Father Joseph Fiedorowicz, a native of Poland who came to the United States in 1990 and later served as parochial administrator of Immaculate Heart Parish in Brentwood, died June 15 in Florida. He was 62 years old.

Fr. Joseph Fiedorowicz

Ordained in Poznan, Poland, on May 14, 1975, he served there and in England before beginning pastoral work in the Diocese of Knoxville, Tenn. He was pastor of St. Mary Parish and the mission parish of St. Catherine Laboure in Copperhill, Tenn.

He came to the Oakland Diocese in May 2000 and in August of that year was named parochial vicar of St. Felicitas Parish in San Leandro. The following year he was appointed to the Brentwood parish when longtime pastor Father John Garcia retired.

“I’m very happy here,” he wrote to Bishop John Cummins in his request to become a priest of the Oakland Diocese in 2001. “The young people of this parish are wonderful and they need a lot of attention. I do my best to show them my interest in them. I regularly meet with them and have a monthly Mass especially for them.”

He is remembered for also having concern for the older members of the parish and those who were sick and infirmed. With Father Garcia, he started a Young of Heart group for retired parishioners and made frequent visits to hospitalized parishioners.

He spoke Spanish in addition to Polish and German and formed a strong connection to the Latino community, said Nacho Perez, a parishioner whom Father Fiedorowicz asked to help launch various liturgical ministries. “Father Joseph was unique. Very friendly and very approachable,” Perez said. “He was very devoted to the Blessed Sacrament and to our Blessed Mother.”

Perez said Father Fiedorowicz often gave parishioners holy cards and Polish gifts and participated actively in the numerous events and festivities of the parish.

Father Fiedorowicz was especially proud of the parish’s new church, which was consecrated on June 5, 2004. A year later he was forced by ill health to resign. Determined to beat the diagnosis of cancer, he sought treatment at a specialized clinic in Houston and sent a photo of himself outside the clinic as his 2006 Christmas card.

At the time of his death, he was living in Florida and being cared for by members of his family.

His funeral Mass and burial took place in Poland.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated later this month at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.

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