Teofil Semelko was born May 29, 1869 in the rural village of Borowa (Pilzno County in Galicja). He was educated at St. Hyacinth School in Krakow before continuing his studies for the priesthood in Rome, Italy. Semelko was then ordained for the mission church in Mexico where he was to serve as an instructor at a seminary. In 1896, he arrived in the United States and began his labors for the Diocese of Buffalo at St. Stanislaus Parish. This was followed by assignments to St. Adalbert, Transfiguration and St. John Kanty Parishes, all in Buffalo, NY. His tenure as pastor of St. John Kanty Parish began in 1903 and lasted until 1910.