Cocoa Beach, Florida – Rev. Laurence M. Olszewski, C.S.C., 85, died in Cocoa Beach, Fla. on June 3, 2024, after a short illness.
Fr. Olszewski was born in Pawtucket, R.I. on July 16, 1938, the youngest of five children born to Joseph and Mary (Maciag) Olszewski. He attended St. Joseph School and then went on to St. Raphael Academy, the local Christian Brothers high school in Pawtucket. In 1961, he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Stonehill College before receiving a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the University of Montreal (1965) and a Master of Theology from Harvard (1977). He was ordained a Holy Cross priest on December 19, 1964, at Holy Cross Seminary on the Stonehill College campus in Easton, Massachusetts.
After ordination in 1964, Fr. Olszewski taught for one year at Notre Dame High School in Fairfield, Connecticut, and then in 1965, traveled to Peru for seven years and served as a teacher and pastor at Parish of Cartavio. From 1973-1979, he served in Hispanic Pastoral Ministry at Holy Trinity Parish in Central Falls, Rhode Island. From 1973-1979, he served as Director of Resettlement for the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island before serving as Director of Placement at Stonehill College until 1976. From 1979-1985, Fr. Olszewski joined Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to minister to the people in Senegal and Tanzania, Africa. During this time, he was also responsible for Operation Rice Bowl and the Bishop’s Annual Overseas Appeal. From 1985-1993, he served as Vice President of Development for King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, before taking a year-long sabbatical to study at Berkeley and in Rome. From 1994-1995, he served as pastor at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Charlotte, Vermont, before serving as pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Bennington, Vermont, until 2001. From 2001-2008, he served as founding pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Viera, Florida, until his retirement to Christopher Lodge in Cocoa Beach, Florida, in 2008.
He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings; Edward Olszewski, Helen Olszewski, Jessica Tierny and Paul Olszewski (Ret. Lt. RISP). He is survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.
Bishop John Noonan will be the celebrant for a Memorial Mass at St. John the Evangelist Parish, 5655 Stadium Pkwy., Viera, Florida, on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. EDT with a visitation preceding at 12:30 p.m. EDT Memorial Mass will be live-streamed and can be accessed at https://www.stjohnviera.org
Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. EDT at the Chapel of Mary located on Stonehill College campus in Easton, Massachusetts, on June 13, 2024, with a Funeral Mass following at 10:00 a.m. EDT. You may also join us via live stream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLK6Rf9juKI
Burial will be in the Holy Cross community cemetery in Easton, Massachusetts. Beckman-Williamson in Rockledge, Florida, is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Advancement, 500 Washington Street, North Easton, Massachusetts, 02356-1299 or online at https://donate.holycrossusa.org
