Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / Msgr. Kucyk was as a kind shepherd, gardener
Msgr. Kucyk was as a kind shepherd, gardener
by Kristin Lukowksi of The Michigan Catholic
Published May 22, 2009
Detroit - Among the things Msgr. Herman Kucyk was known for was his kind, giving spirit and his gardening prowess, so it was fitting that he died May 15, the feast day of St. Isidore the Farmer. He was 83.
Msgr. Kucyk had spent more than 40 years of his priesthood at Divine Child Parish, first for five years as an associate pastor not long out of the seminary, and then from 1972 until his death, living at the rectory even after his retirement in 2007. Sr. Cecilia Bondy, OSF, principal of Divine Child Elementary School, has been at the parish schools for four decades and worked with Msgr. Kucyk closely over the years.
He was like a brother to her, she said, and the word she would best use to describe him is "shepherd." "He certainly was a shepherd to all of us," she said.
Msgr. Kucyk loved children, and would visit the school every day when he was healthy. They flocked to him, she said: "I always knew when he came in the building because there was noise. They just love him."
He would jokingly threaten to throw the kids in the dumpster, and they'd beg him to do it. "He'd say, 'tomorrow,'" she said.
She remembers that when a child was in trouble, or couldn't participate in a team because of grades or behavior problems, Msgr. Kucyk would try to get her to go easy on the student. He ordered candy for all his staff at Christmas, and Sr. Bondy said it wasn't uncommon to go away for summer vacation and return to find the building had air conditioning or a new band room.
She told him, as he was dying, that she learned a lot from him, and that he'd better keep teaching her. "If you needed anything, he was there," she said. "He was a tremendous person."
Fr. James Bilot, pastor of Divine Child Parish, said Msgr. Kucyk was a very simple man who never liked fanfare. "He was very much a man of prayer," he said.
He was also a visionary, Fr. Bilot said, whether it was envisioning what a garden would look like or how a parish school should run. Fr. Bilot attributed the grounds of the parish and school to Msgr. Kucyk's handiwork.
Although Msgr. Kucyk suffered from health issues, Fr. Bilot said he continued to enjoy life and its gifts. "He always offered his suffering up, knowing that life was good," Fr. Bilot said. "He just really loved life, and he felt like he had a lot of life to give."
Until his health took a turn for the worse a month or so ago, Msgr. Kucyk was still celebrating daily Mass and helping out at the school, Fr. Bilot said. He still regularly received calls from people asking to perform a wedding or baptism. "He was very loved," Fr. Bilot said.
Fr. Robert McKeon, a retired priest with the Diocese of Lansing, was a former classmate of Msgr. Kucyk's. They traveled together, and were close with each other's family, too. "During the years of our seminary days, we were tight friends," he said.
He remembered Msgr. Kucyk's giving, compassionate heart, and good sense of humor. The two of them had also been in the Navy, and Fr. McKeon said Msgr. Kucyk had gotten some ribbing for seasickness whenever he was on a ship. It was so bad he had to finish out his duty on land.
Although they both were busy with their assignments over the years, they kept in touch with each other. And Fr. McKeon also remembered Msgr. Kucyk's gardening skills: "Every rectory he was in was just loaded with beautiful flowers," he said.
Sr. Bondy remembered that he could often be found on the parish grounds, planting and digging. "He'd be out there with a straw hat and shovel, and messing up his priestly clothes," she said. All day Monday, students were leaving notes in her office with suggestions on how to remember Msgr. Kucyk, many suggestions including planting flowers and trees in his name.
"The kids really want to do something in his memory," Sr. Bondy said. "We'll miss him."
Both schools were to be closed Wednesday to allow students to attend funeral services.
Herman William Kucyk was born Jan. 10, 1926, in Montreal, Wis., and studied at Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, St. Mary's Orchard Lake, and St. John's Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township. He was ordained June 1, 1957, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Stanislaus Parish, Detroit.
He served as assistant pastor of St. Isaac Jogues Parish, St. Clair Shores (1957-61); Divine Child Parish, Dearborn (1961-66), Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Plymouth (1966); St. Michael Parish, Monroe (1966-67); St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Redford Township (1966-71); and as founding pastor of St. Ronald Parish, Clinton Township (1971-72). He later served as co-pastor of Divine Child (1972-76) before becoming pastor (1976) until he was given senior priest status in 2007. He was named monsignor March 26, 1990.
Msgr. Kucyk's funeral Mass was to be Wednesday, May 20, at Divine Child, with burial following at St. Hedwig Cemetery, Dearborn Heights.
He is survived by his sisters, Helen Malkowski, Gertrude Hass and Jeanette (Harvey) Pierce; a brother, Donald (Nancy); a sister-in-law, Irene; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Condolences to Donald Kucyk, 49748 Lakebridge Drive, Shelby Township, 48315.
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