Father James M. Winiarski M.S.

Father James M. Winiarski, M.S.

Father James M. Winiarski, M.S., 80, a Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette, died April 16, 2020 in Hartford, CT. He was born April 9, 1940 in Milwaukee, WI, son of the late John and Gertrude (Bogdanski) Winiarski. He attended grammar school at St. Mary of Czestochowa in Milwaukee, and high school in Olivet, IL. He entered the La Salette Seminary College in Olivet in 1958 and was ordained on December 18, 1966 in Rome, Italy. Father's studies continued in Rome, where he earned a PH.B. and S.T.B. degree.

Following his ordination, Father was Prefect at Olivet Seminary and a teacher at Schlarman Catholic High School in Danville, IL. In 1968, he ministered as Assistant Vocation Director at the La Salette residence in Twin Lakes, WI. He returned to the La Salette Seminary in Olivet as Vocation Director and as part-time chaplain at the Danville Veterans' Hospital. During this time, he continued his education and received an M.A. in French. From 1976 to 1980, he began work as a chaplain and teacher of Religious Subjects and French at Divine Savior-Holy Angels High School in Milwaukee. He also served as a Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus and the Boy Scouts of America. In 1980 he was named Assistant Pastor at St. John Kanty Parish and in 1989 he became Pastor of St. Paul Parish, both in Milwaukee. In 2005, Father Winiarski ministered at St. Ann Parish in Marietta, GA. In 2006, he was appointed Pastor, of Our Lady of La Salette Parish in Sulphur, LA. Father retired in 2014 to the La Salette community in St. Louis, MO and five years later moved to the La Salette Hartford House in CT.

In addition to his La Salette confreres, Father Winiarski is survived by his brothers; Joseph (his wife Jeanne) Winiarski, Edward (his wife Ann) Winiarski, Thomas (his wife Raette, deceased) Winiarski and Robert Wynn, all of Wisconsin; and was loved by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Father Winiarski was buried on April 22, 2020 at Mount St. Benedict's Cemetery in Bloomfield, CT. There will be a memorial mass to celebrate his life on July 27th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Parish, 6060 W. Loomis Road, Greendale, WI, 53129. Contributions in his memory may be made to: Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette Retirement Fund, 915 Maple Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114-2330.