• Wake service was held on Friday, April 11, 2014 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at  St. Joseph’s Residence, 1365 Enfield St., Enfield, Derby, CT.
• His Funeral Liturgy was celebrated on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at  10:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Residence, 1365 Enfield St., Enfield, Derby, CT. 
• Burial took place at 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 12, 2014 at Vincentian Community Plot, St. Michael’s Cemetery, Derby, CT 
  (see driving directions from Enfield to Cemetery)
  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Congregation of the Mission New England Province Charitable Trust, 234 Keeney Street, Manchester, CT 06040.

Fr. Julian “Jules” A. Szumilo CM was born January 9, 1924 in Buffalo, NY, the son of the late Anthony and Waleria (Kurzynska) Szumilo.  He attended St. Casimir’s parochial school (during pastorate of Rev. Anthony “Count” Majewski). After graduation in 1938, he entered South Park High School and pursued an academic course during his four years there. In the fall of 1942 he began his college studies at Niagara University, Niagara Falls, NY. It is here, where he became interested in the Congregation of the Mission. In one year he completed the two year course becoming eligible to enter Vincentian community.

Because of war conditions which made impossible travel to Poland, Vice Provincial, Fr. Mazurkiewicz sent new novice to Internal Seminary of Vincentian Eastern Province in St. Vincent’s Seminary, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. He was received to the Congregation September 8, 1943.  On September 12, 1945 he pronounced his vows in Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, PA where he moved for philosophical and theological studies. Ordained there, June 3, 1950, in the Chapel of Queen of All Saints by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick, auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia.

Fr. Julian’s first assignment was St. Stanislus Bishop & Martyr Parish, New Haven, CT He was vicar there until moved to St Michael’s in Derby CT on September 10, 1953. He was vicar there, too. On December 27, 1957 appointed Rector and Superior of St. John Kanty Prep, Erie, PA hold this post till 1961. Assigned to St. Joseph’s Parish in Ansonia, CT as Superior (until 1964) Fr. Szumilo serves as a vicar, too (until 1965).

In January 1965 St. Vincent’s Mission House in Utica, NY was cannonically erected as community house with Fr. Arciszewski as first superior. Fr. Szumilo was moved there as mission group member. Additionally, he became auxiliary chaplain in Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, NY (just 15 miles North West of Utica). In those days Griffiss AFB was home for 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, tanker unit of 416th Bombardment Wing and NEADS (Northeast Air Defense Sector)

On January 1, 1970 Fr. “Jules” assumed office of Pastor in New Haven. In this tenure he conducted a strong CYO program, reactivated Boy Scout Den No. 4, organized Drum and Bugle Corps, and was the first chaplain for the Holy Name Society which he organized. As pastor, he was faithful in maintaining the whole devotional program of First Friday confessions and Masses; First Holy Communion elaborate celebrations; May, June, and October Devotions, Forty Hours and Mission services. Innovative, he combined the St. Francis Third Order groups of neighboring parishes under his own wing with meetings in his own parish.

In the church building, following commitment of Fr. Pacherski, Fr. Julian fostered the artistic talents w Mr. Anthony Amato especially in replacement of the Last Supper scene from the main altar against the wall to the front of the altar facing the people. Before leaving New Haven for new post he prepared blueprints for a new rectory garage (for 4 cars) but he didn’t complete the project. His successor (here in New Haven and later in another post), Fr. Hlond did.

In April 23, 1975 former Vice-Province of Poland in the US became independent Province of New England with the office located at St. Stanislaus Rectory in New Haven, CT and Vice Visitor, Fr. Henry Sawicki CM automatically becoming first Provincial superior. On October 5, 1975. Fr. Julian Szumilo was elected the Visitor. Since 1966 he served as  Vice Provincial Consultor.

As second in line Visitor (and actually first elected in the New England Province) Fr. Julian acquired new house for Provincial Residence, which was West Hartford, CT (1109 Prospect Ave., archbishop’s Henry O’Brien of Hartford former residence). Thanks to efforts of new Visitor the new residence was occupied on St. Vincent’s de Paul Feast Day, September 27, 1976.

Fr. Julian as Visitor

Later, in the same year, right before Christmas New England Province gained first pastoral ministry success – late Fr. Edward Gicewicz CM was introduced as pastor of St. Cyril & Methodius Parish in Lisbon Falls, Maine. This 200 households ethnic parish of Slovak immigrants was scheduled for closing. Arrival of Vincentian Priests returned it to life. Since 1993 Fr. Szumilo was working here as vicar. The parish was handed to diocesan priests at the end of 1999 after merging with two other parishes. Fr. Anthony Kuzia was the last Vincentian Pastor there.

During his tenure, the young Province suffered its biggest loss which deeply affected other ministries and future. On June 8, 1980 after the graduation ceremony, St. John Kanty Prep in Erie, PA was closed. Although Vincentians stayed there until September 1982, the history of 68 years old education foundation has finished.

After closing St. John Kanty Fr. Szumilo accepted the invitation from Bishop Brady High School in Concord, NH to sent some confreres ther as Principals and teachers. There were three Vincentians sent to Bishop Brady High School and they resided in Laboure House, Bow, NH until were granted the St. Peter’s Rectory in Concord (which already happened during Fr. Julian’s successor’s term of office).

In September 1981 Fr. Waclaw Hlond replaced Fr. Julian as Provincial. Father was assigned to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Brooklyn, NY where he was vicar until 1984. His next ministry was in Mission House, Whitestone, NY. In 1987 Father completed two level Clinical Pastoral Education program receiving certification in August that year. CPE is is a multicultural, multifaith program devoted to providing education and improving the quality of ministry and pastoral care offered by spiritual caregivers of all faiths through the clinical educational methods. In the same year (1987) he was assigned to Provincial House in West Hartford, CT and, thanks to the CPE certificate, became Chief Chaplain in St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, CT. He left this post in 1993.

