THE RIGHT REVEREND MONSIGNOR MICHAEL FEDOROWICH
JANUARY 19, 1930-APRIL 25, 2011
The Right Reverend Monsignor Michael Fedorowich, fell asleep in the Lord, Bright Monday afternoon, April 25, 2011. He served God and the faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church as a priest incardinated in the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia for over 50 years, until his retirement from the active ministry as pastor of Transfiguration of Our Lord Church in Shamokin due to ill health in 2006. For the past two years, he had been a resident of Maria Joseph Manor, Danville, Pa.
Monsignor Fedorowich, one of seven children, was born to the late Michael and Anastasia Wolos Fedorowich in Mahanoy Plane, PA on January 19, 1930.
He attended St. Basil Preparatory School in Stamford CT, where he graduated as class valedictorian in 1947.
He then enrolled in St. Basil’s College Seminary, Stamford, CT, and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Philosophy in 1951.
As a major seminarian at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary, Washington, D.C., he matriculated at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., where he completed his theological studies required for priestly ordination in 1955 and earned his Licentiate in Sacred Theology.
He was ordained to the holy priesthood on June 11, 1955 by the late Archbishop Constantine Bohachevsky in the old Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia, PA.
The newly-ordained Father Michael celebrated his Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving in his home parish, St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Maizeville, PA.
He served as assistant pastor of the following parishes: Ss. Peter and Paul, Ansonia, CT; St. Michael the Archangel, Hartford, CT; St. Nicholas, Philadelphia, PA.
He served as pastor of St. Piux X Church, Houston, TX, where he was founding pastor; Protection of the BVM Church, Bristol, PA; Assumption of the BVM Church, Perth Amboy, NJ; Annunciation of the BVM Church, Melrose Park, PA; St. Josaphat Church, Parma, OH, where he provided the leadership for the construction of the cathedral of the Parma Eparchy of St. Josaphat; and Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, Shamokin, PA.
From 1962 to 1974 and from 1983 to 1993, he served as rector of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Philadelphia and during his tenure as rector the new cathedral was constructed in the 1960’s.
Because of his administrative talents and organizational skills, Msgr. Fedorowich also served the Archeparchy of Philadelphia as vicar general, member of the College of Consultors and member of the Archieparchial Corporation; director of the Office of Religious Education; member of the board of the Catholic Apostolate; editor of The Way; member of the Tribunal; member of the seminary advisory board.
He also served as Protopresbyter of the South Anthracite Deanery and Spiritual Director of the South Anthracite Deanery Holy Name Society.
On May 31, 1968, Pope Paul VI elevated him to the rank of Papal Chamberlain with the title of Very Reverend Monsignor. He received another papal ecclesiastical honor when Pope John Paul II elevated him to the rank of Papal Chaplain with the title of Right Reverend on October 16, 1985.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Anna Maclean, and brothers Peter, Walter, John and Raymond Fedorowich.
Msgr. Michael is survived by a sister, Olga Cleary, North Miami, FL and nieces and nephews.
His funeral Divine Liturgy will be celebrated, Tuesday, May 3 at 10 a.m. in St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Maizeville, Pa. by Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka, Bishop Basil H. Losten, and his brother priests.
His body will lie in repose in Transfiguration of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church, Shamokin from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday, May 2. Priestly Parastas will be sung at 7 p.m. Monday evening.
Tuesday morning his body will lie in repose in St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Maizeville, PA from 8:30 a.m. until the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Cumru Township, Reading, PA.
It was Msgr. Fedorowich’s desire that those wishing to do so, may offer contributions in his memory for: The Poor and Hungry in Ukraine, c/o Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, 827 North Franklin Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19123-2097.
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