Conventual Franciscan priest

Father Samuel Bonikowski was born on June 4, 1915 in Milwaukee, WI. He was the son of the late Bronislaus B. Bonikowski and Eleanor Gorski. He was baptized Bronislaus John Bonikowski. After graduating from Pio Nono High School in Milwaukee, he attended St. Francis de Sales Seminary in Milwaukee for one year before joining the Conventual Franciscans of St. Anthony of Padua Province. He received the Franciscan habit on August 27, 1933 and made First Profession of Vows on August 29, 1934 in Ellicott City, Maryland. He made his Solemn Profession of Vows on August 29, 1937 in Granby, Massachusetts. His studies for the priesthood were completed at the Seminaire de Philosophie, Montreal, Canada and St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, Massachusetts. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 1, 1941 at St. Josephat's Basilica, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by the Most Reverend Moses E. Kiley. During his years of priesthood, Father Samuel served as Associate Pastor at Queen of Angels Parish, Detroit, Michigan from 1941-1943; Assistant Editor of the Kronika Seraficki at St. Francis de Sales Mission House, Hartland, Wisconsin from 1943-1945; Manager of the Conventual Press at St. Hedwig Parish, Detroit, Michigan from 1945-1952; Manager of the Conventual Press at St. Anthony Monastery, Detroit, Michigan from 1952-1957; Chaplain and teacher at the Felician Sisters Motherhouse, Chicago, Illinois from 1957-1959; Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Hermosa Beach, California from 1959-1970; Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Rockford, Illinois, from 1970-1972; Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, New Cuyama, California from 1972-1979; Pastor of St. George Parish, Stockton, California in 1979; Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Hermosa Beach, California from 1979-1982; Associate Pastor at Queen of Angels Parish, Riverside, California from 1982-1984; Associate Pastor of St. Paul Parish, Coalinga, California from 1984-1987; Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Hermosa Beach, California form 1987-1988; Semi-retired in residence at Bishop Montgomery High School from 1988-1994; last assignment was that of Chaplain at St. Joseph of Cupertino Novitiate, Arroyo Grande, California from 1994-1995. His last years were spent proofreading documents that went out of the Provincial Office, chairing the Statutes Commission, helpfully pointing out discrepancies in the ORDO and encouraging the younger clergy to follow the rubrics. He kept us aware of our roots both in Saint Anthony Province and in Saint Bonaventure Province and was always willing to fill in the anecdotal details of events in the history of our Provinces. He helped write a history of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish that put him for several months with his nose in history books about California, the Church and the parish records and scrapbooks. He accepted the diagnosis of cancer very bravely, made sure all his affairs were in order and then awaited death with a combination of faith, longing, fear, and impatience. "I'm not so much afraid of death," he said "it's dying I don't like!" he died peacefully on September 10, 1995 in Santa Maria, California. His wit and dedication will be sorely missed by the friars of the province and his devoted lay friends. His body was reverently laid to rest in the Province Cemetery in Arroyo Grande. + May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. +