It is with sadness we have learned of the death of the Rev. Edward Joseph Tomasiewicz, C.M., a retired faculty member of religious studies. He died on July 21, 2022. May he rest in peace. 
Tomasiewicz was born on Dec. 11, 1947, to Joseph and Genevieve Tomasiewicz in Omaha. After attending South High School, he began discerning a call to the priesthood. He applied to the Archdiocese of Omaha and matriculated to Conception Seminary, in Conception, Mo., in 1965. After several years at Conception, he transferred to St. Thomas Seminary in Denver. It is here he met the Vincentians.
He completed his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and his studies for ordination at St. Thomas. During this time, Tomasiewicz grew in his understanding of the Vincentian mission and was drawn to the community. He was ordained to the diaconate of the Archdiocese of Omaha in 1973 and to the priesthood in the Archdiocese after ordination. He served for three years as the associate pastor at St. Patrick Church in Fremont, Neb.
In the spring of 1977, Tomasiewicz requested entrance into the Congregation of the Mission. With Archbishop Sheehan’s permission, he was received into the Internal Seminary under the direction of the Rev. Arthur Trapp, C.M. At the end of his year of internal seminary, Tomasiewicz was admitted to temporary bond (the predecessor to Good Purposes). During these years, he served at St. Louis Prep South as a spiritual director and faculty member. Later, he served as dean of students at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis.
While working in St. Louis, Tomasiewicz continued his education in spirituality, later achieving a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco in 1982. After pronouncing vows, on Aug. 30, 1981, he continued his studies, achieving a Doctor of Ministry degree with an emphasis in pastoral counseling from Andover Newton Theological Seminary in 1989.
Tomasiewicz was assigned to DeAndreis House in Denver, where he worked with theology students. In 1991, he moved next door to St. Thomas Seminary, where he joined the faculty teaching lay students and seminarians in the master’s in Pastoral Counseling program. He became a full-time instructor in religious studies at DePaul in 1995, where he continued to teach a variety of courses that studied the connection between theology and psychology. With his health declining, he could no longer continue his teaching duties. He was assigned to the Apostle of Charity House as a Confrere in Care in March 2016.
In his years at Perryville, Tomasiewicz continued to share his infectious laugh with confreres and enjoyed the common life. As he approached the end of his life, he found comfort in prayerfully reflecting upon icons and quiet. The staff found a listening ear in him and very much appreciated it. He remained at Apostle of Charity Residence through his decline.
Eternal Rest grant unto Fr. Edward Tomasiewicz, O Lord. Let the perpetual light shine upon him!