New England Province » Manchester

Fr. Chester Mrowka, C.M., dies two weeks after his 97th birthday

Toma — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 22:25:12 +0000

The sad news came to us from St. Joseph’s Home (nursing health center) in Enfield, CT. Today, Friday, July 5 Father CHESTER MROWKA, C.M., 97, died after 7:00 AM. He moved to that place few weeks ago, after he collapsed and his health deteriorated.
He passed away two weeks after his 97th birthday, 74th year of vocation and 66th year of priesthood. He observed 65th anniversary in late June. At the time of his death he was the oldest member of New England Province.

Fr. Chester was born on June 22, 1927 in New Haven, CT. After serving his time in the US Navy he entered the Congregation of the Mision, then in the Vice-Province of Poland in the USA on June 12, 1951. After completing his studies and formation he was ordained priest on may 23, 1959 in the Vincentian Seminary in Northampton, PA.
During the years of priestly ministry he has been very well known as teacher, educator and rector of St. John Kanty College in Erie, Pa, founded, administerd and staffed by Vincentians. He stayed there from 1960 to 1966 and again from 1967 until 1976 as its Rector and Superior.
In 1987 he was elected the fourth Provincial Superior (Visitor) of New England Province and held this position until 1996. During his term the Provincial headquarters moved from its second location (1109 Prospect Avenue, West Hartford) and another temporary one at 1155 Prospect Ave and finally he managed building and opening of the current Provincial Residence in Manchester, CT. There he has spent most of his life after his term of office as Provincial ended.

The Funeral Arrangements:
The funeral mass will take place at St. Joseph Home, 1365 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT, on Tuesday, July 9, 11:00 AM. Little Sisters of the Poor who run that home will provide a repass after the Mass.
The burial will take place around 3:00 PM at All Saints Cemetary in North Haven, CT.

Rev. Roman Kmieć, C.M., passed away

Toma — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 19:39:08 +0000

After long suffering and painful illness Fr. ROMAN KMIEĆ, C.M. passed away at night, December 21, 2022 at Regional Hospice, 30 Milestone Road,Danbury, CT, where he was staying for several weeks. His brother Jan was in his presence. He was 61 years old, 42 years of vocation and 36 years of priesthood.

Father Roman Kmieć, was born on October 10, 1961 in Szarwark, a village near Dabrowa Tarnowska and Tarnow, South Eastern Poland as one of the ten children of the local organist. As a child he inherited a lot of his father’s music skill who taught him to play piano, saxophone and accordion. As long as he was able to do it, on various occasions, Father was seen and heard playing accordion.

After completing secondary education he was admitted to the Congregation of the MIssion in the Province of Poland in Krakow on December 8, 1980. Vincentians are very much recognized in his native area. Besides the Holy Family in parish in Tarnow where they are present as long as they were in New Haven, they also take care of the local Marian Shrine in Odporyszow. He studied philosophy and theology at the Vincentian Fathers Institute of Theology (ITKM), which he graduated with Master of Theology diploma. On December 8, 1984 he took his vows and finally on may 24, 1986 he was ordained priest.

His first and the only assignment in Poland was the ministry of parochial vicar at the Our Lady of Rosary Parish in Pabianice in central Poland. A year later, in September 1987, he moved to the New England Province in the United States.

His first steps on American soil lead him to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Brooklyn, NY. This location was chosen to let him improve his English and become engrossed in the large concentration of Polish immigrants. After spending one year at Greenpoint in 1988 he was assigned to St. Michael’s Parish in Derby, CT as vicar. His administrative and leadership talents were quickly recognized by superiors and in 1991, being only five years as a priest, he became Superior of the Community House there (replacing Fr. Ronald Wiktor CM) and held this responsibility until 1993.

Then he moved again to St. Stanislaus Kostka in Brooklynwhere he stayed as vicar until 1995. Next Father was assignment to St. Peter’s Parish, Concord, NH where he was vicar until 1997. On that year he moved to St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish in New Haven, CT as vicar, too. He held this ministry until 2003.

In 1996 Vincentians took over St. Cyril & Methodius Parish in Upper Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY with Fr. Joseph Mietelski CM as the first Vincentian pastor of the church at 150 Dupont Street. After sudden death of Fr. Mietelski, his vicar Fr. Rafal Kopystynski became administrator of the parish. In 2003 Fr. Roman Kmiec was appointed second Vincentian pastor of SS. Cyril & Methodius assisted by Fr. Joseph Wisniewski CM. When Fr. Tadeusz Maciejewski CM replaced him in 2006 Father Roman has returned to New Haven. This time as pastor and superior. And again, Fr. Tadeusz Maciejewski replaced him as superior and pastor of the parish St. Stanislaus in New Haven in 2015. At that time neither of them realized the two of them will be the last two Vincentian pastors in the history of the parish. Vincentians left New Haven at Christmas of 2021. The church was handed over to priests of Archdiocese of Hartford.

For the rest of life Fr. Roman manifested his special sentiments and commitments to the community in New Haven.

