Father Richard S. Rolewicz, MM

Born: September 2, 1934
Ordained: June 12, 1965
Died: March 5, 2025

Father Richard S. Rolewicz died on March 5, 2025 in the Skilled Nursing Unit at Maryknoll, New York. He was 90 years old and a Maryknoll priest for 59 years.

Richard Stephen Rolewicz was born on September 2, 1934 in Hammond, Indiana to Harry J. and Lucille Slomka Rolewicz. He attended St. Michael’s and St. Ailbe’s Parochial Schools and graduated from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from St. Thomas University, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1956. From 1957 to 1959 he served in the United States Army Signal Corps, and was honorably discharged as a Specialist 5 in March 1959. In September of that year he entered Maryknoll for special studies at Maryknoll College, Glen Ellen, Illinois, and received his Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Religious Education degrees at Maryknoll Seminary, New York. Father Rolewicz was ordained a priest on June 12, 1965.

After ordination, Father Rolewicz was assigned to Maryknoll’s Mission Region in Korea, where he served for twelve years in rural and city parishes in the Cheong-Ju Diocese. In September 1977, he was assigned to Maryknoll’s Mission Unit in Nepal. A year later he returned to Korea and was reassigned to the Cheong-Ju Diocese. While there he was instrumental in building a rectory.

In the spring of 1983, Father Rolewicz took part in the Maryknoll Spiritual Renewal Program in Israel. He was then assigned to the U.S. Region and the Development Department, and worked in the St. Louis Development House for three and a half years.

On January 1, 1987 Father Rolewicz was reassigned to the Korea Mission Region and the Inchon Diocese, where he served as pastor of the Yong Jong Parish, which is made up of several islands in the Yellow Sea. In the spring of 1992 he began teaching English in Jilin Province, P.R. China in the area known as the “Yan Bian Korean Autonomous Prefecture,” which is located along the Chinese borders with Russia and the D.P.R. Korea. During this time he taught at Yan Bian Agricultural College in Long Jing City, the Medical College in Yan Ji City and the Vocational Senior Middle School in Hunchun City. Like other Maryknollers in the area, over the years he was able to assist the local diocesan priests on a limited basis.

In the summer of 2001, Father Rolewicz returned to Maryknoll, New York for health reasons and was back in China the following year. He spent two years teaching at the Salesian-founded Yan Ji International Technical High School in Yan Ji City, all the while enjoying their internationally famous hospitality and cooking. In 2003, he began teaching in the graduate program of Yan Bian University.

After celebrating his 40^th Anniversary in 2005, Father Rolewicz took up residence in the Seoul Korea Society House, where for many years he tutored English, assisted local pastors, helped out at the U.S. military bases, and enjoyed doing yardwork in season. He was appointed to Senior Missioner Status in June 2015 while continuing to reside in Korea.

Father Rolewicz returned to Maryknoll, New York in 2017 and took up residence at the Society Center, where he often enjoyed long walks around the property. In April 2018, he was assigned to the Senior Missioner Community.

Father Rolewicz is survived by his brother, Dr. Thomas Rolewicz, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Anita George, and his brothers, Harry, Peter and Paul Rolewicz.

Wake services were held on March 12, 2025 in the Holy Spirit Chapel and the Queen of Apostles Chapel at the Maryknoll Society Center. Mass of Christian Burial followed at 11:00 a.m. and was concelebrated in the Queen of Apostles Chapel. Father Russell Feldmeier was the Celebrant and homilist. Father David Pfeiffer read the biography and Father Peter Barry read the Oath. According to his wishes, Father Rolewicz was cremated following the Funeral Mass and his ashes were interred in the Maryknoll Society Columbarium.