Msgr. Laurence Bronkiewicz leads a procession, followed by Cardinal Edward Egan, at his 40th anniversary Mass June 22. —Cameron Daniels photo
Msgr. Laurence Bronkiewicz celebrated the 40th anniversary of his priesthood and 10th anniversary as pastor at the 5:30 p.m. Mass Saturday, June 22, in St. Mary Church.
Cardinal Edward Egan, retired archbishop of New York and the third bishop of Bridgeport, was the celebrant.
“Today, at this Mass with all of you, I thank God for so many gifts,” said Msgr Bronkiewicz. “The gift of priesthood bestowed on me forty years ago on July 2, 1973, in Saint Peter Basilica in Rome. A scorching day as I recall! The gift of ministry as 12th pastor of this wonderful parish — it began on Feb. 22, 2003, a frigid day in the dead of winter!”
Msgr. Bronkiewicz completed his priestly formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. During his four decades of ministry, he has served in several parish assignments in Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk, and Brookfield as well as a theology instructor in the Diocesan Permanent Diaconate Formation Program and Saint John Fisher Diocesan Seminary.
From 1979-1984 Msgr. Bronkiewicz was released to serve as academic dean of his alma mater, the North American College, as well as a spiritual director of seminarians. Between 1986 until 2000 he assisted Bishops Walter Curtis and Egan in various capacities – as episcopal vicar for clergy and religious, overseeing clergy appointments, and later as chancellor.
In June of 2000, Msgr. Bronkiewicz was elected administrator of the diocese in the absence of a bishop and served in that role until March of 2001 when Bishop William E. Lori was appointed. He was then named pastor of Saint Mary Parish.
He also chaired the Pastors’ Commission on Catholic Education, which developed new models for the governance and financing of our Diocesan Catholic Schools.
Msgr. Bronkiewicz holds a doctorate in sacred theology in the field of spirituality, awarded summa cum laude by the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1986.