils require the services of six sisters and one male teacher. The pastor and his assistant are comfortably provided for in a good rectory owned by the parish and cared for by the aged mother and unmarried sister of the pastor. The parish numbers four hundred and fifty families, whose spiritual welfare is the immediate concern of the pastor, and his associate, Rev. Alexander Kowalski Chmielewski. The entire value of the parish property is about $175,000, all of which has been accumulated during the pastorate of Rev. Father Dereszewski. This shows the executive business ability of the man, while the high spiritual fervor of his congregation speaks volumes for his faithful work. His mother, who survives, is with him, as is his unmarried sister Falixa. Two sisters are married and also live in Schenectady — Mary, wife of Edward Yesiolowski; children: Max, Clement and Philomen; the other sister married Bronislaw Malkiewicz;children: Wladislaw, Leon and Iadwiga.