1938 – 2015

Reverend Francis A. Gwiazda, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Laurentius Parish, Philadelphia, died at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, Darby, on Monday, March 2, 2015.

Father Gwiazda was born on February 26,1943, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Stanley Gwiazda and the late Helena Jedrzejczyk. Father Gwiazda attended Saint Josaphat Parochial School, Philadelphia, and Roman Catholic High School, Philadelphia, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Father Gwiazda was ordained on May 17, 1969, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by His Eminence John Cardinal Krol. Father Gwiazda served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Hedwig Parish, Chester; Saint Laurentius Parish, Philadelphia; Saint John Cantius Parish, Philadelphia; and Saint Adalbert Parish, Philadelphia. In 1986 he was appointed Pastor, Saint Laurentius Parish, Philadelphia, and named Pastor Emeritus in 2013.

His viewing will be held at Saint Francis Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare, Darby, on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at 9:00 AM. Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Father Gwiazda at 10:30 AM. Concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Reverend Edward P. Burke, Reverend Monsignor William A. Dombrow, Reverend Francis P. Groarke, Reverend Edward P Kuczynski, and Reverend Monsignor Daniel J. Sullivan. Father Kuczynski will be the homilist.

Father Gwiazda is survived by his sisters, Barbara (Ed) Esbensen, Theresa (Bruce) Beaver, and Sister Helen Gwiazda, O.F.S. and his brother Stanley (Terri) Gwiazda. Interment will be at Our Lady of Czestochowa Cemetery, Doylestown.

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