Fr. Val with Fr. Ben in Milwaukee in 2006
Fr. Val with Pope John Paul II in Rome in 2001
Archdiocese of Detroit Announcement
Fr. Benjamin Kosnac, Pastor of Ss. Cyril & Methodius Parish, notified the Archdiocese of the death of Father Valerian J. Rykowski on Sunday, March 1, 2009. He was 92 years old.
Father Valerian Rykowski was ordained for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, WI, on March 20, 1943, where he served until his retirement in 2000. He then transferred to Traverse City, MI, where he served as Chaplain of the Carmelite Nuns until his retirement in 2000. With permission from his Bishop, Father was allowed to retire in the Detroit area. As a Senior Priest, he resided and assisted at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Parish, Sterling Heights.
Father Valerian Rykowski will be waked at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Parish, 41233 Ryan Road, Sterling Heights (586-726-6911). Visitation will take place on Monday, March 9, and Tuesday, March 10, from 1 until 9 p.m., with prayers and Rosary at 7 p.m. each evening. On Wednesday, March 11, his body will lie in state from 10 a.m. until the celebration of his Funeral Holy Mass at 12 noon.
Father Rykowski is survived by his brother, Father Jerome A. Rykowski and his sister, Betty Irany; nieces, Kathy, Margaret and Valerie Rykowski; nephew, David Irany, and his spiritual family. Condolences may be sent to Ss. Cyril & Methodius Slovak Catholic Church, 41233 Ryan Road, Sterling Heights, MI, 48314.
Please keep Father Rykowski and his family in your prayers. Monsignor Robert J. McClory
**In lieu of flowers, donations for Mass Offerings to Ss. Cyril & Methodius or to:
The Trinitarians of Mary, c/o Mother Lily/Sr. Ines, 62 Marble Road, Lowell, Michigan 49331, would be appreciated
Archdiocese of Milwaukee Announcement
With hope in the resurrection, we commend to the Lord
Father Rykowski was born on November 12, 1916, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was ordained on March 20, 1943 by the Most Reverend Moses E. Kiley at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee. Father Rykowski began his studies at Saint Francis Seminary in 1935, and completed his preparation for the priesthood in 1943.
Father’s priestly ministry began April 28, 1943 as an assistant at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Milwaukee. He was named the pastor at Holy Family Parish, Reeseville, and the attached mission, St. Columbkille, Elba, on September 24, 1959. His next new pastorates were served at St. Michael, Beaver Dam (appointed January 13, 1965) and St. Vincent de Paul, Milwaukee (appointed December 12, 1967). Father moved to the Superior Diocese in April of 1969, where he lived and assisted in Phillips, WI, and then settled in the Traverse City, Michigan area in 1992, retiring from active ministry on November 21, 2000. For the past several years, Father was in residence and assisted at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Catholic Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial for Father Rykowski will be celebrated at noon on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Catholic Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Visitation takes place at the parish on Monday and Tuesday, March 9 and 10, 1:00-9:00pm, and from 10:00am until time for the noon funeral Mass on March 11. Archbishop Dolan will preside at a ten o’clock Committal Service for Father on Tuesday morning, March 17, 2009, at St. Adalbert Cemetery and Mausoleum, 3801 South 6th Street, Milwaukee.
Members of the Purgatorial Society will please offer the prescribed Mass for the repose of his soul and include Father Rykowski’s intention in the General Intercessions at the parish. May he rest in peace.
Sincerely yours in Christ, Barbara Anne Cusack, Chancellor
Condolences from Bishop Minde
Dear Fr. Ben:
“Tumsifu Yesu Kristo Baba Paroko.”
With deep sorrow, Fr. Robert and I received the sad news of the death of our lovely Fr. Val. OH, he was such a nice and saintly priest. May the Good Lord rest him in Peace.
Fr. Robert and I send you and all the Parishioners at Ss. Cyril & Methodius our friendly and spiritual condolences. We are united in prayer. Tomorrow morning (March 7, 2009) we are going to celebrate our Holy Mass for him.
Please pass our condolences to his Bishop, family, friends and the parishioners at Ss. Cyril & Methodius.
Thanks, +Bishop Minde