Fr. Raphael Wisniewski, OFM Conv., son of Walter and Maryann (Kajma) Wisniewski, was born on November 2, 1916, in Nashua, NH. His parents eventually moved to Bridgeport, CT, where his primary education was in the Parochial School of St. Michael the Archangel and Warren G. Harding High School. After his secondary education, he approached his pastor, Fr. Charles Ratajczak, and expressed his intention of becoming a Franciscan Friar. He was then sent to St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate, Ellicott City, MD, where, after a period of 12 months, he professed his simple vows on September 29, 1936. He was then sent to St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA and made his further studies in the philosophy and theology. On June 30, 1943 he was ordained to the priesthood in the Seminary Chapel by the Most Reverend Christopher J. Weldon, Bishop of Springfield.
As a Franciscan priest, Fr. Raphael's ministry embraced the parochial and educational apostolates. His first assignment took him to St. Casimir Church, Baltimore, MD, as an associate pastor. Shortly afterwards, he was assigned to St. Francis High School, Athol Springs, NY, as a teacher and director of the School Choir that performed during the Fr. Justin Rosary Hour. In 1949 he was assigned to the Friary of St. Anthony, Ellicott City, MD, to minister as a preacher. During these years he published "The Busy Priest's Aid," a booklet of preaching material and bulletin announcements of all occasions, and did extensive research on the life of Fr. Justin Figas, OFM Conv. From October, 1966 until August, 1979 Fr. Raphael served as Guardian of the Friary and Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church, Williamansett (Chicopee), MA. At the very onset of his pastorate he was convinced that the religious training of the youth was of prime importance and since he did not have a Parish school, he obtained permission from the City of Chicopee, to use the classrooms of a nearby city school for the Saturday Confraternity Classes. A team of dedicated lay teachers assisted in the religious training of the parish youth. In July of 1970, Fr. Raphael and his parishioners saw the beginning of the construction of a new church, completed and blessed on October 24, 1971. At the Provincial Chapter of 1979 Fr. Raphael was appointed Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield, CT where he completed the implementation of the pastoral and liturgical changes mandated by the Second Vatican Council. In 1984 he was transferred to St. Stanislaus, Bishop-Martyr, Church in Chelsea, MA. It was a brief assignment, for on September 8, 1985 the news of his sudden death was a shock to the Friars. He died of a cardiac arrest in the 69th year of his age, 49th of his profession and 43rd of his priesthood.
The concelebrated services were held at St. Stanislaus Church, Chelsea, MA and St. Anthony of Padua Church, Fairfield, CT. In Chelsea, Fr. Raphael was only a newcomer, yet the service was well attended. At St. Anthony of Padua, Bishop Walter Curtis of the Diocese of Bridgeport presided at the Funeral Liturgy for two former Pastor's Frs. Raphael Wisniewski and Leopold Sierzega. The mortal remains of Fr. Raphael rest in Michael Cemetery, Stratford, CT, (Friars' Circle, No. 30).
As a Franciscan priest, Fr. Raphael's ministry embraced the parochial and educational apostolates. His first assignment took him to St. Casimir Church, Baltimore, MD, as an associate pastor. Shortly afterwards, he was assigned to St. Francis High School, Athol Springs, NY, as a teacher and director of the School Choir that performed during the Fr. Justin Rosary Hour. In 1949 he was assigned to the Friary of St. Anthony, Ellicott City, MD, to minister as a preacher. During these years he published "The Busy Priest's Aid," a booklet of preaching material and bulletin announcements of all occasions, and did extensive research on the life of Fr. Justin Figas, OFM Conv. From October, 1966 until August, 1979 Fr. Raphael served as Guardian of the Friary and Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church, Williamansett (Chicopee), MA. At the very onset of his pastorate he was convinced that the religious training of the youth was of prime importance and since he did not have a Parish school, he obtained permission from the City of Chicopee, to use the classrooms of a nearby city school for the Saturday Confraternity Classes. A team of dedicated lay teachers assisted in the religious training of the parish youth. In July of 1970, Fr. Raphael and his parishioners saw the beginning of the construction of a new church, completed and blessed on October 24, 1971. At the Provincial Chapter of 1979 Fr. Raphael was appointed Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield, CT where he completed the implementation of the pastoral and liturgical changes mandated by the Second Vatican Council. In 1984 he was transferred to St. Stanislaus, Bishop-Martyr, Church in Chelsea, MA. It was a brief assignment, for on September 8, 1985 the news of his sudden death was a shock to the Friars. He died of a cardiac arrest in the 69th year of his age, 49th of his profession and 43rd of his priesthood.
The concelebrated services were held at St. Stanislaus Church, Chelsea, MA and St. Anthony of Padua Church, Fairfield, CT. In Chelsea, Fr. Raphael was only a newcomer, yet the service was well attended. At St. Anthony of Padua, Bishop Walter Curtis of the Diocese of Bridgeport presided at the Funeral Liturgy for two former Pastor's Frs. Raphael Wisniewski and Leopold Sierzega. The mortal remains of Fr. Raphael rest in Michael Cemetery, Stratford, CT, (Friars' Circle, No. 30).
