Fr. Casimir Cwiklinski, OFM Conv., son of Joseph and Anna (Wojtas) Cwiklinski, was born on February 16, 1883, in Poland. At an early age, his family migrated to the United States and settled in the vicinity of St. Stanislaus, Bishop-Martyr, Parish in Trenton, NJ. Expressing his intention of studying for the priesthood, he entered the Conventual Franciscans at Syracuse, NY, and at the Novitiate of the Immaculate Conception Province he professed his simple vows of obedience, poverty and chastity on February 22, 1899. He was ordained on July 1, 1905. Truly, Fr. Casimir was a pioneer among the list of Polish Franciscans who assisted in the Parishes under the founder of St. Anthony Province, the Very Reverend Hyacinth Fudzinski. He devoted his priestly services solely to the parochial apostolate. Thus, he administered to the souls entrusted to his care in the following friaries of the Province: as a parochial vicar at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Baltimore, MD; as pastor of St. Adalbert Church, Elmhurst, NY; and as pastor of Mater Dolorosa Church, Holyoke, MA. In Holyoke Fr. Casimir is credited with the following accomplishments: the purchase of a bell for the church tower, re-painting the interior of the church, constructing the Sister's Convent, the purchase of three altars at the cost of $5,000.00, the purchase from a nearby French parish of a four-story building which he re-constructed for a school. The strain of work and weighty responsibilities took a toll on his health and he was assigned to St. Francis High School, Athol Springs, NY. Since light manual labor was recommended for a return to health, Fr. Casimir set to clear the property of weeds and unnecessary growth. As pastor of Mater Dolorosa Church, Holyoke, MA, Fr. Casmir befriended the pastor of the neighboring Precious Blood Church, Father Charles Crevier. Fr. Crevier expressed his desire to donate his property in Granby, MA to the Franciscan Friars with the sole purpose of erecting a Province Seminary. Fr. Casimir informed the Minister Provincial, Fr. Hyacinth Fudzinski, who in turn informed the Minister General, Fr. Dominic Tavani, of Fr. Crevier's wishes. The land was donated, and through the efforts of Fr. Casimir and Fr. Lawrence M. Cyman, OFM Conv., pastor of St. Stanislaus Church, in Chicopee, MA additional land was purchased. After the completion of the transaction, Fr. Casimir regularly traveled to Granby to clear a portion of the land. The Franciscan ministry of Father Casimir was of a unique nature. Afflected with a serious illness, Fr. Casimir spent many years of his ministry in a health center. Father Casimir met Sister Death on January 15, 1964, in Baltimore, MD. A Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated on January 18, 1964 at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Baltimore, MD in the presence of his confreres, the medical staff who had cared for him, and the faithful. The "Angel," as he was known by the health center medical staff, was laid to rest in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Baltimore (Mausoleum, Row 2,3 L.) At the time of his demise, Fr. Casimir was 81 years of age, and had lived 65 years of his Profession and 59 years of his Priesthood.

Fr. Casimir Cwiklinski, OFM Conv., son of Joseph and Anna (Wojtas) Cwiklinski, was born on February 16, 1883, in Poland. At an early age, his family migrated to the United States and settled in the vicinity of St. Stanislaus, Bishop-Martyr, Parish in Trenton, NJ. Expressing his intention of studying for the priesthood, he entered the Conventual Franciscans at Syracuse, NY, and at the Novitiate of the Immaculate Conception Province he professed his simple vows of obedience, poverty and chastity on February 22, 1899. He was ordained on July 1, 1905. Truly, Fr. Casimir was a pioneer among the list of Polish Franciscans who assisted in the Parishes under the founder of St. Anthony Province, the Very Reverend Hyacinth Fudzinski. He devoted his priestly services solely to the parochial apostolate. Thus, he administered to the souls entrusted to his care in the following friaries of the Province: as a parochial vicar at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Baltimore, MD; as pastor of St. Adalbert Church, Elmhurst, NY; and as pastor of Mater Dolorosa Church, Holyoke, MA. In Holyoke Fr. Casimir is credited with the following accomplishments: the purchase of a bell for the church tower, re-painting the interior of the church, constructing the Sister's Convent, the purchase of three altars at the cost of $5,000.00, the purchase from a nearby French parish of a four-story building which he re-constructed for a school. The strain of work and weighty responsibilities took a toll on his health and he was assigned to St. Francis High School, Athol Springs, NY. Since light manual labor was recommended for a return to health, Fr. Casimir set to clear the property of weeds and unnecessary growth. As pastor of Mater Dolorosa Church, Holyoke, MA, Fr. Casmir befriended the pastor of the neighboring Precious Blood Church, Father Charles Crevier. Fr. Crevier expressed his desire to donate his property in Granby, MA to the Franciscan Friars with the sole purpose of erecting a Province Seminary. Fr. Casimir informed the Minister Provincial, Fr. Hyacinth Fudzinski, who in turn informed the Minister General, Fr. Dominic Tavani, of Fr. Crevier's wishes. The land was donated, and through the efforts of Fr. Casimir and Fr. Lawrence M. Cyman, OFM Conv., pastor of St. Stanislaus Church, in Chicopee, MA additional land was purchased. After the completion of the transaction, Fr. Casimir regularly traveled to Granby to clear a portion of the land. The Franciscan ministry of Father Casimir was of a unique nature. Afflected with a serious illness, Fr. Casimir spent many years of his ministry in a health center. Father Casimir met Sister Death on January 15, 1964, in Baltimore, MD. A Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated on January 18, 1964 at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Baltimore, MD in the presence of his confreres, the medical staff who had cared for him, and the faithful. The "Angel," as he was known by the health center medical staff, was laid to rest in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Baltimore (Mausoleum, Row 2,3 L.) At the time of his demise, Fr. Casimir was 81 years of age, and had lived 65 years of his Profession and 59 years of his Priesthood.