Bartlomiej Swinko was born in 1863 in the village of Laczko (Galicja). After his early education in Nowy Sacz, he studied theology in Krakow and was ordained there in 1886. He served several parishes in the city for 18 months before immigrating to the United States.

Swinko’s priestly career in the United States began at St. Stanislaus Parish in Buffalo, NY. Bishop Quigley then appointed him pastor of the Polish St. Casimir Parish in Elmira, NY. In 1891, Swinko was transferred and given the responsibility of organizing a Polish parish in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption in Albion, NY. Here he built the first church and rectory and, eventually, the impressive red brick church (with a seating capacity of 500) which still stands today.

In 1896, Ks. Swinko was sent to the parish of St. Hyacinth in Dunkirk, NY. Improvements he make during his stay there included painting of the church’s interior, purchasing a pipe organ for the choir loft, and addition of plumbing and electricity to the church buildings. In 1899, Swinko purchased 15 acres of land for use as the parish cemetery, himself donating the large name header gracing the entrance gate. In 1912, he built a new brick convent for the Felician nuns staffing the parish school. During his last years at St. Hyacinth, the Independent movement was reaching Dunkirk and a dissatisfied faction was growing in the parish. This caused him much heartache and trouble. He resigned his position as pastor of the parish in 1914, the stress from the painful experience having caused him serious health problems.

That same year, he was reassigned to St. Casimir Parish in Buffalo, NY, but poor health made his stay there a short one. He then left for Colorado, dying in Denver on May 24, 1915. His remains were returned to Buffalo for a funeral from St. Casimir Church and interment at St. Stanislaus Cemetery.