Meanwhile, on January 15, 2001 Father was elected Provincial councilor for the first time. And again in 2003 and 2004. Finally, he has been elected councilor on November 25, 2008 once again.

In that time Fr. Roman’s health started to deteriorate and he moved to DePaul Residence in Manchester, CT to get some rest and treatment. He was appointed superior of the Provincial House and local treasurer. Over three years ago bad news came. He was diagnosed with pancreas cancer and more intensive treatment including chemotherapy and couple surgeries. He suffered a lot. Doctors weren’t able to kill the pain he felt. The final surgery took place at Hartford Hospital on November 7, 2022. A few days later, his body was in pain again. He went to the hospital again, but unsuccessfully. His pain came back in a few days. Fr. Roman was transferred to John Paul II Center, 33 Lincoln Ave, Danbury, CT. From there he was moved to Regional Hospice in Danbury where he died at night, December 21, 2022. His brother Jan Kmieć, who lives in Connecticut was at his presence all the time and at his death.

Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace. Amen.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Friday, December 23, 2022

St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr Catholic Church,
784 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511
(crossing with Eld Street)

11:30 AM – viewing at the church

12:00 PM – funeral Mass

Burial – Vincentians’ plot, St. Michaels Cemetery,
28 Silver Hill Road, Ansonia, CT 06401

…

St. Stanislaus RC Church

GET

DIRECTIONS

TO:

St. Michael’s Cemetery

Among his classmates: Fr. Jerzy Berdychowski CM (left) and Fr. Zdislaw Gora (right) during the celebration of a Centenary of the Vincentian Institute of Theology in Krakow, Poland, 2010

Rev. Stanislaw “Stanley” Staniszewski, C.M. – R.I.P

Toma — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 22:20:33 +0000

On the eve of the Palm Sunday, Father Stanisław “Stanley” Staniszewski, C.M. died unexpectedly in Florida at the age of 83, 65 years of vocation and 58 years of priesthood.

Father Stanisław Staniszewski was born on October 26, 1937 in the village of Abramy, in Ostrołęka county in central Poland as son Jan Staniszewski and Helena Łukasiewicz. He entered the Congregation of the Mission (Province of Poland) on October 7, 1956. He took his vows on June 28, 1962. On June 23, 1963 he was ordained priest by Msgr Karol Wojtyła, then Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow.

Following ordination Father had three pastoral assignments in Vincentian parishes in Poland: Odporyszów, near Tarnów (1963-1964), Trzciel, near western border of the country (1964-1965) and finally in Grodków, in Silesia, in southern Poland (1965-1969).

He arrived to the United States on November 24, 1969. First, he studied English (EFL course) at St. Michael’s College, Winooski, VT being based in the mission house in Whitestone, NY. Later, in 1970, he came to St. Michael’s parish in Derby, CT as vicar in the same time he continued his English studies (ESL courses) at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Next (1972-1973) he deepened his experience in popular mission team based in Whitestone, NY and in 1973 he was sent to parish ministry at St. Stanislaus Kostka parish, Brooklyn, NY. Then, in school year 1976-1977 Father Stanley was moved to St. John’s Kanty College in Erie, PA as a teacher.

Until the end of the year he joined mission team in Whitestone, CT, and again he became a vicar in Derby, CT (1978-1981). Next he moved to mission preaching ministry once more. This time he joined the other team based in Utica, NY. In 1982 he became the superior of the community house there and held this post until August 31, 1988 when he was assigned as a pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka, Brooklyn, N.Y.

During his stay in the mission house in Utica, NY he held various week-day or weekend activities in: St. Mary’s church, St. Theresa’s church, SS. Peter and Paul’s in Frankfort, St. Paul’s in Whitesboro, Griffis Air Force Base, Rome; St. Joseph’s, Herkimer, St. Ann’s, Hinckley; St. Mary’s, New York Mills, St. John the Baptist, Newport, Veterans ADMINISTRATION Hospital, Syracuse; Psychiatric Center, Marcy and St. Hyacinth’s, Dunkirk.

In the city of Utica his ministry included: Our lady of Lourdes; St. Mary’s; Blessed Sacrament; St. Anthony’s; St. Louis Gonzaga; Sacred Heart; St. Peter’s, Holy Trinity; St. Stanislaus, and Utica Psychiatric Center.

Missions and retreats were held at: St. Casimir’s , Endicott; St. Louis Gonzaga, Utica; St. Joseph’s, Central Falls, RI; and St. John Kanty, Clifton, NJ.

Forty Hours devotions were conducted at: Holy Trinity, Utica; St. Stanislaus, Utica; Transfiguration, Syracuse; and St. Casimir’s, Albany.

In 1991 when his term of office was finished he was transferred to St. Joseph’s parish, Ansonia, CT as vicar (1992-1994). Later he worked in St. Stanislaus B&M parish, New Haven, CT (1994-1995) and moved to Provincial House in Manchester in 1995.

