Fr. Stanley Wlodyka, OFM Conv., one of six children of Gregory and Beatrice Wlodyka, was born in Boston, MA on June 23, 1916. Following his education at St. Stanislaus School, Chelsea, and Boston College High School, he entered the Conventual Franciscan Friars in 1934. Following a year at St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate in Ellicott City, MD, Fr. Stanley professed his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on September 11, 1935. He then pursued studies in philosophy and theology at the Grand Seminaire in Montreal, Canada; St. Hyacinth Seminary in Granby, MA; and the Seraphicum in Rome, Italy. Force to leave Rome in 1940 with the outbreak of World War II, Fr. Stanley returned to Granby to complete his studies. He was ordained at St. Stanislaus Basilica, Chicopee, MA on July 5, 1941 by the Most Rev. Thomas O'Leary, Bishop of Springfield.
Fr. Stanley's first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Casimir Parish, Baltimore, MA. After a year he moved to the Mission house in Ellicott City, MD and spent 22 years preaching missions, retreats and special religious programs. From 1957-1964 he was director of that preaching ministry. In 1964 Fr. Stanley returned to parish ministry, serving as pastor and guardian at St. Casimir's, Riverside, NJ; St. Joseph's, Peabody, MA; and Mater Dolorosa, Holyoke, MA. In 1982 he became parochial vicar of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Taunton, MA, and from 1988-98 he served as pastor of St. Michael Parish in Haverhill, MA. For that assignment he once stated in an interview that he was "pulled from retirement" but was glad to have the energy to serve as pastor once again. In 1998 Fr. Stanley was assigned to St. Hyacinth Friary in Granby, MA, and with the closing of that faculty moved to St. Stanislaus Friary in Chicopee, MA. In failing health, his last months were spent at the Sisters of Providence Infirmary in Holyoke, MA. There he was called by Sister Death on August 31, 2002. His funeral was held at Mater Dolorosa Parish, Holyoke, MA, and he was buried in the Friars' Circle of Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, South Hadley, MA. An athlete who enjoyed tennis and golf, Fr. Stanley was also a lover of music, and proud of his Polish heritage. He treasured the months he spent in 1959 as a confessor at the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy and the opportunity he had to meet Pope John Paul II. At gatherings of the Friars he enjoyed leading after-dinner singing, and his special song was "We are Musicians" in which groups of friars took the role of sections of the orchestra. May Fr. Stanley, who sought to share the joy of following Christ in the way of Francis, now join the heavenly choirs in songs of praise.
Fr. Stanley's first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Casimir Parish, Baltimore, MA. After a year he moved to the Mission house in Ellicott City, MD and spent 22 years preaching missions, retreats and special religious programs. From 1957-1964 he was director of that preaching ministry. In 1964 Fr. Stanley returned to parish ministry, serving as pastor and guardian at St. Casimir's, Riverside, NJ; St. Joseph's, Peabody, MA; and Mater Dolorosa, Holyoke, MA. In 1982 he became parochial vicar of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Taunton, MA, and from 1988-98 he served as pastor of St. Michael Parish in Haverhill, MA. For that assignment he once stated in an interview that he was "pulled from retirement" but was glad to have the energy to serve as pastor once again. In 1998 Fr. Stanley was assigned to St. Hyacinth Friary in Granby, MA, and with the closing of that faculty moved to St. Stanislaus Friary in Chicopee, MA. In failing health, his last months were spent at the Sisters of Providence Infirmary in Holyoke, MA. There he was called by Sister Death on August 31, 2002. His funeral was held at Mater Dolorosa Parish, Holyoke, MA, and he was buried in the Friars' Circle of Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, South Hadley, MA. An athlete who enjoyed tennis and golf, Fr. Stanley was also a lover of music, and proud of his Polish heritage. He treasured the months he spent in 1959 as a confessor at the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy and the opportunity he had to meet Pope John Paul II. At gatherings of the Friars he enjoyed leading after-dinner singing, and his special song was "We are Musicians" in which groups of friars took the role of sections of the orchestra. May Fr. Stanley, who sought to share the joy of following Christ in the way of Francis, now join the heavenly choirs in songs of praise.