Fr. Raphael Wisniewski, OFM Conv., son of Walter and Maryann (Kajma) Wisniewski, was born on November 2, 1916, in Nashua, NH. His parents eventually moved to Bridgeport, CT, where his primary education was in the Parochial School of St. Michael the Archangel and Warren G. Harding High School. After his secondary education, he approached his pastor, Fr. Charles Ratajczak, and expressed his intention of becoming a Franciscan Friar. He was then sent to St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate, Ellicott City, MD, where, after a period of 12 months, he professed his simple vows on September 29, 1936. He was then sent to St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA and made his further studies in the philosophy and theology. On June 30, 1943 he was ordained to the priesthood in the Seminary Chapel by the Most Reverend Christopher J. Weldon, Bishop of Springfield.
As a Franciscan priest, Fr. Raphael's ministry embraced the parochial and educational apostolates. His first assignment took him to St. Casimir Church, Baltimore, MD, as an associate pastor. Shortly afterwards, he was assigned to St. Francis High School, Athol Springs, NY, as a teacher and director of the School Choir that performed during the Fr. Justin Rosary Hour. In 1949 he was assigned to the Friary of St. Anthony, Ellicott City, MD, to minister as a preacher. During these years he published "The Busy Priest's Aid," a booklet of preaching material and bulletin announcements of all occasions, and did extensive research on the life of Fr. Justin Figas, OFM Conv. From October, 1966 until August, 1979 Fr. Raphael served as Guardian of the Friary and Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church, Williamansett (Chicopee), MA. At the very onset of his pastorate he was convinced that the religious training of the youth was of prime importance and since he did not have a Parish school, he obtained permission from the City of Chicopee, to use the classrooms of a nearby city school for the Saturday Confraternity Classes. A team of dedicated lay teachers assisted in the religious training of the parish youth. In July of 1970, Fr. Raphael and his parishioners saw the beginning of the construction of a new church, completed and blessed on October 24, 1971. At the Provincial Chapter of 1979 Fr. Raphael was appointed Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield, CT where he completed the implementation of the pastoral and liturgical changes mandated by the Second Vatican Council. In 1984 he was transferred to St. Stanislaus, Bishop-Martyr, Church in Chelsea, MA. It was a brief assignment, for on September 8, 1985 the news of his sudden death was a shock to the Friars. He died of a cardiac arrest in the 69th year of his age, 49th of his profession and 43rd of his priesthood.
The concelebrated services were held at St. Stanislaus Church, Chelsea, MA and St. Anthony of Padua Church, Fairfield, CT. In Chelsea, Fr. Raphael was only a newcomer, yet the service was well attended. At St. Anthony of Padua, Bishop Walter Curtis of the Diocese of Bridgeport presided at the Funeral Liturgy for two former Pastor's Frs. Raphael Wisniewski and Leopold Sierzega. The mortal remains of Fr. Raphael rest in Michael Cemetery, Stratford, CT, (Friars' Circle, No. 30).
As a Franciscan priest, Fr. Raphael's ministry embraced the parochial and educational apostolates. His first assignment took him to St. Casimir Church, Baltimore, MD, as an associate pastor. Shortly afterwards, he was assigned to St. Francis High School, Athol Springs, NY, as a teacher and director of the School Choir that performed during the Fr. Justin Rosary Hour. In 1949 he was assigned to the Friary of St. Anthony, Ellicott City, MD, to minister as a preacher. During these years he published "The Busy Priest's Aid," a booklet of preaching material and bulletin announcements of all occasions, and did extensive research on the life of Fr. Justin Figas, OFM Conv. From October, 1966 until August, 1979 Fr. Raphael served as Guardian of the Friary and Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church, Williamansett (Chicopee), MA. At the very onset of his pastorate he was convinced that the religious training of the youth was of prime importance and since he did not have a Parish school, he obtained permission from the City of Chicopee, to use the classrooms of a nearby city school for the Saturday Confraternity Classes. A team of dedicated lay teachers assisted in the religious training of the parish youth. In July of 1970, Fr. Raphael and his parishioners saw the beginning of the construction of a new church, completed and blessed on October 24, 1971. At the Provincial Chapter of 1979 Fr. Raphael was appointed Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield, CT where he completed the implementation of the pastoral and liturgical changes mandated by the Second Vatican Council. In 1984 he was transferred to St. Stanislaus, Bishop-Martyr, Church in Chelsea, MA. It was a brief assignment, for on September 8, 1985 the news of his sudden death was a shock to the Friars. He died of a cardiac arrest in the 69th year of his age, 49th of his profession and 43rd of his priesthood.
The concelebrated services were held at St. Stanislaus Church, Chelsea, MA and St. Anthony of Padua Church, Fairfield, CT. In Chelsea, Fr. Raphael was only a newcomer, yet the service was well attended. At St. Anthony of Padua, Bishop Walter Curtis of the Diocese of Bridgeport presided at the Funeral Liturgy for two former Pastor's Frs. Raphael Wisniewski and Leopold Sierzega. The mortal remains of Fr. Raphael rest in Michael Cemetery, Stratford, CT, (Friars' Circle, No. 30).
Gravesite Details
Conventual Franciscan priest
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
