Stefan and Helena Wichmanowski Endowment
For the Shepherd's Care Fund – Support of our Retired Priests

The story of the Wichmanowski family is an heroic epic that reflects the strength of our great nation and of the Church of Pittsburgh. It started over 100 years ago (AD1911) with the shipboard encounter of Stefan Wichmanowski and Helena Blaszkiewicz, immigrants from Poland. Stefan and Helena came from separate villages and met on their journey to America. They were married in 1913 and became active and devout faithful of St. Adalbert Parish on Pittsburgh's Southside. They were blessed with six children: Julia (Mrs. John Gawrich); Helen (Mrs. Edward Krynski); Hedwig (Mrs. Ray Sierka); Rev. Fr. Joseph S. Wichmanowski, Pastor and County Prison Chaplain; Henry A. (Mrs. Eve M. June Wichmanowski), Educator/Principal, WWII, Order of the Purple Heart; and Chaplain (Col) Walter F. Wichmanowski, Veteran WWII and 28 years Unites States Army Chaplain, including et alia, Vietnam Conflict. Grandmother, Julia Blaszkiewicz, also resided with the family. The Wichmanowski family built and operated the neighborhood bakery for 30 years.

Father Walter F. Wichmanowski, now 86, retired and living in Vincentian Home, is an important part of this story. He has been very generous in his life, purchasing Charitable Gift Annuities and assigning their regular distributions for charitable purposes like support for the Chimbote, Peru mission hospital and clinic. He remembers his parents for their priceless gifts to him of their devout Catholic faith, and for their great patriotism for their adopted country. He has recently established the Stefan and Helena Wichmanowski Fund in memory of his parents. Distributions from this fund will support the growing number of retired priests in our Diocese.

Throughout his life Father developed a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. In his parents' memory he prays, "My mother and father were exemplary Catholics and servants of God and Country. Mary Immaculate, the Patroness of the United States, pray for them."

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