Edward Gicewicz
Edward P. Gicewicz CM was born on January 28, 1913 in Bellows Falls, Vermont, the son of the late John Gicewicz and Felicia Markowska Gicewicz. He was received to the Congregation of the Mission in then Polish Vice-Province of New England on October 18, 1993 and completed formation and theological studies in Province of Poland in the houses in Vilnius (Internal Seminary) and in Stradom House, Krakow (Instytut Teologiczny Ksi??y Misjonarzy). Ordained priest on September 11, 1938.
After ordination he became a teacher and Director of Students at St. John Kanty Preparatory School (St. John's Kanty Prep) in Erie, Pennsylvania founded by Polish Vincentians in 1912 (closed in 1980).
In 1942, he started military service in the United States Air Chaplain Corps for the 6th Air Force in Panama (Albrook Air Force Station, Balboa, Panama) until 1946(when the station was redesignated). He returned to teaching in St. John's Prep. In 1950 enrolled the United States Air Force Chaplain Corps (created in 1949) which as separated from the Army Chaplain Corps lacked priests. He served as chaplain the Air Force bases in Denver, Colorado, Spokane, Washington and Yokata, Japan. Released from the service in 1953.
In 1953, he received Doctorate in Education from University of Denver and again returned to teach in St. John's Prep in Erie. In 1956 was appointed Principal and held this position until 1963, when he became the Vice-Visitor of Vice-Province of New England (from 1975 - Province of New England). After being replace in the office by Fr. Sawicki in 1967, he accepted position of mission preacher at Mission and Retreat House in Whitestone, New York. Next, in 1976 he became Pastor of SS Cyril & Methodius Parish in Lisbon Falls, Maine. From 1982 to 1989 he worked as Parochial Vicar in the parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. He retired from active ministry in 1990 and became resident in the St. Peter’s Church in Concord, New Hampshire.
In 1996 Fr. Gicewicz moved to St. Joseph's Residence in Enfield, Connecticut where he stayed until his death on March 17, 2009.
A Vigil Service for Father Gicewicz was held in the chapel of St. Joseph’s Residence,Enfield, Connecticut, on Friday, March 20, 2009. The Funeral Mass with [http://www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil/intro.html Funeral Military Honors] was celebrated in the same chapel on Saturday, March 21, 2009. Burial took place in the Vincentian Community Plot at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Derby, Connecticut.
Publications
- Rev. Boleslaw Kumor, Ph.D., S.T.D.: Towards Brooklyn's St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish Centennial. Translated and edited by
rev. Edward P. Gicewicz, CM, Ed. D. Brooklyn, New York 1992
- Rev. Boleslaw S. Kumor, S.T.D.:Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish, New Haven. Translated and edited by rev. Edward P. Gicewicz, CM, Ed. D. New Haven, Connecticut 1987
- Ks. Boles?aw Kumor: Ko?cielne dzieje Polonii w Connecticut (1870-1986) Kraków 1990 (nadbitka z "Nasza Przesz?o??", t. 73)
- Ten artyku? jest tak?e dost?pny w j?zyku polskim w Encyklopedii Wincenty?skiej
