Early life Dabrowski was born in
Wysoka Strzyżowska,
Poland, and completed secondary school at the
minor seminary of the
Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel. Inspired by his uncle, a Catholic priest, Dabrowski began seminary studies at the San Pietro Theological Institute in
Viterbo, and was awarded a
masters degree in philosophy and theology by the
Pontificial Athenaeum of St. Anselm, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 4, 1991 by
Divo Zadi, bishop of
Civita Castellana.
Priesthood Joseph Dabrowski served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Częstochowa church until 1993, when he became chaplain of Cardinal Carter High School. He was made Pastor of St. Mary's Church, London, in 1991, a role he retained for eighteen years. He served as adjunct
spiritual director to
St. Peter's Seminary from 2002 to 2003, and became North American
superior of the Warsaw-based Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel on June 19, 2013. Dabrowski is fluent in Polish, English, and Italian, and has studied Russian,
Latin, and Spanish. He was consecrated a bishop on April 14, 2015, by
Bishop Ronald Fabbro. On 1 November 2025,
Pope Leo appointed Bishop Dąbrowski as the new
Bishop of Hamilton He chose "
Jesu in Te Confido" — meaning "
Jesus, I Trust in You" — as his episcopal motto, in reference to
Divine Mercy and the
visions of Jesus Christ reported by
Faustina Kowalska. Bishop Dabrowski's Coat of Arms has three main sections. The letter M with the crown represents the
Blessed Virgin Mary as Mother of God and Mother of the Church. He included this in the Coat of Arms due to his strong Marian devotion. To the right of that is a letter J with the carpenter's square represents
Saint Joseph the Patron Saint of the Universal Church and Canada. It also connects the bishop to his home parish of St. Joseph in
Wysoka Strzyżowska, Poland. It also reflects Bishop Dabrowski's baptismal name. The symbol in the green section with the flaming sword with wings represents
Saint Michael the Archangel, the defender of the Church. He included this because of his spiritual roots in the Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel (the Michaelite Fathers). The colours also connect to important places for him. Poland and Canada have white and red on their flags, and Italy has white, red and green. The reason for these countries' representation is: Poland - his homeland, Canada - his present home, and Italy - where he received his priestly formation and ordination. == References ==