+Msgr. Daniel J. Plocharczyk
July 17, 1948 - April 12, 2024
With great sadness we wish to inform you that a lifetime member of the Polish American Priests Association, Msgr. Daniel J. Plocharczyk passed away on April 12, 2024. Msgr. Plocharczyk had been an exceptional Polish American Priest who promoted Polish, customs, traditions and culture. Msgr. Plocharczyk had a wonderful sense of humor and he was a real inspiration to all who had a chance to know him. We will greatly miss him, but at the same time we give thanks to God for Msgr. Plocharczyk’s life and ministry to God’s people. Wieczny odpoczynek racz mu dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj mu świeci. Niech odpoczywa w pokoju wiecznym. Amen.
From the obituary:
Reverend Monsignor Daniel J. Plocharczyk, 75, retired Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, New Britain, died peacefully on Friday, April 12, 2024. Msgr. Plocharczyk, son of the late Joseph and Sophie (Marszalek) Plocharczyk, was born July 17, 1948 in New Britain.
Msgr. Plocharczyk graduated from Sacred Heart School, New Britain; St. Thomas Seminary High School and St. Thomas Seminary Junior College, Bloomfield, and St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, MD. He was ordained a priest by the late Archbishop John F. Whealon on May 25, 1974, at St. Joseph Cathedral, Hartford. He was nominated by Archbishop Daniel Cronin and was named a Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) on August 4, 1993, by Pope John Paul II.
His parish assignments included temporary assignments to St. Stanislaus, Meriden and to Sacred Heart, New Britain; assistant pastor at St. Adalbert, Enfield, Sacred Heart, New Britain, and SS. Cyril & Methodius, Hartford.
In September 1991, he was appointed Secretary to the Administrator of the Archdiocese, Bishop Peter A. Rosazza, after the death of Archbishop Whealon. In January 1992, he was named Secretary to Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin and Vice Chancellor. On June 1, 1994, Msgr. was named the Moderator of the Curia and Chancellor of the Archdiocese. Msgr. Plocharczyk was appointed Pastor/Rector of St. Joseph Cathedral, Hartford, on August 8, 1997, as well as Episcopal Vicar for the Hartford Vicariate. On May 7, 2003, he was named Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, New Britain, a role which he held for over twenty years.
He served as an Archdiocesan Consultor and on the Restructuring Committee; the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal Committee; the Priests’ Retirement Board; the Presbyteral Council, Dean of the New Britain Deanery, a member of the Priests’ Personnel Board, the Pastors’ Advisory Committee for the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, and was appointed to the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Committee.
Msgr. Plocharczyk also held offices in the Association of Polish Priests in Connecticut and was National Vice-President and President of the Polish American Priests Association (PAPA) in the United States. In 2015 he received the Moczygemba Award, the highest honor given by the Polish American Priests’ Association (PAPA). He was also a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and Chaplain of the Haller Post Veterans. He was Chaplain of the New Britain Council of Catholic Women and served on the board of Msgr. Bojnowski Manor.
Msgr. Plocharczyk was a beloved priest and pastor. He initiated and oversaw numerous improvements to Sacred Heart Church and Cemetery. Through his priestly ministry and friendship, he touched the lives of countless parishioners with his kindness and compassion. His great love of God, his flock, and his Polish heritage was clear to all who knew him. With his untiring service, good humor, acts of charity, Msgr. Dan will be remembered in very many hearts at Sacred Heart Church and beyond.
His family would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Hosmer and his staff and to the staff of Msgr. Bojnowski Manor, for the extraordinary care of Msgr. Plocharczyk.
Msgr. Plocharczyk is survived by his twin brother, Thomas Plocharczyk and his wife Janet of Southington; his sister Lorraine Kaufman of South Glastonbury; his nephew Thomas Plocharczyk, Jr.; and his niece Sandi Dowsett and her husband Jake; as well as many cousins and their families, and many devoted friends. He was predeceased by his niece Lisa Plocharczyk.
Msgr. Plocharczyk will lie in state at Sacred Heart Church, 158 Broad St., New Britain, on Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. A Parish Mass will be celebrated in Polish at Sacred Heart on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 6:30 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in English on Friday, April 19, 2024, at Sacred Heart Church at 11:00 am by the Most Rev. Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop of Hartford. He will be laid to rest in the Priest’s Section in Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Britain. Memorial donations may be made to Sacred Heart Church, 158 Broad St., New Britain, CT 06053. Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Burritt Hill, 332 Burritt St., New Britain, is honored to care for arrangements.
To share a memory of Monsignor, please visit www.duksa.net.
