S
SentimentalGent
Guest
Philadelphia archbishop visits Mahanoy City for funeral Mass
SUBHEAD: Cardinal Rigali celebrates Mass for Father Dziadosz
By John E. Usalis
Ashland Bureau Chief
MAHANOY CITY — “He was a man of prayer, a man of fidelity and a man of the Mass.”
Those words spoken by the Rev. Msgr. John P. Boland about his late friend and seminary classmate, the Rev. Edward T. Dziadosz, aptly described the late priest’s dedication to his vocation throughout his life in serving the people of God in two dioceses.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Father Dziadosz Wednesday in St. Casimir Roman Catholic Church in Mahanoy City, his home parish in his native town. Having served 39 of his 49 years as priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Mass’s principal celebrant was Justin Cardinal Rigali, the archbishop of Philadelphia. The principal concelebrants were the Most Rev. Thomas J. Welsh, retired bishop of the Diocese of Allentown, the Rev. Lawrence Bukaty, pastor of St. Casimir and Assumption BVM churches in Mahanoy City; the Rev. Francis E. Kelly, the Rev. Edmond J. Spietel and Msgr. Boland, who was also the homilist. Other concelebrants were priests from the Philadelphia Archdiocese and Allentown Diocese.
Assisting at Mass were altar servers from Marian Catholic High School. Accompanied by organist Eileen Barlow, the choir was composed of singers from St. Casimir and Assumption BVM churches in Mahanoy City and St. Ann and Annunciation BVM churches in Frackville.
During his homily, Msgr. Boland said his friend’s devotion to living his life as a follower of Jesus Christ in service to the Catholic Church made him a splendid example and role model to seminarians.
“Father Ed was all priest. He was seriously devoted, hardworking and prayerful,” he said. “He was a good classmate, friend and companion. He recognized what he had was a gift from God that he was returning to God in his ministry. Father Ed loved to celebrate Mass.”
Msgr. Boland said that if one word could describe his friend, it was “Yes.”
“Whenever God called, it was always answered ‘Yes’ by Father Ed,” he said.
Prior to Mass, the body of Father Dziadosz laid in state in the center aisle of the church near the altar. As is traditional with a funeral Mass for the clergy, his body faced the people, as a priest does during the Mass. The church was opened in the morning for final viewing. The parish community prayed the rosary, led by Father Bukaty, followed by the family paying its final respects.
As Mass was about to begin, his glasses were removed and placed in the casket, which was then closed. The pall was placed over the casket by family members. Finally, the Book of Gospels was placed on the casket.
In recognition of Father Dziadosz’s Polish heritage, several hymns included words sung in Polish.
The presentation of gifts at the offertory was performed by Father Dziadosz’s sisters, Florence Dziadosz and Mary Dziadosz, and nieces Susan (Dziadosz) Larson and Carol (Dziadosz) Farrow.
Father Bukaty spoke to the congregation after Holy Communion, also speaking of his dedication to his vocation, even after retiring in 1994 and returning to Mahanoy City.
“Although Father Dziadosz gave almost 40 years of his priesthood to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, during his last 10 years of his retirement he gave 40 years in 10 years to the Diocese of Allentown,” Father Bukaty said. “He worked so hard and was so faithful.”
Cardinal Rigali sprinkled the casket with holy water and incensed as the Mass ended. He also spoke to the congregation about the priesthood and how Father Dziadosz lived it.
“His life was a profession of faith, a profession that showed that the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is for each and every one of us,” said Cardinal Rigali. “In peace, let us take our brother, Edward, to his place of rest.”
Father Dziadosz, pastor emeritus of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Coatesville, died Sept. 29 at his home in Mahanoy City.
– 30 –
SUBHEAD: Cardinal Rigali celebrates Mass for Father Dziadosz
By John E. Usalis
Ashland Bureau Chief
MAHANOY CITY — “He was a man of prayer, a man of fidelity and a man of the Mass.”
Those words spoken by the Rev. Msgr. John P. Boland about his late friend and seminary classmate, the Rev. Edward T. Dziadosz, aptly described the late priest’s dedication to his vocation throughout his life in serving the people of God in two dioceses.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Father Dziadosz Wednesday in St. Casimir Roman Catholic Church in Mahanoy City, his home parish in his native town. Having served 39 of his 49 years as priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Mass’s principal celebrant was Justin Cardinal Rigali, the archbishop of Philadelphia. The principal concelebrants were the Most Rev. Thomas J. Welsh, retired bishop of the Diocese of Allentown, the Rev. Lawrence Bukaty, pastor of St. Casimir and Assumption BVM churches in Mahanoy City; the Rev. Francis E. Kelly, the Rev. Edmond J. Spietel and Msgr. Boland, who was also the homilist. Other concelebrants were priests from the Philadelphia Archdiocese and Allentown Diocese.
Assisting at Mass were altar servers from Marian Catholic High School. Accompanied by organist Eileen Barlow, the choir was composed of singers from St. Casimir and Assumption BVM churches in Mahanoy City and St. Ann and Annunciation BVM churches in Frackville.
During his homily, Msgr. Boland said his friend’s devotion to living his life as a follower of Jesus Christ in service to the Catholic Church made him a splendid example and role model to seminarians.
“Father Ed was all priest. He was seriously devoted, hardworking and prayerful,” he said. “He was a good classmate, friend and companion. He recognized what he had was a gift from God that he was returning to God in his ministry. Father Ed loved to celebrate Mass.”
Msgr. Boland said that if one word could describe his friend, it was “Yes.”
“Whenever God called, it was always answered ‘Yes’ by Father Ed,” he said.
Prior to Mass, the body of Father Dziadosz laid in state in the center aisle of the church near the altar. As is traditional with a funeral Mass for the clergy, his body faced the people, as a priest does during the Mass. The church was opened in the morning for final viewing. The parish community prayed the rosary, led by Father Bukaty, followed by the family paying its final respects.
As Mass was about to begin, his glasses were removed and placed in the casket, which was then closed. The pall was placed over the casket by family members. Finally, the Book of Gospels was placed on the casket.
In recognition of Father Dziadosz’s Polish heritage, several hymns included words sung in Polish.
The presentation of gifts at the offertory was performed by Father Dziadosz’s sisters, Florence Dziadosz and Mary Dziadosz, and nieces Susan (Dziadosz) Larson and Carol (Dziadosz) Farrow.
Father Bukaty spoke to the congregation after Holy Communion, also speaking of his dedication to his vocation, even after retiring in 1994 and returning to Mahanoy City.
“Although Father Dziadosz gave almost 40 years of his priesthood to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, during his last 10 years of his retirement he gave 40 years in 10 years to the Diocese of Allentown,” Father Bukaty said. “He worked so hard and was so faithful.”
Cardinal Rigali sprinkled the casket with holy water and incensed as the Mass ended. He also spoke to the congregation about the priesthood and how Father Dziadosz lived it.
“His life was a profession of faith, a profession that showed that the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is for each and every one of us,” said Cardinal Rigali. “In peace, let us take our brother, Edward, to his place of rest.”
Father Dziadosz, pastor emeritus of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Coatesville, died Sept. 29 at his home in Mahanoy City.
– 30 –
