Deceased: 2011-01-25
Diocese: STAMFORD
CSM Graduation Year: 1963
The Right Reverend Monsignor Peter C. Skrincosky fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street.
He served God and the faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church as a priest incardinated in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford for more than 50 years, until his retirement, when he returned to his boyhood home of Saint Clair, where he lived since his retirement from active ministry in 2000.
Monsignor Skrincosky, the third of eleven children, was born to the late John and Anna Kudlick Skrincosky in Arnot’s Addition, Saint Clair, on June 16, 1922.
He attended New Castle Township schools. After completing two years at Saint Clair High School, he enrolled at St. Basil’s Preparatory Seminary, Stamford, Conn., in September 1939.
After graduation from St. Basil’s Preparatory School in 1940, he attended St. Charles Seminary in Catonsville, Md., until 1941. He then enrolled in St. Basil’s College Seminary, Stamford, Conn., and earned a bachelor’s degree cum laude with a major in philosophy in 1944.
As a major seminarian at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary, Washington, D.C., he matriculated at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., where he completed his theological studies required for priestly ordination in 1947.
He was ordained to the holy priesthood on June 2, 1947 by the late Archbishop Constantine Bohachevsky in the old Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia.
The newly-ordained Father Peter celebrated his Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving on June 8, 1947, in his home parish, Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, Saint Clair.
His first assignment was as an instructor of Latin and religion at St. Basil’s College Preparatory School, Stamford, and during the next eight years he simultaneously held the office of prefect. While holding these positions, he pursued graduate studies in clinical psychology at Fordham University and was awarded a master’s degree in psychology in 1951.
He was appointed rector of St. Basil’s College Seminary in 1955 and served in this position until 1958.
In 1958, he was sent to Rome, where he pursued post-graduate studies in liturgy at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Gregorian University. He was awarded his doctorate degree in Oriental Ecclesiastical Sciences in June 1963.
During his years of study in Rome, he witnessed many significant events at the Vatican, including the election of Pope John XXIII as the successor pontiff to Pope Pius XII, and the historic Second Vatican Council.
Monsignor Skrincosky devoted most of his service in the vineyard of the Lord preparing young men in seminary formation for ordination to the priesthood. He was appointed rector of St. Basil’s College Seminary in 1963 and served in this position until 1976. He also served as chancellor of the Stamford Eparchy from 1976 until 1984. In 1984, he was reappointed rector of St. Basil’s College Seminary, and served from 1984 until 1987.
In 1968, Pope Paul VI elevated him to the rank of papal chamberlain with the title of Very Reverend Monsignor. In 1987, he received another papal ecclesiastical honor when Pope John Paul II elevated him to the rank of domestic prelate with the title of Right Reverend.
Monsignor Skrincosky was a member of the Catholic Psychological Association; the American Psychological Association; the Academy of Religion and Mental Health; and the Shevchenko Scientific Society.
On May 26, 1997, Monsignor Peter observed his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination with a Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving celebrated in Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, Saint Clair.
His parochial assignments included parishes in Spring Valley, N.Y.; Ansonia, Conn.; St. Vladimir’s Cathedral, Stamford, Conn.; and Fresh Meadows, N.Y.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Antonio, and two brothers, John and Edward.
Surviving are two sisters, Elizabeth Jansson, Saint Clair, and Helena Harach, Lancaster; five brothers, Michael, Andrew and Russell, all of Saint Clair, Joseph, Seltzer, and John Jr., Mount Penn.; nieces, nephews and cousins.
