OBITUARIES: Msgr. Joseph Fedorek, pastor in Elizabeth for 36 years (06/17/01)

OBITUARIES

Msgr. Joseph Fedorek, pastor in Elizabeth for 36 years

ELIZABETH, N.J. - Msgr. Joseph John Fedorek, pastor of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church here and dean of New Jersey's Ukrainian Catholic parishes, died on May 26. He was 75.

Msgr. Fedorek was born in Bayonne, N.J., on April 12, 1926, the son of Wasyl and Ann (Lytwyn) Fedorek. He attended public schools in Bayonne and then graduated in 1945 from St. Basil Preparatory School and in 1949 from St. Basil College, both located in Stamford, Conn.

In 1947, while at college, the New York Giants B-Ball Division in Manchester, N.H., offered him a professional Minor League contract. Instead, he chose to complete his degree in Theological Studies at Catholic University, Washington, and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Constantine Bohachevsky, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, on June 8, 1953.

Msgr. Fedorek served in seven parishes of the Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He served as assistant pastor at St. Nicholas Parish in Buffalo, N.Y.; and at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Ansonia, Conn. His assignments as pastor included pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia; Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, southwest Philadelphia; Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Clifton Heights, Pa.; and St. Michael's Parish, Shenandoah, Pa., the oldest Ukrainian Catholic parish in North and South America.

In October 1965 the Rev. Fedorek was appointed pastor of St. Vladimir Parish in Elizabeth, N.J.; at the time of his passing he was completing his 36th year there as pastor.

In addition to his duties at St. Vladimir's, Msgr. Fedorek held several other positions within the Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia: chairman of the advisory board of directors of Manor Junior College in Jenkintown, Pa., national spiritual director of the League of Ukrainian Catholics in America, archeparchial consultor, board member of St. Basil's College and St. Basil's Prep, member of the board of directors of Ascension Manor I and II, senior citizens' homes in Philadelphia, and member of the board of directors of the Providence Association, the only Ukrainian Catholic insurance fraternal society in the world.

In January 1961 Tracy Voorhees, President John F. Kennedy's special advisor on Cuba, invited the Rev. Fedorek to travel to Miami Beach to aid in the resettlement of a substantial number of Cuban refugees. In 1962 he was invited as a guest chaplain to offer the invocation at the opening session of the U.S. Congress. He offered this prayer in the same spot where President Kennedy had delivered his State of the Union address the day before.

In 1963 the Rev. Fedorek was again invited as a guest chaplain to offer an invocation, this time at the opening session of the U.S. Senate. In March 1963, Gov. William Scranton of Pennsylvania invited the Rev. Fedorek to Harrisburg, Pa., to be guest chaplain in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He was also honorary chaplain to the Pennsylvania State Police.

For his achievements in St. Vladimir Parish and for his many responsibilities and duties in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Rev. Fedorek was bestowed the rank of monsignor in December 1976.

In 1979, Msgr. Fedorek was invited to concelebrate the liturgy with Pope John Paul ll in the Sistine Chapel for the consecration of Cardinal Myroslav Ivan Lubachivsky as archbishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States. Since 1980 he was the dean of Ukrainian Catholic parishes in the state of New Jersey.

In 1981 Pope John Paul ll raised him to the rank of prelate of honor (the right reverend monsignor). Soon after, he received the title of archpriest from the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Msgr. Fedorek was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 40 years and belonged to the Fourth Degree John Dawson Gilmary Shea Assembly. On May 13, 2000, Msgr. Fedorek was presented an to honorary doctorate of law from St. Basil College in Stamford for his dedicated service to St. Basil Seminary and the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The monsignor's only brother was the late PFC John Fedorek, who was killed in action on January 2, 1944, at Anzio Beach, Italy, during World War ll.

The funeral liturgy was offered on May 31 at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church and burial followed at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, N.J. Memorial donations may be made to St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary Fund, c/o St. Vladimir Church, 309 Grier Ave., Elizabeth, NJ 07202.

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