1937
James
2013
James Gurzynski
April 28, 1937 — April 8, 2013
Amarillo—Monsignor James C. Gurzynski, J.C.L., age 75, died April 8, 2013 in Amarillo, Texas.
A Funeral vigil will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Amarillo, Texas, on Thursday, April 11th at 7:00 PM. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Amarillo, on Friday, April 12th at 11:00 AM; Bishop Patrick J. Zurek, presiding as celebrant, with priests of the Diocese of Amarillo concelebrating. Interment will be in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia.
James Clement Gurzynski was born in Toledo, Ohio on April 28, 1937, the only child of C.J. Gurzynski and Jeanette Enck. After graduation from high school, he attended St. Meinrad Minor Seminary in Indiana and St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake, Mich., where he received a Bachelor’s Degree on May 31, 1959. His theological studies were at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, also in Orchard Lake.
Father Gurzynski was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Amarillo on May 25, 1963 at St. Hyacinth’s Catholic Church in Toledo by Bishop George J. Rehring of the Diocese of Toledo. Father Gurzynski celebrated his first Mass on June 9, also at St. Hyacinth’s Church in Toledo.
His assignments included Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Lubbock; Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Spearman; Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Petersburg; St. Isidore Catholic Church, Abernathy; Sacred Heart Church, White Deer; St. Ann’s Church, Canyon; St. Joseph’s Church, Stratford; and, St. Francis of Assisi Church, Amarillo.
At the diocesan level, Father Gurzynski served as Coordinator for Religious Education; Director of the Permanent Diaconate Program; Episcopal Vicar for Permanent Deacons; and, Director of Continuing Education for the Clergy and Religious. He was named Judicial Vicar in July 1986 and was named a Prelate of Honor with the title of Monsignor by Blessed John Paul II in December 1990. He was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Amarillo on May 11, 1992.
On Jan. 21, 1997, Monsignor Gurzynski was named Administrator Sede Vacante following the resignation of then-Bishop Leroy T. Matthiesen. In May 1999, Monsignor Gurzynski retired as Judicial Vicar.
Survivors include his brother priests of the Diocese of Amarillo; and many friends.
Memorials may be made to The Vocation Office, P.O. Box 5644 Amarillo, Texas 79117; or to BSA Hospice/Olivia’s Angels, c/o Harrington Cancer Foundation, 1600 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106.
A Funeral vigil will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Amarillo, Texas, on Thursday, April 11th at 7:00 PM. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Amarillo, on Friday, April 12th at 11:00 AM; Bishop Patrick J. Zurek, presiding as celebrant, with priests of the Diocese of Amarillo concelebrating. Interment will be in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia.
James Clement Gurzynski was born in Toledo, Ohio on April 28, 1937, the only child of C.J. Gurzynski and Jeanette Enck. After graduation from high school, he attended St. Meinrad Minor Seminary in Indiana and St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake, Mich., where he received a Bachelor’s Degree on May 31, 1959. His theological studies were at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, also in Orchard Lake.
Father Gurzynski was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Amarillo on May 25, 1963 at St. Hyacinth’s Catholic Church in Toledo by Bishop George J. Rehring of the Diocese of Toledo. Father Gurzynski celebrated his first Mass on June 9, also at St. Hyacinth’s Church in Toledo.
His assignments included Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Lubbock; Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Spearman; Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Petersburg; St. Isidore Catholic Church, Abernathy; Sacred Heart Church, White Deer; St. Ann’s Church, Canyon; St. Joseph’s Church, Stratford; and, St. Francis of Assisi Church, Amarillo.
At the diocesan level, Father Gurzynski served as Coordinator for Religious Education; Director of the Permanent Diaconate Program; Episcopal Vicar for Permanent Deacons; and, Director of Continuing Education for the Clergy and Religious. He was named Judicial Vicar in July 1986 and was named a Prelate of Honor with the title of Monsignor by Blessed John Paul II in December 1990. He was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Amarillo on May 11, 1992.
On Jan. 21, 1997, Monsignor Gurzynski was named Administrator Sede Vacante following the resignation of then-Bishop Leroy T. Matthiesen. In May 1999, Monsignor Gurzynski retired as Judicial Vicar.
Survivors include his brother priests of the Diocese of Amarillo; and many friends.
Memorials may be made to The Vocation Office, P.O. Box 5644 Amarillo, Texas 79117; or to BSA Hospice/Olivia’s Angels, c/o Harrington Cancer Foundation, 1600 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106.
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