Thursday, December 8, 2011

Gone home

Word today from the Congregation of the Resurrection of a funeral that was celebrated in Kitchener for a priest who once served in this diocese.  He's better known to people in the North Bay area than in other parts, but nonetheless we join our prayers with those of his religious congregation as we commend him to the mercy of our God.

Father Joseph Palubeski, CR died on Saturday, December 3 of this year as a result of a brain tumour.  He was in his 73rd year of life and his 54th year of religious life.

The son of the late Dominic and Stella Palubeski (nee Coulas), Fr. Joseph was born in Woodstock, Ontario.  He is survived by his sisters Beverly Sieber of Kitchener and Marylin Strauss of Waterloo as well as five nieces and 1 nephew.

He grew up attending Sacred Heart Church in Kitchener, Ontario under the care of the Congregation of the Resurrection.  On September 8, 1958, he professed his first vows in the Congregation.  He then attended St. Peter's Seminary in London, where he obtained his B.A. in Honors Philosophy from the University of Western Ontario (1962).  He continued his theological studies at St. John Cantius Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri from 1962 to 1966 and on March 26, 1966 he was ordained a priest in St. Louis.

From 1966 to 1983, Fr. Joe taught Business and Commerce, Mathematics and Religion at three different High Schools in Kitchener, Brantford and North Bay.  He served on the OECTA in Brantford and North Bay during his postings in those cities.  In 1978, he obtained a M.Ed. from the University of Toronto.  In 1983, he was appointed Associate Pastor of Holy Name of Jesus parish in North Bay, and then served there as Pastor from 1984 to 1993.  Following this appointment, he accepted an appointment in Stony Hill (Jamaica) where he served as Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish and four missions for a period of seven years.  From 2000 to 2003, he was assigned as Pastor of Guardian Angels church in Louisville, Kentucky, and then was called to serve as Pastor of St. Anthony's Parish in Warwick, Bermuda.  Two years later, he was appointed as Rector of St. Theresa's Cathedral in Hamilton, Bermuda, where he served until the present day.

Well known for his generosity and zeal, he demonstrated a consistent quality of commitment and fidelity to the values of religious life, which enabled him to touch the lives of many people during his life of faithful service.

Visitation took place last night at the church of the Sacred Heart (Kitchener) and the Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there this morning at 10:00am.  Fr. Palubeski was then burried in the Resurrectionist Community plot at Mount Hope Cemetery in Kitchener.

May the choirs of angels come to meet you; may they take you to paradise.  May the Lord enfold you in His mercy, and may you find eternal life.

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