Friar Joseph Benicewicz Death, OFM Conv., a Franciscan Friar of Our Lady of the Angels Province, died unexpectedly on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Kensington, Conn. Born on Feb. 29, 1960, in Baltimore, Md., he was the son of the late Walter and Theresa (nee Niemczyk). He was predeceased by his brother, Walter, Jr., and is survived by his sister, Lorraine Ludwig.
Upon graduation in 1978 from Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, he entered the Franciscan Friars novitiate in Ellicott City, Md. He attended St. Hyacinth College Seminary in Granby, Mass., where he earned a B.A. in philosophy in 1983. He taught for a year at St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, N.Y., then continued his studies in theology at St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, N.Y., where he was awarded a Master of Divinity in 1988.
Friar Joseph was ordained a friar priest on May 28, 1988, in Albany, N.Y. Following his ordination, he re-joined the faculty of St. Francis High School for 18 years. While at the school he was a math and religion teacher, baseball coach, department chairperson, assistant principal, principal, and lastly president of St. Francis.
In 2005, he was elected to serve a five-year term as treasurer of St. Anthony of Padua Province. In 2010, he was appointed president of Archbishop Curley High School where he served until being appointed pastor and rector of St. Stanislaus Basilica in Chicopee, Mass. During his time in the Diocese of Springfield he also served on the advisory board which helped to create Pope Francis Preparatory High School in Springfield.
His final assignment was as pastor of St. Paul Catholic Church in Berlin, Conn.
Visitation hours will be on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., at St. Paul Catholic Church, 461 Alling St., Berlin, Ct. (06037), with a Franciscan Wake Service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul Catholic Church. An additional viewing, funeral, and burial will be held in Baltimore on Saturday, Sept. 14. Details will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Franciscan Education Fund (12300 Folly Quarter Rd., Ellicott City MD 21042).
