Mourners say farewell to Father Przechacki
By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer
Father Casimir J. Przechacki, pastor emeritus of Holy Trinity Parish, Helmetta, and a priest for 61 years, was remembered by former parishioners and fellow clergy as a gentle priest who often expressed “great confidence in the Lord” regarding the mysteries of life and death.
Father Przechacki, who was affectionately called ‘Father Charlie,’ died Dec. 6. at Compassionate Care Hospice at St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton.
His body was received by Father Stanley Jarosz, pastor, Holy Trinity Parish, Dec. 9. Bishop Emeritus Edward T. Hughes was the principal celebrant of a Mass of Commemoration that night and Father Jarosz provided the homily.
Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski was principal celebrant of a Mass of Christian Burial Dec 10. Msgr. William J. Haughney provided the homily.
In a blessing, Bishop Bootkoski said Father Przechacki and his family are in the prayers of the diocese.
“Trusting in God we have prayed together for Father Casimir,” Bishop Bootkoski said. “Now we come to this last farewell. We are saddened, but we take comfort in the hope that one day we shall see Father again and enjoy his friendship. Although this congregation will disperse in sorrow, the mercy of God will gather us together again in the joy of his kingdom. Therefore let us console one another in the soul of Jesus Christ.”
In his homily, Msgr. Haughney, who knew Father Przechacki for 64 years, described him as a priest who was “humble and obedient and was happy for the obedience” to God and what his bishop’s asked of him.
The Gospel reading from John, which tells of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, was poignant, Msgr. Haughney said, because before his death, “Father Charley believed what God said to Martha, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’”
In his homily, Father Jarosz, who met Father Przechacki when he became pastor in 1988, said Father Przechacki wanted his final Mass to be where he last served. Father Przechacki wanted the first reading to be from the book of Wisdom and the second reading from the book of Revelation because, as he said, “God is wisdom and He will reveal everything.”
“He took seriously this moment of transition, his journey to eternity,” Father Jarosz added. “We have this beautiful example, how seriously this priest thought about, ‘Where are we going? What is our destination?’”
Before the recessional, Bishop Hughes offered prayers and sympathy for Father Przechacki’s family and former parishioners on behalf of the diocese.
“Father Charlie was a very good priest for 61 years for God, and a family has a great influence helping a priest become a good priest,” Bishop Hughes said.
Maria Ledbetter, a member of Holy Trinity Parish since the early 1950s, said she remembered Father Przechacki as a gentle man who never got angry.
“He was compassionate, understanding and he was wonderful with children. He used to call all the little girls, ‘Suzie Q,’ I guess than rather than try to remember their names,” she added with a smile.
Father Przechacki, who retired June 14, 1988, was living in Lawrenceville.
He was born May 12, 1916, in Trenton to the late Joseph and Mary Wozniak Przechacki. He attended St. Hedwig Elementary School, Trenton, and Trenton Central High School before entering St. Mary’s College, Orchard Lake, Mich. After college he enrolled in Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington.
Father Przechacki was ordained June 3, 1944 by Trenton Bishop William Griffin in St. Mary Cathedral, Trenton.
He served as associate pastor in St. Hedwig Parish, Trenton; All Saints Parish, Burlington; St. Joseph Parish, Keyport; St. Stephen Parish, Perth Amboy; and St. Mary Parish, South River.
He was administrator of St. Mary Parish, Bound Brook; St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish, Flemington; and Immaculate Conception Parish, Spotswood. He was also pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Oxford, and St. Mary Parish, Barnegat.
Father Przechacki was predeceased by his brother, Frank. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Stella Przechacki of Lawrenceville; a nephew, Francis Przechacki of San Diego; a niece, Virginia, and her husband, Francis Soltis, of Lawrenceville; two grandnieces and two grandnephews.
Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Trenton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Holy Trinity Church.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Lester Memorial Home, Jamesburg.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law