Reverend Monsignor Stanley Kloskowski
Celebrated 50th Jubilee of His PriesthoodHamilton Sq., NJ - On June 1, 2008, Monsignor Stanley Kloskowski of Hamilton Square, NJ celebrated the 50th anniversary of his Ordination to the priesthood. A celebratory Mass was concelebrated by Monsignor Stanley Kloskowski, Rev. Edward Griswold and Rev. Pawel Kryszkiewicz, assisted by Deacon William Johnson, at St. Gregory the Great Church in Hamilton Square, NJ. The church choir, under the direction of organist John Shaddy, provided
music for the Mass. Afterwards, a dinner was held in Monsignor's honor at Nottingham Ballroom, which included music by pianist Ed Goldberg and soloist Marilyn LeCerff. Monsignor and his siblings are 100% members of Holy Trinity Society #517 in South River, NJ.Stanley Edward Kloskowski was born in 1928 in South River, NJ. He is the oldest son of four children of Vincent and Mary Kloskowski. He is bilingual in English and Polish and was educated at St. Mary's Parochial School in South River and graduated from South River Public High School in 1945.
He embarked on a career as a professional Big Band and Jazz musician while still in high school and continued to play through his vacation breaks while in the seminary. He plays the organ and piano accordion. Stanley Kloskowski appeared solo many times on television shows like Paul Whitman's 'Teen Age Club' and Ted Mack's 'Original Amateur Hour.' He played with 'The Three Themes,' 'Four Naturals,' 'The Lou Deck Trio,' and his own 'Corbatar Trio.' He did weekly broadcasts from The Tropical Gardens in East Brunswick, NJ on radio station WCTC and some over WJLK in Asbury Park, NJ. He had offers from Decca Records and from TV Channel 10 in Philadelphia, PA. He planned to join a Studio Band with KIRO, a big Seattle radio station, but that did not occur.
In 1950, at the age of 22, Stanley decided to become a priest and began his studies for the priesthood by attending Saint Mary's College and SS. Cyrii and Methodius Seminary, both in Orchard Lake, MI. He served as the organist while at the seminary.
On May 31, 1958, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Camden, NJ. From the time of his ordination, he has served at many parishes within the Camden Diocese, including: St. Edward's in Pine Hill, St. Joseph's in South Camden, Our Lady of Victories in Landisville, St. Mary's in Malaga, St. Michael's in Gibbstown, St. Catherine of Siena's in Clayton, St. Luke's in Stratford and St. James' in Penns Grove.
Bishop James T. McHugh installed Father Kloskowski as a Monsignor in 1995, while he served at St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Bridgeton, NJ, his last pastorate. Since his retirement in 2002, Monsignor Kloskowski has graciously served the Church of St. Gregory in Hamilton Square, NJ.
Throughout the years, Monsignor Kloskowski has had a variety of interests in addition to music. He belonged to the New Jersey National Guard for almost 3 years. He received a Private Pilot License in 1964 and has flown 600 solo hours, mostly in a Piper Cherokee 180, a Iow-wing, single-engine aircraft. He also has an Advanced Amateur Radio License with the Call Letters of WA21PX.
A proud Polish American, he has traveled to Poland twice and participated in a worldwide Accordion Convention in Italy. He played with the Horace Heidt Orchestra at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, where almost 2,000 people auditioned for the Hahneman Hospital Special Show and only four were chosen, Monsignor being one of them. In 1983, an LP record was made in which he played solo on one side with tunes called 'Standards.' A limited number of copies were produced and sold, mostly in Germany, and some in the United States.
Monsignor Kloskowski has one sister, Laura Krisak of Hamilton Square, NJ, with whom he currently resides, and two brothers, Dr. Vincent of West Brownfieid, Maine and Edward of Robbinsville, NJ.
Monsignor Kloskowski has lived a very diverse life. People close to him have said that "his endearing qualities have touched the lives of all who know him."
Monsignor Kloskowski said, "I am grateful to God for my calling to the priesthood. I give thanks to my family and all of the wonderful friends who have loved me along the path of life... May God bless each of you for the love you have shown to me on this my 50th anniversary of Ordination to the priesthood and during my life. I have been blessed and now I ask God to bless you. May we all put ourselves into His Hands and accept the invitation to be His Hands, Feet, Voice and Heart in today's world."
The Executive Board of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America extends hearty congratulations.
From: Narod Polski, July 21, 2008, p. 6
By: Dorothy Kzeniak, Financial Secretary, Holy Trinity Society #517