Fr. Stanley Wlodyka, OFM Conv., one of six children of Gregory and Beatrice Wlodyka, was born in Boston, MA on June 23, 1916. Following his education at St. Stanislaus School, Chelsea, and Boston College High School, he entered the Conventual Franciscan Friars in 1934. Following a year at St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate in Ellicott City, MD, Fr. Stanley professed his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on September 11, 1935. He then pursued studies in philosophy and theology at the Grand Seminaire in Montreal, Canada; St. Hyacinth Seminary in Granby, MA; and the Seraphicum in Rome, Italy. Force to leave Rome in 1940 with the outbreak of World War II, Fr. Stanley returned to Granby to complete his studies. He was ordained at St. Stanislaus Basilica, Chicopee, MA on July 5, 1941 by the Most Rev. Thomas O'Leary, Bishop of Springfield.
Fr. Stanley's first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Casimir Parish, Baltimore, MA. After a year he moved to the Mission house in Ellicott City, MD and spent 22 years preaching missions, retreats and special religious programs. From 1957-1964 he was director of that preaching ministry. In 1964 Fr. Stanley returned to parish ministry, serving as pastor and guardian at St. Casimir's, Riverside, NJ; St. Joseph's, Peabody, MA; and Mater Dolorosa, Holyoke, MA. In 1982 he became parochial vicar of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Taunton, MA, and from 1988-98 he served as pastor of St. Michael Parish in Haverhill, MA. For that assignment he once stated in an interview that he was "pulled from retirement" but was glad to have the energy to serve as pastor once again. In 1998 Fr. Stanley was assigned to St. Hyacinth Friary in Granby, MA, and with the closing of that faculty moved to St. Stanislaus Friary in Chicopee, MA. In failing health, his last months were spent at the Sisters of Providence Infirmary in Holyoke, MA. There he was called by Sister Death on August 31, 2002. His funeral was held at Mater Dolorosa Parish, Holyoke, MA, and he was buried in the Friars' Circle of Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, South Hadley, MA. An athlete who enjoyed tennis and golf, Fr. Stanley was also a lover of music, and proud of his Polish heritage. He treasured the months he spent in 1959 as a confessor at the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy and the opportunity he had to meet Pope John Paul II. At gatherings of the Friars he enjoyed leading after-dinner singing, and his special song was "We are Musicians" in which groups of friars took the role of sections of the orchestra. May Fr. Stanley, who sought to share the joy of following Christ in the way of Francis, now join the heavenly choirs in songs of praise.
Fr. Stanley's first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Casimir Parish, Baltimore, MA. After a year he moved to the Mission house in Ellicott City, MD and spent 22 years preaching missions, retreats and special religious programs. From 1957-1964 he was director of that preaching ministry. In 1964 Fr. Stanley returned to parish ministry, serving as pastor and guardian at St. Casimir's, Riverside, NJ; St. Joseph's, Peabody, MA; and Mater Dolorosa, Holyoke, MA. In 1982 he became parochial vicar of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Taunton, MA, and from 1988-98 he served as pastor of St. Michael Parish in Haverhill, MA. For that assignment he once stated in an interview that he was "pulled from retirement" but was glad to have the energy to serve as pastor once again. In 1998 Fr. Stanley was assigned to St. Hyacinth Friary in Granby, MA, and with the closing of that faculty moved to St. Stanislaus Friary in Chicopee, MA. In failing health, his last months were spent at the Sisters of Providence Infirmary in Holyoke, MA. There he was called by Sister Death on August 31, 2002. His funeral was held at Mater Dolorosa Parish, Holyoke, MA, and he was buried in the Friars' Circle of Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, South Hadley, MA. An athlete who enjoyed tennis and golf, Fr. Stanley was also a lover of music, and proud of his Polish heritage. He treasured the months he spent in 1959 as a confessor at the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy and the opportunity he had to meet Pope John Paul II. At gatherings of the Friars he enjoyed leading after-dinner singing, and his special song was "We are Musicians" in which groups of friars took the role of sections of the orchestra. May Fr. Stanley, who sought to share the joy of following Christ in the way of Francis, now join the heavenly choirs in songs of praise.
Gravesite Details
Conventual Franciscan priest
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