Next until 2001 he held ministries in DePaul Residence, Provincial House, Manchester, CT. Finally moved to St. Joseph Residence, Enfield, CT as chaplain. This is small, 25 beds, nursing home run and staffed by Little Sisters od the Poor. He held chaplain duties until end of 2009. Then, he fully retired and stayed as resident until lat moments. His Diamond Jubilee celebration was held at St. Joseph Residence, Enfield June 3, 2010. He died Monday morning, April 7, 2014 in St. Francis Hospital, Hartford, CT.

Father Julian Szumilo was predeceased by his parents: Anthony and Waleria, and his sisters: Emily Kolber, Eleanor Puchalski and Florentine Wandel. He is survived by his many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

Fr. Julian Szumilo CM and Fr. Rafal Kopystynski CM during 60th priesthood anniversary celebrations in Enfield

With Faith and Hope in Eternal Life,
Let us assist him with our prayers!

Lots of parishioners were present at 11:30 AM Mass at St. Stanislaus, the Motherchurch of New England Province. Provincial Superior, Fr. A. Rafal Kopystynski CM, and pastor’s associates Fr. Stanley Miekinia CM and Fr. Marek Sadowski CM, as well as Fr. John Krzyzanski OFM Conv., St. Stanislaus native, were concelebrants in the Eucharist. Among attendants were four of Fr. Roman’s nine brothers and sister. His sister Helena even came from Greece.

New Haven is the oldest Vincentian location in the Province of New England. First missioners from Krakow came here in 1904. For long years it served as community superior’s residence, when it was a mission, vice-province and when it became autonomous province. Fr. Kmiec first arrived to New Haven in 1997. When he came again in 2006 he became its pastor and superior of the house.

After the Eucharist another celebration commenced in the school auditorium at Eld Street. Aproximately 230 people attended the party organized by grateful parishioners. Short artistic program with songs and poetry presented by students of Polish Saturday School and some of the jubilant’s relatives opened the event. Special dinner for all the participants followed. (Slideshow above presents some pictures from the event).

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. Even today, on various occasions, Fr. Roman is 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 neighborhood. Besides the Holy Family in parish in Tarnow where they are present as long as they are 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 was ordained priest on may 24, 1986.

His first priestly assignment was position of parochial vicar Our Lady of Rosary Parish in Pabianice in central Poland. There he stayed for a year until he travelled to the United States in September 1987.

His first steps on American soil lead him to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Brooklyn, NY. This place 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, as a five years priest, he became Superior of the Community House there (replacing Fr. Ronald Wiktor CM) and held this responsibility until 1993.

Then he was appointed to St. Stanislaus Kostka in Brooklyn for the second time where he stayed as vicar until 1995. His next assignment was St. Peter’s Parish, Concord, NH where he was vicar again until 1997. On that year he was moved to St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish in New Haven, CT with the same responsibility 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, which continues to be.

View more pictures in the gallery on our Facebook page

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.

Among his classmates: Fr. Jerezy Berdychowski CM (left) and Fr. Zdislaw Gora (right)

It was May 15, 1955

Fr. Waclaw Hlond (pronounced: Va-tz-wa-v) was born on July 12, 1929 in Blachownia, a town near Czestochowa, Poland. He was received into the Congregation of the Mission in October 1951. Ordained in 1955. His first and only assignment in Poland was in Pabianice where he was vicar and religion teacher.

As first Missioners did almost 55 years earlier, Fr. “Wacek” (pronounced Va-tz-ek) came to St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish in New Haven, Conn. as his first post in then Polish Vice-Province in the United States in the second half of 1958. Next year (1959) became Vicar at St. Stanislaus and hold it until being sent to new post in St. Joseph Parish, Ansonia, Conn. After three years as Vicar there, in 1964 was ascribed to Mission House in Whitestone, New York. He was involved in parish mission and sent to Washington.D.C. to Michigan University Extension. In 1967 moved to Mission House in Utica, NY where he served as second superior (succeeding Fr. Arciszewski) until end of 1973.

On February 1, 1974 he took position of pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish in New Haven welcomed as an old friend by the parishioners. During his tenure as pastor the happy occasion took place at 9 Eld Street. On April 23, 1975 autonomous Vincentian Province of New England was established there and the house became first Provincial Residence. As a pastor. Fr. Hlond’s first major activity in New Haven was to supervise the actual construction of new four-car garage (blueprints were prepared by previous pastor Fr. Julian Szumilo). Another accomplishment was continuation of repainting of the church by Anthony Amato in 1974, furnishing the sanctuary with new chair of celebrant, concelebrants and new lectern. In 1975 he supervised redecoration and renovation of the auditorium repainting of convent chapel. In the year of Diamond Jubilee of the parish (1975) Fr. Hlond additionally became superior of the house.

From 1973 to 1975 was member of Vice-Provincial Council. Again in 1979 – 1981 was Provincial Councilor. On September 8, 1981 was elected the third Visitor (Provincial Superior) of New England Province succeeding Fr. Julian Szumilo. In 1984 re-elected for second term. He stayed in the Provincial House in West Hartford, Conn. for another year and since 1988 served as superior (until 1994) and pastor (till 1996) in Ansonia, Conn. In 1996 returned to New Haven for the third time, again as superior and pastor. Since 2006 is assigned to St. Joseph in Ansonia again.

On this special jubilee celebration day we wish Fr. Waclaw abundant graces from Jesus, the Eternal Priest, in his life, health and Vincentian ministry. May the Lord bless and protect you Father!