Reverend Robert J. Witkowski (September 11, 1935 - May 10, 2021)

 

Reverend Robert J. Witkowski was born on September 11, 1935 at St. Francis Hospital in Hamtramck. He was the firstborn child of John and Jennie Witkowski. While his mother, Jennie Nadrowski, was born in Brooklyn, his father, John Witkowski and all his grandparents were born in Poland. Hence his lifelong interest in things Polish.

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As a boy, Father Robert attended St. Louis the King elementary school and was taught by the Felician Sisters until June of 1949. That September he began high school at De LaSalle Collegiate High School under the direction of the Christian Brothers.

In September of 1953 Father Robert began his college studies for the priesthood at St. Mary's College in Orchard Lake. In September of 1957, Father Robert began four years of Theological Studies at St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth.

 

Father Robert Witkowski was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1961 at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit by Cardinal Dearden and said his first Mass as his home parish, St. Louis the King, also in Detroit. His first parish assignment was St. Matthew’s where he served from 1961 to 1966. He was then assigned to Our Lady Queen of Heaven from 1966 -1969, followed by an assignment as hospital Chaplain at Detroit Osteopathic and others. In 1976, Father Robert went on to St. Mary Magdalen in Melvindale. Father Witkowski also served at the parishes of Our Lady Star of the Sea (1980 -1981), St. Lawrence (1981 -1985), St. Raymond (1985 -1991). In 1991, Father Robert came to St. Edmund Church where he served until his retirement.

 

Visitation Sunday, May 16 from 3:00pm to 9:00pm at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons Funeral Home on 54880 Van Dyke at 25 Mile Rd. Rosary at 7:00pm. Instate Monday, May 17 at 9:30am at St. Lawrence Catholic Church 44633 Utica Rd. Utica, MI until Mass, 10:00am. Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Donations to SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, MI or De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren, MI are appreciated.

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Wieczny odpoczynek racz mu dać Panie,

A światłość wiekuista niechaj mu świeci,

Niech odpoczywa w pokoju wiecznym.

Amen.