Father Walter Pelczynski, founder of Marian Helpers, dies at age 84
The Rev. Ladislaus (Walter) F. Pelczynski, MIC, 84, a priest of the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception on Eden Hill, died Friday, Dec. 8, at home.Born in Adams on Aug.7, 1916, son of Adam and Bronislawa (Oparowska) Pelczynski, he graduated from Adams Public High School in 1934. He graduated from Catholic University of America with a bachelor's degree in 1939. He completed his studies at CUA's School of Theology in 1943.
Father Walter entered the Congregation of the Marians in 1934, made his first vows in 1935, and was ordained to the priesthood at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D. C. on May 28, 1942.
Among his many accomplishments, Fr. Walter purchased the Marians' Eden Hill property in Stockbridge in 1943 and helped found the former Marian Novitiate on the property. A year earlier in Washington, D.C. he founded the Mercy of God apostolate, the first Divine Mercy ministry in North America. The ministry evolved into the Association of Marian Helpers, founded by Fr. Walter in 1944.
Based in Stockbridge, the association is a spiritual benefit society with more than 1.5 million members in the United States and Canada. In 1994, he traveled to Poland and successfully launched the Association of Marian Helpers there. He had earlier founded the Association in Great Britain. Thanks to his efforts the Association is now an official ministry of the worldwide Congregation of Marians.
He served four terms as director of the association between 1945 and 1983. He also founded and edited the association's flagship magazine, Marian Helpers Bulletin, and its Polish-language magazine, Roze Maryi.
In 1950, Fr. Walter traveled to Great Britain to help organize the first Marian house there for Polish refugees, following the communist takeover of Poland after World War II. From 1963-75, he served two terms as Provincial Superior of the Stockbridge-based St. Stanislaus Kostka Province of Marians, which had been founded in 1948.
He was superior of the Marian Novitiate House in Brookeville, Md., from 1984-87, editor of the Roze Maryi from 1987-88, and provincial treasurer from 1989-96.
During the final years of life, Fr. Walter was still very active, assisting in local parishes, serving as spiritual director for several overseas pilgrimages and the Marian Helpers Divine Mercy Intercessory Prayer Ministry, and completing a short term as rector of the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy.
He was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Cardinal O'Boyle Assembly, Silver Spring, Md. In 1966, the London-based Polish Government in Exile awarded Fr. Walter the "Polonia Restituta" Order for his work in helping support their goals. This is one of Poland's highest awards.
He leaves three sisters, Wanda Stone of Warner Robins, Ga.; Sr. Florence Pelczynski of Providence, R.I. (of the Enfield, Conn. Felician Sisters); and Victoria Hollerich of Adams. He is predeceased by his parents and three brothers, Stanley, Frank, and Charles.
Funeral services will take place Friday, Dec. 15, at 10:30 a.m. with a Liturgy of Christian Burial, celebrated at St. Mary's Parish in Lee, with the Very Rev. Mark T. Garrow, MIC, superior general of the Congregation of Marians, as celebrant. Burial will follow at the Marian Community Cemetery on Eden Hill in Stockbridge.
Wake services take place Thursday, Dec. 14, from 4 to 10 p.m. at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Faustina Burse, a fund in memory of Fr. Walter, for his love for St. Faustina and a burse for the education of Marian seminarians around the world. Donations may be sent to: St. Faustina Burse, Marian Helpers Center, Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01263.
For further information, contact Patrick Novecosky at 298-1322.
