Fr. John Kaplinski, OFM Conv., son of Paul and Rosalie (Wilczynska) Kaplinski, was born on August 15, 1882, in Suwalska, Poland. At the age of eight, he and his parents migrated to the United States. The Silver Jubilee Album of our Province (1905-1930), records that Fr. John was a member of St. Stanislaus, Bishop-Martyr, Parish, Trenton, NJ. After his elementary and secondary schooling, he joined the Conventual Franciscans in 1906, at Trenton, NJ, and completed his Novitiate in the Province of Immaculate Conception, professing his simple vows on August 15, 1907. After his philosophical and theological studies at St. Anthony-on-Hudson, Rensselaer, NY and in Milwaukee, WI, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in the Basilica of St. Josaphat, Milwaukee, on December 13, 1910. The majority of Fr. John's priestly ministry was devoted to the parochial apostolate. He served as an assistant at Mater Dolorosa Parish, Holyoke, MA; Corpus Christi Parish, Buffalo, NY; and St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Bridgeport, CT. He served as Pastor in the following places: Mater Dolorosa Parish, Holyoke, MA, for three years and then at St. Adalbert Parish, Elmhurst, NY, for sixteen years.
After the Provincial Chapter of 1939, held at St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate, Ellicott City, MD, Fr. John was assigned as the first Guardian of the newly acquired Friary of St. Lawrence, in Becket, MA, a town in the Berkshire Mountains. In addition to his office as guardian, he was also appointed Provincial Superior of the Third Order of St. Francis (Secular Franciscans). During his years in Becket he made plans with the Minister Provincial, Fr. Lawrence M. Cyman, OFM Conv., to sponsor the annual retreats for the Friars of the Province. When the friars would recall these retreats, they remembered the peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. They also came to recognize Fr. John as a gourmet cook, noted for his cordial hospitality and joyful disposition. Despite the healthy climate in the hills of Becket, Fr. John's health began to fail. His earthly sojourn came to an end on February 10, 1951, in the 69th year of his age, 44th of his Profession and 41st of his Priesthood. A few hours after the death of Fr. John, a Becket confrere, Fr. Francis Barszczak, also died.
Learning of the deaths of Frs. John and Francis, the Most Reverend Christopher J. Weldon, Bishop of Springfield, requested that there be a joint funeral service for both Friars. On February 13, 1951, Bishop Weldon, in the presence of confreres, diocesan Clergy and parishioners, offered the Solemn Liturgy of Christian Burial at Mater Dolorosa Church, Holyoke, MA. The mortal remains of Fr. John were laid to rest in Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, South Hadley, MA (Friars Plot, No. 5.)
After the Provincial Chapter of 1939, held at St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate, Ellicott City, MD, Fr. John was assigned as the first Guardian of the newly acquired Friary of St. Lawrence, in Becket, MA, a town in the Berkshire Mountains. In addition to his office as guardian, he was also appointed Provincial Superior of the Third Order of St. Francis (Secular Franciscans). During his years in Becket he made plans with the Minister Provincial, Fr. Lawrence M. Cyman, OFM Conv., to sponsor the annual retreats for the Friars of the Province. When the friars would recall these retreats, they remembered the peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. They also came to recognize Fr. John as a gourmet cook, noted for his cordial hospitality and joyful disposition. Despite the healthy climate in the hills of Becket, Fr. John's health began to fail. His earthly sojourn came to an end on February 10, 1951, in the 69th year of his age, 44th of his Profession and 41st of his Priesthood. A few hours after the death of Fr. John, a Becket confrere, Fr. Francis Barszczak, also died.
Learning of the deaths of Frs. John and Francis, the Most Reverend Christopher J. Weldon, Bishop of Springfield, requested that there be a joint funeral service for both Friars. On February 13, 1951, Bishop Weldon, in the presence of confreres, diocesan Clergy and parishioners, offered the Solemn Liturgy of Christian Burial at Mater Dolorosa Church, Holyoke, MA. The mortal remains of Fr. John were laid to rest in Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, South Hadley, MA (Friars Plot, No. 5.)
