Szczepanski, Rev. Leo
Clergyman. From 1890 to 1894 pastor of St. Hedwig's parish, Wilmington, Del. Died in 1895.From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943
Leo Szczepanski. O.S.B.
(1865-1895)Leo Szczepanski, the second pastor of St. Hedwig Church, was born in Strasburg, Prussia, on March 3, 1865. He died at age 30 on October 3, 1895 of Bright's Disease of the liver. He arrived in the United States in 1888 and entered St. Vincent Seminary, the Benedictine seminary in western Pennsylvania, where he was professed on February 3, 1890. Wilmington Bishop Alfred A. Curtis ordained him at St. Peter Cathedral on December 11, 1891. Father Leo Szczepanski immediately became pastor of st. Hedwig where he served until his illness caused his retirement in June 1895. He left Wilmington to convalesce at the abbey in Newark, New Jersey. He had founded the St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Aid Society at St. Hedwig Parish on January 31, 1892 and the St. Hedwig Holy Rosary Sodality on October 15, 1893. He built the rectory on the Northeast comer of Linden and Harrison Streets which was razed to make way for the St. Hedwig School annex built in 1957. Under his direction, lay teachers were employed.
His death was reported on the front page of the Wilmington Morning News on Friday, October 4, 1895. This is an excerpt from the obituary:
Bishop Curtis yesterday morning received a telegram announcing the death of Father Leo, O.S.B. at the Abbey of the Benedictine Order in Newark, New Jersey. Father Leo was pastor of St. Hedwig Catholic Church. Yesterday his congregation was grief-stricken over his death, even the men crying bitterly. In addition to his duties as pastor, he taught Polish and English for five hours daily at St. Hedwig School. He also built a new residence for the parish priest, but did not live to enjoy it. Almost four months ago Father Leo went away for his health, being afflicted with Bright's Disease.Father Leo was buried on Saturday, October 5, 1895. The funeral was held in St. Mary's Church, Newark, which is attached to the abbey where he died. His grave has not been located, but it is thought that he is buried in the Benedictine plot in West Orange, New Jersey.Source: St. Hedwig's Church, 408 Harrison Street, Wilmington, Delaware; weekly bulletin of October 8, 2000; written by Fr. Andrew Molewski