Confirmed on 7 November 1889, he was educated at the Men's Grammar School in Ostrow, the University of Münster, and the seminary of Gniezno and Poznań before traveling to Rome in 1892 to further his studies.

[2] He obtained his doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University on 6 July 1894, and became a parochial vicar in Poznań upon returning to Poland.

After serving as vicar of the archcathedral and director of the chancery, Dalbor went to Gniezno, where he was a professor at its seminary and penitentiary of its cathedral.

He became a canon theologian of the cathedral chapter of Poznań in 1901, also serving as confessor and chaplain of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth.

[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following 21 September from Felix Cardinal von Hartmann, with Bishops Adolf Bertram and Wilhelm Kloske serving as co-consecrators.