Fr. Bruno Parzych, OFM Conv., son of Valentine and Mary (Popielarczyk) Parzych, was born in Easthampton, MA on May 17, 1907. His elementary education was in the Parish School of Sacred Heart, Easthampton, and for his secondary training he attended Cathedral High School, Springfield, MA and St. Francis High School, Athol Springs, NY. Having worked at several different jobs, Fr. Bruno approached his parents and sought permission to study for the priesthood. With their blessing, he visited the Ordinary of the Diocese of Springfield, Bishop Thomas M. O'Leary, and was accepted as a seminarian of the Diocese. For his philosophical studies he was sent to the Seminaire de Philosophie in Montreal, Canada. After much deliberation, he visited his pastor at St. Stanislaus parish in Chicopee, MA, Fr. Lawrence M. Cyman, OFM Conv., and revealed to him his desire to become a Franciscan Friar. At the age of 29, Fr. Bruno was sent to the Novitiate of St. Joseph Cupertino, Ellicott City, MD, where for one year he was indoctrinated in the Franciscan way of life. He made his first profession of vows on October 30, 1937. While at St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA, for his theological studies, Fr. Bruno professed his final vows on October 30, 1940. On July 5, 1941, along with fourteen others, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas M. O'Leary at St. Stanislaus Church in Chicopee, MA. From 1941 to 1942 Fr. Bruno assisted at the Novitiate of St. Joseph Cupertino in Ellicott City, MD. After that, with the exception of 1946-48 when he served as part of the first faculty of Bishop Ryan High School in Buffalo, NY, Fr. Bruno ministered in parishes. As associate pastor these included: his home Parish of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr, Chicopee, MA (1941); St. Hedwig Parish, Barry's bay, Ontario, Canada (1942-43); Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Buffalo, NY (1948-51); St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Baltimore, MD (1951-63), where he also served as guardian from 1957-63; and St. Adalbert Parish, Elmhurst, NY (1973-89). Fr. Bruno served as guardian of the local friary and pastor of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Buffalo, NY (1963-69) and of St. Michael Parish, Montreal, Canada (1969-73). At St. Adalbert Parish, Elmhurst, NY, Fr. Bruno's health began to fail, but he continued with his duties, offering his pains and sufferings in silence. Fr. Bruno was always known as obedient and productive, with tasks performed immediately and in a satisfactory way; as considerate and compassionate, always willing to help others and to offer a friendly presence; as solicitous for the sick and elderly; as a spiritual healer in the confessional and in the Parish office; as a man of prayer and a friar who was humble and loyal. In the summer of 1989 Fr. Bruno took up residence at Ozanam Hall Nursing Home in Bayside, NY. On February 7, 1993 he suffered chest pains. He died a few hours later at Booth Memorial Hospital in New York. A Wake Service and Memorial Mass were celebrated at St. Adalbert Church in Elmhurst on February 9 and 10. Fr. Bruno's body was then transferred to Chicopee, MA where a Wake Service was celebrated on February 11 at St. Stanislaus B.M. Basilica, the Church of his priesthood ordination. Following the Liturgy of Christian Burial the next day, the remains were laid to rest in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Chicopee (Friars' Circle, Grave 24)

Fr. Bruno Parzych, OFM Conv., son of Valentine and Mary (Popielarczyk) Parzych, was born in Easthampton, MA on May 17, 1907. His elementary education was in the Parish School of Sacred Heart, Easthampton, and for his secondary training he attended Cathedral High School, Springfield, MA and St. Francis High School, Athol Springs, NY. Having worked at several different jobs, Fr. Bruno approached his parents and sought permission to study for the priesthood. With their blessing, he visited the Ordinary of the Diocese of Springfield, Bishop Thomas M. O'Leary, and was accepted as a seminarian of the Diocese. For his philosophical studies he was sent to the Seminaire de Philosophie in Montreal, Canada. After much deliberation, he visited his pastor at St. Stanislaus parish in Chicopee, MA, Fr. Lawrence M. Cyman, OFM Conv., and revealed to him his desire to become a Franciscan Friar. At the age of 29, Fr. Bruno was sent to the Novitiate of St. Joseph Cupertino, Ellicott City, MD, where for one year he was indoctrinated in the Franciscan way of life. He made his first profession of vows on October 30, 1937. While at St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA, for his theological studies, Fr. Bruno professed his final vows on October 30, 1940. On July 5, 1941, along with fourteen others, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas M. O'Leary at St. Stanislaus Church in Chicopee, MA. From 1941 to 1942 Fr. Bruno assisted at the Novitiate of St. Joseph Cupertino in Ellicott City, MD. After that, with the exception of 1946-48 when he served as part of the first faculty of Bishop Ryan High School in Buffalo, NY, Fr. Bruno ministered in parishes. As associate pastor these included: his home Parish of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr, Chicopee, MA (1941); St. Hedwig Parish, Barry's bay, Ontario, Canada (1942-43); Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Buffalo, NY (1948-51); St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Baltimore, MD (1951-63), where he also served as guardian from 1957-63; and St. Adalbert Parish, Elmhurst, NY (1973-89). Fr. Bruno served as guardian of the local friary and pastor of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Buffalo, NY (1963-69) and of St. Michael Parish, Montreal, Canada (1969-73). At St. Adalbert Parish, Elmhurst, NY, Fr. Bruno's health began to fail, but he continued with his duties, offering his pains and sufferings in silence. Fr. Bruno was always known as obedient and productive, with tasks performed immediately and in a satisfactory way; as considerate and compassionate, always willing to help others and to offer a friendly presence; as solicitous for the sick and elderly; as a spiritual healer in the confessional and in the Parish office; as a man of prayer and a friar who was humble and loyal. In the summer of 1989 Fr. Bruno took up residence at Ozanam Hall Nursing Home in Bayside, NY. On February 7, 1993 he suffered chest pains. He died a few hours later at Booth Memorial Hospital in New York. A Wake Service and Memorial Mass were celebrated at St. Adalbert Church in Elmhurst on February 9 and 10. Fr. Bruno's body was then transferred to Chicopee, MA where a Wake Service was celebrated on February 11 at St. Stanislaus B.M. Basilica, the Church of his priesthood ordination. Following the Liturgy of Christian Burial the next day, the remains were laid to rest in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Chicopee (Friars' Circle, Grave 24)