Msgr. Edward J. Sobierajski

Msgr. Edward J. Sobierajski, a retired diocesan priest, died Feb. 25, 2017, in Sisters Hospital in Buffalo.

He was born Jan. 17, 1932, in Buffalo, to Edward and Mary (Wojciechowski) Sobierajski. After graduating from St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Kenmore, he received a bachelor's degree from St. Francis College in Burlington, Wis., and attended Christ the King Seminary at St. Bonaventure University.

Msgr. Sobierajski was ordained Feb. 25, 1961, at St. Joseph New Cathedral, by Bishop Joseph A. Burke. His first assignment was serving in a missionary apostolate at St. Mary Parish in East Arcade in 1961. In 1962, he briefly served at St. Vincent de Paul Health Camp in Angola. Later that year, he began serving as an assistant pastor at St. John Gualbert Parish in Cheektowaga.

In 1970, he began serving at St. Augustine Parish in Depew, and in 1975, he was assigned to St. Barbara Parish in Lackawanna. Later in 1975, he was named pastor of St. Matthias in French Creek and Our Lady of the Snows in Panama.

Msgr. Sobierajski became pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa in North Tonawanda in 1979, where he served until 1986, when he began serving in the same capacity at Resurrection Parish in Cheektowaga. In 1992, he was named pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Cheektowaga.

He retired in 1993, the same year he was named a monsignor. Msgr. Sobierajski also served as a diocesan clothing drive coordinator during his ministry.

He is survived by a sister-in-law, Sharon Sobierajski.

A funeral Mass was held at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in North Tonawanda, with burial in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Cheektowaga.