Fr. John Kaplinski, OFM Conv., son of Paul and Rosalie (Wilczynska) Kaplinski, was born on August 15, 1882, in Suwalska, Poland. At the age of eight, he and his parents migrated to the United States. The Silver Jubilee Album of our Province (1905-1930), records that Fr. John was a member of St. Stanislaus, Bishop-Martyr, Parish, Trenton, NJ. After his elementary and secondary schooling, he joined the Conventual Franciscans in 1906, at Trenton, NJ, and completed his Novitiate in the Province of Immaculate Conception, professing his simple vows on August 15, 1907. After his philosophical and theological studies at St. Anthony-on-Hudson, Rensselaer, NY and in Milwaukee, WI, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in the Basilica of St. Josaphat, Milwaukee, on December 13, 1910. The majority of Fr. John's priestly ministry was devoted to the parochial apostolate. He served as an assistant at Mater Dolorosa Parish, Holyoke, MA; Corpus Christi Parish, Buffalo, NY; and St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Bridgeport, CT. He served as Pastor in the following places: Mater Dolorosa Parish, Holyoke, MA, for three years and then at St. Adalbert Parish, Elmhurst, NY, for sixteen years.
After the Provincial Chapter of 1939, held at St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate, Ellicott City, MD, Fr. John was assigned as the first Guardian of the newly acquired Friary of St. Lawrence, in Becket, MA, a town in the Berkshire Mountains. In addition to his office as guardian, he was also appointed Provincial Superior of the Third Order of St. Francis (Secular Franciscans). During his years in Becket he made plans with the Minister Provincial, Fr. Lawrence M. Cyman, OFM Conv., to sponsor the annual retreats for the Friars of the Province. When the friars would recall these retreats, they remembered the peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. They also came to recognize Fr. John as a gourmet cook, noted for his cordial hospitality and joyful disposition. Despite the healthy climate in the hills of Becket, Fr. John's health began to fail. His earthly sojourn came to an end on February 10, 1951, in the 69th year of his age, 44th of his Profession and 41st of his Priesthood. A few hours after the death of Fr. John, a Becket confrere, Fr. Francis Barszczak, also died.
Learning of the deaths of Frs. John and Francis, the Most Reverend Christopher J. Weldon, Bishop of Springfield, requested that there be a joint funeral service for both Friars. On February 13, 1951, Bishop Weldon, in the presence of confreres, diocesan Clergy and parishioners, offered the Solemn Liturgy of Christian Burial at Mater Dolorosa Church, Holyoke, MA. The mortal remains of Fr. John were laid to rest in Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, South Hadley, MA (Friars Plot, No. 5.)
After the Provincial Chapter of 1939, held at St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate, Ellicott City, MD, Fr. John was assigned as the first Guardian of the newly acquired Friary of St. Lawrence, in Becket, MA, a town in the Berkshire Mountains. In addition to his office as guardian, he was also appointed Provincial Superior of the Third Order of St. Francis (Secular Franciscans). During his years in Becket he made plans with the Minister Provincial, Fr. Lawrence M. Cyman, OFM Conv., to sponsor the annual retreats for the Friars of the Province. When the friars would recall these retreats, they remembered the peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. They also came to recognize Fr. John as a gourmet cook, noted for his cordial hospitality and joyful disposition. Despite the healthy climate in the hills of Becket, Fr. John's health began to fail. His earthly sojourn came to an end on February 10, 1951, in the 69th year of his age, 44th of his Profession and 41st of his Priesthood. A few hours after the death of Fr. John, a Becket confrere, Fr. Francis Barszczak, also died.
Learning of the deaths of Frs. John and Francis, the Most Reverend Christopher J. Weldon, Bishop of Springfield, requested that there be a joint funeral service for both Friars. On February 13, 1951, Bishop Weldon, in the presence of confreres, diocesan Clergy and parishioners, offered the Solemn Liturgy of Christian Burial at Mater Dolorosa Church, Holyoke, MA. The mortal remains of Fr. John were laid to rest in Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, South Hadley, MA (Friars Plot, No. 5.)
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SPO Jan Kaplinski OMC
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Conventual Franciscan priest
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