Right Rev. Stanley M. Bilinski Jr.

With great sadness, but with strong faith in Christ's triumph over death, we acknowledge the entrance into the eternal rest of the Lord of the Right Rev. Stanley M. Bilinski Jr., Diocesan Bishop of the Western Diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church and pastor of All Saints Cathedral in Chicago, Ill., on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, the Commemoration of All Souls.

Bishop Stanley is survived by his wife, Deborah, nee Petrosky; his children, Joshua and Hannah; brothers, Charles (Cathy) and Robert (Christine); niece, Lauren and nephews, James, Jake and David; parents-in-law, David J. and Rosemary Petrosky; and brother-in-law, David M. Petrosky.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Clara Kronen Bilinski; and his sister, Karolyn Alexis.

Bishop Stanley received his earliest sacraments at Our Savior on Golgotha Parish in Detroit, Mich., and attended schools there. He graduated in August 1976 from Wayne State University with a bachelor of arts degree in physics before attending Savonarola Theological Seminary for his studies for ordination.

Bishop Stanley also received a master's degree in education from the College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y., in 1985. Bishop Stanley was ordained to the priesthood of Christ on May 2, 1979, in St. Stanislaus Cathedral, Scranton, by the Most Rev. Francis Rowinski.

Following ordination, he served as pastor in St. Francis Parish in Washington, D.C., from June 1979 to October 1981; Holy Cross Parish in Baltimore, Md., from March 1980 to October 1981; St. Augustine Parish in Virginia Beach, Va. from June 1980 to October 1981; and Blessed Virgin Mary of Czestochowa Parish in Albany, N.Y., from October 1981 to February 2002. During this time, the then Father Bilinski oversaw the construction of the new parish church building in Latham, N.Y.

Bishop Stanley then served as pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Schenectady, N.Y., from February 2002 to April 2008; and St. Mary's Parish in Parma, Ohio, from April 2008 to December 2012. At the Special Synod held in Scranton in 2012, the then Father Stanley was elected a candidate for bishop and he, together with Bishop Bernard Nowicki, was consecrated to the episcopacy by the Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, in St. Stanislaus Cathedral, Scranton.

Following consecration, Bishop Stanley was assigned as Diocesan Bishop of the Western Diocese and pastor of All Saints Cathedral in Chicago. Throughout his priesthood and episcopacy, Bishop Bilinski was extremely active in the local community wherever he served as pastor.

Besides this work, he also served on a number of diocesan and national commissions. He was involved in all but one of the youth convocations of the PNCC and served as the national youth chaplain of the PNCC from 1982 to the present. In regards to the youth, he was also chaplain to several Kurs Encampments at the Bishop Hodur Retreat and Recreation Center.

Bishop Stanley was also a longtime member of the National Commission on Liturgy, the Music Commission and the National School of Christian Living Commission. He was an active participant in many music workshops, mission and evangelism workshops and national bowling tournaments. He also served on the Central Diocesan Council and the Supreme Council.

Besides his local ecumenical work, Bishop Stanley represented the PNCC on the national ecumenical group, Consultation on Common Texts for many years.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 8 by Prime Bishop Anthony Mikovsky in All Saints Cathedral in Chicago, Ill. The Mass was concelebrated by the active bishops of the church together with the clergy of the Western and Central Diocese. The funeral homily was preached by the Very Rev. Robert Nemkovich Jr.

A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Stanislaus Cathedral, Scranton. All are invited to attend.

Memorial donations are requested for the PNCC Clergy Pension Fund, 920 N. Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068.