Rev. Roman Kmieć, C.M., passed away

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. 

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

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St. Stanislaus RC Church

GET DIRECTIONS TO:

St. Michael’s Cemetery