Regretfully we inform you that Rev. Edmund Gutowski, CM passed away on October 8, 2021. He was 88 years old, 69 years of vocation and 61 years in priesthood.
Father EDMUND RICHARD GUTOWSKI CMwas born November 16, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY, asthe son of the late Anthony Gutowski and Stella Jablonski Gutowski, in St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. Here he attended St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish School. In 1946 he turned his steps to St. John Kanty Prep (College in those days), Erie, Penn, another Polish Vincentians staffed education institution very estimated among Polish-Americans. After graduation in 1950 he went to Niagara University, another place where he was under Vincentian tutelage. Here he recognized his vocation. In 1951 moved to St. Joseph Preparatoty Seminary, Princeton, NJ. Here he was received to the Congregation of the Mission (then Vice-Province of Poland in the USA) on June 10, 1952 and then spent another two years in Internal Seminary (Novitiate) in St. Vincent’s Seminary, Germantown, Penn. After professing temporary vows (Good Proposal) on June 11, 1954 he was transferred for rest of seminary formation to Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, Penn. Here he took perpetual vows on June 11, 1957 and earned his B.A. in philosophy. On October 4, 1959 received into the Order of Deacons. Ordained priest at Mary Queen of All Saints Chapel (Mary Immaculate Seminary), Northampton, May 26, 1960 by Msgr John A. O’Shea CM, bishop of Kanchow, China. His First Solemn Mass Fr. Gutowski sung in his home parish – St.Stanislaus Kostka, on May 29, 1960.
His first assignment, right after ordination, was in home parish – St. Stanislaus Kostka. There, he was vicar and continued his studies at College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, St.John’s University, New York. He graduated with Master’s degree in Library Sciences (MLS).
In 1961 Fr. “Ed” was sent to St. John Kanty Prep (St. John Kanty College) in Erie, Penn as a part of the preachers (popular missions) team which was stationed there. Soon he started his career as teacher and educatorteaching Civics and Christian Doctrine IV. He was assigned as the Assistant Director of Students. In the fall of 1962, he began teaching English I and English III.In 1966, he became head of the Mass Department in Erie, PA., a post he held for 14 years. He was Director of Admissions of St. John Kanty Prep in Erie, PA. for 6 years. He stays in Erie until it’s closing on June 8, 1980. Meanwhile since 1975 to 1978 he was Provincial Assistant and Councilor.
Later, in the same year Fr. Gutowski was sent to missionary work abroad. He spent some months of 1980 in Algeria involved in the missions. And in 1981 started his work in Istanbul, Turkey. Vincentians from Province of Austria run prestigious St. Georgs-Kolleg (St. George’s Austrian High School). It was founded in 1880 and since the beginning Austrian Vincentians keep governance of the High School according to Austrian education system (Austrian education authority supervises the school).
In 1988 Fr. Edmund returned to United States being assigned as archivist in the Provincial Residence in West West Hartford, Conn. He held this position until 1991 when he returned to Istanbul again. In 1994 back in New England and sent as vicar to St. Stanislaus Parish in New Haven, Conn. In 1995 moved to his home parish (St. Stanislaus Kostka) as parochial vicar. Additionally, in 2000 – 2003 was Superior there. Since 2004 Fr. Ed stayed in DePaul Provincial Residence, Manchester, Conn. again as Provincial Archivist. Organization of the Provincial Archives was his main responsibility.
When his health deteriorated he moved to stay with his family in Brooklyn. And later he became resident in St. Mary’s Home, the nursing facility in West New Haven, CT. At the time of his death he was at DePaul Provincial Residence in Manchester, CT.
Burial will take place on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 in Brooklyn, NYAt 11:00AM his body will lie in state in St. Stanislaus Kostka ChurchThe Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:00 PM there.According to Fr. Ed’s will his body will be cremated.Internment will take place in St. John’s Cemetery, Queens, NY.He will be laid down in the family tomb
Good Father Ed… he was the first Vincentian to greet us at Kanty Prep… a fine man… I have many fond memories of Fr Ed. Your legacy lives on in the men who were fortunate enough to have you in their lives. Not only that immediate generation, but the same values you instilled in us are passed down to our children as well… Rest In Peace sir…. Mike Trott Kanty Prep class of 1977
We heard the news of Father Edmund Gutowski’s death from a friend in Austria on Saturday, October 30, 2021. Please accept our condolences for your loss and may he rest in peace.
We got to know him at Sankt Georg Austrian College in Istanbul, Turkey, and he soon became like one of our family, we became close friends and loved him very much.
He was a very loved, much-respected, highly valued person who could speak sincerely to all ages as well as all kinds of people and get along with them very quickly.
He was an exemplary clergyman who we will never forget, who we will always remember with mercy, an example of humanity and an irreplaceable person.
Rest in peace…
Birgül, Besim, Burak Şahinler