Father Joseph Benicewicz Remembered with Memorial Scholarship, Run and Walk

Father Joseph Benicewicz Remembered with Memorial Scholarship, Run and Walk

Story by Shelley Wolf

Father Joseph Benicewicz will never be forgotten by all those who knew him, especially by the parishioners, faculty, staff and students at St. Paul Parish and St. Paul School in Kensington.

As the former pastor of the parish and school, the Franciscan priest, who died unexpectedly on Sept. 6, 2024, is being remembered fondly this fall through a memorial scholarship, Masses, a run and a walk.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, four students are benefiting from the “Father Joseph Benicewicz Memorial Scholarship.” According to Principal Jill Conaway, four student families received $250 each for a total of $1,000 in scholarships. “It’s to keep his memory alive going forward,” Conaway says.

The scholarships were distributed to students who are practicing Catholics with a financial need, in keeping with Father Benicewicz’s values.

“It was important to Father Joe to never turn away families in need, who were committed to having a Catholic education for their children,” says Kelly Esposito, director of admissions and marketing, who noted the school also offers other forms of financial assistance.

The priest – who served as a teacher, principal and school president in previous assignments – loved to spend time with students. Before his passing, he led the St. Paul School children weekly in Mass and prayer, visited them in their classrooms, and even attended their basketball games.

As soon as teachers heard the news of his death last year, they suggested the scholarship in his name and began raising funds for the endeavor. The principal and advancement director got the ball rolling by setting aside a small portion of funds from the “Lion’s Pride Fun Run,” an already existing annual school fundraiser, to establish the Father Benicewicz Memorial Scholarship Fund. The school’s next Lion’s Pride Fun Run is slated for Oct. 9.

The admissions director and athletic director also partnered to start the “Father Joe Memorial Basketball Game” in which the basketball coaches challenged the boys and girls varsity team players, all while wearing “Father Joe” T-shirts. Proceeds from ticket sales and concessions went to the scholarship fund. Next year’s game is already set for Feb. 7 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Additional scholarship donations are accepted throughout the year and processed through the Advancement Office, where each contribution is recorded and acknowledged, Esposito says.

Over at St. Paul Church on the weekend of Sept. 6, 7 and 8, near the anniversary of his death, the entire parish just celebrated three memorial Masses, offering special prayer intentions for Father Benicewicz.

Additionally, this coming October, St. Paul Parish will host the “Father Joe Memorial Walk and Gathering on the Parish Green” on Oct. 5, following the 12 p.m. Mass. The 3.1-mile walk will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Polish food will be available for purchase from Belvedere in New Britain – one of Father Joe’s favorites. The event will also include games and music.

For more about the scholarship and St. Paul School events, visit ourschool.stpaulkensington.org. For more about the memorial walk with St. Paul Parish, visit stpaulkensington.org.