Ignacy Klejna was born February 1, 1865 in the village of Dabrowka (part of the Prussian-held territories). When he was just a child, his parents immigrated to the United States and made their home in Chicago, IL. His pastor saw great promise in the lad and arranged for him to attend St. Mary Preparatory School in New Lebanon, KY (run by a Polish order). He excelled in his classes and continued on to Notre Dame University to study the classics. After his realization that he had a vocation to the priesthood, Klejna studied philosophy at the Polish seminary in Detroit, MI and theology at Our Lady of Holy Angels Seminary in Niagara Falls, NY.

On December 23, 1894, Klejna was ordained a priest in Buffalo, NY by Biship Ryan and was subsequently assigned as vicar to St. Adalbert Parish in that city. In March 1896, he received his first pastorate, St. Casimir Parish in Elmira, NY; while there, he remodeled the church, built a new rectory, purchased land for a new church building, and acquired a convent for the nuns.

Four years later, Klejna was appointed pastor of the large Polish parish of St. Stanislaus in Rochester, NY. Erection of a new rectory and convent, installation of three bells and stained glass windows, and painting of the church's interior by Buffalo mural artist, Jozef Mazur, were among the many improvements that marked his fifteen-year stay there. Klejna, a loyal patriot and supporter of Polish causes, was pastor of St. Stanislaus during the relief efforts for the newly independent Poland. He worked tirelessly to help the cause.

Although poor health caused him to resign the pastorate of St. Stanislaus, he remained active in the diocese, serving at St. Joseph Parish in Campbell, the Polish chapel of St. Stanislaus in Bradford, NY and at St. Joseph Parish in Wayland.

Ks. Klejna's last assignment was at St. John Parish in Newark Valley, NY. He remained here until his death on September 23, 1934; his remains were buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rochester, NY.