In 1996 he moved to Holy Name of Jesus parish in Stamford, C.T., which administration was handed to the Vincentians by the bishop of Bridgeport. First, 1996-2002, he was a vicar there, and next in December 2002 he was appointed administrator and later the pastor of that parish. He held this position until 2008 when he was assigned as a Vicar at St. Stanislaus Kostka, Brooklyn, NY again. In 2009 he moved to DePaul Provincial Residence in Manchester, CT. He retired in 2013, the year of his Golden Priesthood Jubilee. He passed away unexpectedly while in the vacation residence in Florida on March 27, 2021.

Father Staniszewski’s body will lie in state on Tuesday, April 6 at St. Michael’s Church, 75 Derby Avenue, Derby, CT form 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

His funeral Mass will follow at 12:00 P.M. The burial will be held at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Derby, CT.

The Edward F. Adzima Funeral Home, 253 Elizabeth St., Derby, CT has be entrusted with the arrangements.

2019 Provincial Assembly and the Foundation Day

Toma — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 18:23:12 +0000

Confreres from all over the New England Province of the Congregation of the Mission gathered at DePaul Residence, Manchester, CT for triennial Provincial Assembly which was held on January 23 and 24, 2019 prior to the Foundation Day which celebration closed the event on January 25.

Delegates to the Provincial Assembly were Fathers: G. Marek Sadowski, C.M. (Provincial), Mitchell Wanat, C.M. (Ansonia), Anthony Kuzia, C.M. (New Haven), Rafal Kopystynski, C.M. (Derby), Tadeusz Maciejewski, C.M. (New Haven), Eugeniusz Kotlinski, C.M. (Brooklyn, St. Cyril & Methodius), Jan Szylar, C.M. (Derby) and Slawomir Szucki, C.M. (Brooklyn, St. Cyril & Methodius). Various topics were discussed during the Assembly regarding current situation of the Province and upcoming future. According to Provincial Norms assemblies are convoked every three years. No longer new administration of the Province is elected during the assembly because there is direct voting for major posts. New Provincial superior will be elected in such procedure later on this year.

On January 25, the Feast of Conversion of St. Paul, the Apostle, the date when Congregation of the Mission celebrates the Foundation Day, when St. Vincent preached his first so called mission sermon in the rural church of Folleville in 1617 and which lead to establish eight years later the community of the priests of the mission known as Vincentian Priests and Brothers nowadays. A solemn Eucharist was celebrated in the chapel o the Provincial Residence on Friday. Fathers Edmund Gutowski, C.M. and Chester Mrowka, C.M. joined the delegates to the Assembly in the liturgy

Let us keep the ministry and works of the New England Province of the Congregation of the Mission in your prayers, so that there come new laborers to the Master of the Harvest and let the harvest be plentiful.

(from left) Frs. Rafal Kopystynski, Tadeusz Maciejewski, Eugeniusz Kotlinski, Jan Szylar, Anthony Kuzia, Mitchell Wanat, Slawomir Szucki, Marek Sadowski, (sitting, from left) Edmund Gutowski, Chester Mrowka

Celebrating Thanksgiving Day in the Provincial House

Toma — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 05:01:41 +0000

We had a wonderful time here in DePaul Residence in Manchester on Thanksgiving Day. Almost half of the Province members were present. From various houses. The Youngest and the seniors. It was a great opportunity to let fraternity and community grow. It was a great time to share. We believe all of you had same gorgeous time of giving thanks and family making. Here we want to share some image impressions from our festivity. Enjoy! We welcome your stories on your Thanksgiving Day, too. Tell us, what was your Thanksgiving Day this year. What you were thankful for?

or view the picture gallery on FACEBOOK

Annual Retreat in Provincial Residence

Toma — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:40:26 +0000

Regular spiritual exercises are very important for members of the Congregation of the Mission. So are for other religious communities. Regarding the Common Rules each year, every member of the community has to take part in five days retreat. This week, twelve Confreres gathered in DePaul Residence, Manchester, CT for days of reflection, dedication and sharing. Others have had their annual retreat in other time. The retreat started on Monday, October 8 in the late afternoon and the common lunch on Friday, October 12 retreat concludes. A Polish-born Cappuchin Friar, working among Christians in the Middle East leads the exercises. Earlier this year he lead Lenten Retreat Program in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Brooklyn, NY.

Retreat schedule includes:

MONDAY

1700 – Arrival,
1745 – Evening prayers and Opening Conference
- Dinner followed

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY

0800 – Breakfast
0910 – Morning prayers
0930 – Conference
1145 – Eucharist
1230 – Lunch
1330 – Silence, time for personal reflection and meditation. On Thursday, time for Confession.
1630 – Conference
1745 – Evening prayer
1800 – Dinner

FRIDAY

0800 – Breakfast
0910 – Morning prayers
0910 – Conference
1145 – Eucharist
1230 – Lunch and departure

This is the extraordinary time for community life and sharing, so important when regularly Confreres are so involved in their pastoral ministries and responsibilities. Everybody enjoys this time greatly.