Fr. Benign Ziemski, OFM Conv., son of Stanislaus and Maria (Kordonska) Ziemski, and brother of Fr. Rayner (+June 21, 1981), was born on July 8, 1905 in Baltimore, MD. His elementary education was at the Parish School of St. Casimir, Baltimore. After deep study and consideration, he expressed his wishes of entering the community of the Conventual Franciscans and was sent to Corpus Christi Parish, Buffalo, NY. There he began his preliminary indoctrination in the life and ways of Franciscanism and professed his simple vows on September 8, 1923. He then attended St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA, for his philosophical and theological training. On December 8, 1928, in the Seminary Chapel, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Reverend Thomas M. O'Leary, Bishop of Springfield. For four years Fr. Benign was assigned to St. Francis High School, teaching English and French. He was later sent to Catholic University in Washington, D.C., in preparation for a Master's degree. After his Catholic University training, Fr. Benign returned to St. Francis to resume his teaching and coaching basketball. Then, Fr. Benign assumed the responsibilities of the parochial apostolate. From 1940 to 1948 he was assigned as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Chicopee Willimansett), MA. In 1942 Fr. Benign undertook the complete transformation of the interior of the edifice to give it a greater semblance of a church and not a hall. In 1948 he became pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Sharon, PA. He remained there until 1952, making various improvements in the church and parish friary. Towards the end of his priestly ministry, Fr. Benign was assigned as a preacher at the Mission house of St. Anthony of Padua, Ellicott City, MD. Returning from an assignment, he traveled to Baltimore to visit his family and leaving his car, collapsed and died suddenly on November 30, 1959, in the 55th year of his age, 37th of his religious profession and 31st of his priesthood. The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Casimir Church, Baltimore, MD on December 4, 1959, and the mortal remains of Fr. Benign were laid to rest in St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery, Baltimore (Friars' Mausoleum, Row #1, 5R)