BY BRONX TIMES
Rev. Richard S.J. Wyzykiewicz
of St. Helena Church,
who is known for his kindness,
memory, boisterous
laugh and wry sense of humor,
celebrated his Golden
Jubilee, 50 years of priesthood,
on June 6.
Bishop Felix Lazaro,
Bishop-Emeritus of Ponce,
Puerto Rico, who just recently
celebrated his Diamond Jubilee,
60 years of priesthood
was in attendance along with
several Piarist priests and
priests of the archdiocese.
“I love the people of St. Helena’s
Parish and I enjoy working
with the children and living
in community with my
fellow Piarists,” Richard said.
Richard, 77, was born in
Pennsylvania to of Steve and
Dorothy Wyzykiewicz, both
of whose fathers immigrated
from Poland.
He served as an altar at
his parish throughout high
school and then entered the
Piarist Father’s Formation
Program in 1961. He was
sent by his superiors to study
at the Catholic University of
America in Washington, D.C.,
and received his bachelor’s degree
in mathematics in 1966
and his masters in theology
in 1971. Richard was the last
and the 13th man ordained as
a priest on June 5, 1971 at Our
Lady of Ransom Parish, the
Archbishop of Philadelphia.
Fr. Richard taught math
and religion at Calasanctius
School for Gifted Children in
Buffalo, which was operated
by the Piarist Fathers, from
1971 to 79 and 1983 to 1987 and
served as the director of the
high school there for seven
years. He also taught math
Father Richards celebrates his Golden Jubilee Courtesy of St. Helena Church
and religion at his alma mater,
Let’s end this
pandemic for good
#VaxUpCUNY
so I can inspire others, especially
communities of color
!"
cuny.edu/vaxupcuny
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 2 UNE 18-24, 2021 BTR
Devon Prep from 1979 to
83 and 1987 to 2015, and was
the school’s principal from
1987 to 1992. He was chaplain
for 12 years to the Sisters of
St. Mary of Namur and for
24 years to the Sisters of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Also, he served as the Provincial
of the Piarist Fathers
Province of the United States
from 1988 to 1999.
On Aug. 13, 2015, Fr. Richard
arrived at St. Helena as
Parochial Vicar, Rector of
the Piarist Community, director
of Religious Education
and Adult Sacramental
Preparation and Chaplain of
St. Helena School and Msgr.
Scanlan High School.
His hobbies include reading
and sports. Fr. Richard
was a member of Boy Scout
Troop #3 from 1954 to 1957
and served as a Boy Scout
Chaplain in Buffalo from
1983 to 1987 and in Philadelphia
from 1987 to 2011.
Bronx priest
celebrates
Golden Jubilee
/vaxupcuny