Fr. Joseph Grzybowski, OFM Conv

Fr. Joseph Grzybowski, OFM Conv. was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA on December 3, 1923, and passed on January 24, 2019. He was the son of the late John and Julia (née Siemanski) Grzybowski. He was predeceased by his brother Fr.Robert Grzybowski, OFM Conv. In addition to his Franciscan family he is survived by his family and many friends.Friar Joseph entered St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate of the Franciscan Friars Conventual, Ellicott City, MD, in August 1942. He professed his Temporary Vows
on August 15, 1943 and professed Solemn Vows on August 16, 1946. Fr. Joseph was ordained to the priesthood at St. Michael’s Cathedral, in Springfield, MA, on June 11, 1949. He received his S.T.B. (1948) and his S.T.L. (1949) in Theology from Grand Seminary, in Montreal, Canada.
Fr. Joseph was assigned as Assistant Director of Formation at St. Hyacinth College and Seminary from 1950 to 1957. From there, he was named as Assistant Pastor to St. Adalbert Parish, in Elmhurst, NY from 1957 to 1968. He was then assigned as the Guardian and Pastor of St. Michael Parish in Montreal, Canada in 1969; a term that lasted four years. During the following years (1973-1994), Fr. Joe served as Pastor to St. Michael the Archangel Parish, in Bridgeport, CT; St. John Kanty Parish, Clifton, NJ; Holy Trinity Parish, Lawrence, MA; and St. Casimir Parish, Baltimore, MD. He then served as Parochial Vicar to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Taunton, MA from 1994-1998. Father Joseph also served as Definitor of the Province from 1991 to 1994. Retiring in 1998, Fr. Joseph moved into the Immaculate Heart of Mary Friary, in Baltimore, MD. He was not idle in retirement, as he was always interested in what was going on in the life of the friars who served Archbishop Curley High School as well as the life of the Province. He was transferred to St. Hyacinth Senior Friars Residence, in 2009, and onto the Our Lady of the Angels Care Center, in Enfield, CT, in 2014. Visiting hours will be held on January 28, 2019 from 6-7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel, 1315 Enfield St., Enfield, CT.

A Franciscan Wake Service will take place at 7:00 p.m. On January 29, 2019, a Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., preceded by visitation from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Friars Mausoleum at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Baltimore, MD, on a later date.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Franciscan Education Burse, 12300 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042. Funeral arrangements are by Kozikowski Funeral Home of Chicopee, MA and Kaczorowski Funeral Home of Baltimore, MD.