Rev. Paul M. Kwiatkowski

The Rev. Paul Martin Kwiatkowski, a priest known for his intellect, humor, teaching ability, empathy for the poor, and musicianship, died Saturday at his home in Toledo on December 3,2016 of an extended illness. He was 77.

Father Kwiatkowski was a gifted musician who played violin in the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra for 45 years.”

Father Kwiatkowski was born Oct. 7, 1939, the only child of Ted and Evelyn Kwiatkowski.

He attended St. Stanislaus and Rosary Cathedral Schools, and was a 1957 Central Catholic High School graduate. He eventually returned to Central Catholic, where he taught Latin for a number of years until he retired from teaching in 2015.

He completed his seminary studies at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana, and the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Father Kwiatkowski was ordained a priest at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, on Dec. 16, 1964. His pastoral assignments included Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Toledo, St. Joseph Parish in Maumee, Holy Spirit Seminary in Toledo, St. Mary Parish in Bluffton, St. Hedwig Parish in Toledo, St. James Parish in Toledo, and Immaculate Conception Parish in Toledo.

St. Hedwig Parish goes back to 1875. Father Kwiatkowski was its seventh pastor from 1984 to 1994.

Earlier this year, Father Kwiatkowski told The Blade his great-grandfather on his mother’s side was one of the church’s bricklayers in 1891. A hundred years later, in 1991, Father Kwiatkowski oversaw a $500,000 renovation of the St. Hedwig church as the building was being prepared for its centennial.

Father Lautermilch said Father Kwiatkowski had “a profound sense of humor” and started most sermons with a joke.

Father Kwiatkowski was great at mentoring students, according to those  who knew him.

As for people down on their luck, Father Lautermilch had this to say: “The more down they were, the more he was there to help them.”

Services were Wednesday at Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral, with Bishop Daniel E. Thomas officiating. Arrangements were by Sujkowski Funeral Home Northpointe.

Tributes are suggested to Central Catholic High School or a retirement fund the Diocese of Toledo has for priests.