Title...
Proclamation congratulating Father Joseph R. Grosko upon the occasion of his 83rd birthday.
Body...
WHEREAS, Joseph R. Grosko, born on March 27, 1932, in Braddock, Pennsylvania, is the son of Andrew and Susan Grosko, both born in the Republic of Slovakia. He was one of eight children, having two brothers and five sisters; and
WHEREAS, Fr. Grosko graduated from Braddock Jr./Sr. High School, and spent a year in a furniture factory before attending the Benedictine Monastery at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania; In 1955, he earned a bachelor's degree from St. Vincent College and on May 30, 1959, he was ordained at St. Paul's Cathedral. He was the very first priest ever ordained by the new Bishop of Pittsburgh at that time, John J. Wright; and
WHEREAS, Fr. Grosko was assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Albert the Great Parish in Baldwin in 1959 and served six years; from there, he went to St. Ursula's Parish in Allison Park, serving as the Parochial Vicar from 1964 until 1966; and
WHEREAS, with permission from the Pittsburgh Diocese, for twelve years, Fr. Grosko served as a Navy Champlain with the rank of Commander; he served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and two deployments aboard the carrier USS Roosevelt in the Mediterranean Sea; and
WHEREAS, after Fr. Grosko returned to the U.S., he enrolled at Walter Reed Hospital for the Certification of Clinical Pastoral Ministry; after a year of training, Bishop Vincent Leonard assigned him as Pastor of Our Lady of Loreto in Brookline until 1981; and
WHEREAS, Fr. Grosko volunteered to serve the Missionary Ministry in the Philippines and was a volunteer missionary in the Diocese of Dumaguete from 1981 until 1988, serving as Chaplain for Holy Child's Hospital; he spent a lot of time fundraising to rebuild the hospital which had been destroyed by fire; and
WHEREAS, Fr. Grosko returned to the U.S. and was assigned as Pastor to St. Michael's Parish in Munhall from 1988 to 1994; at the same time, he served as Chaplain at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, from 1994 to 1996, Fr. Grosko was the Administrator for Holy Martyer's Parish in Tarentum and then in January 1996, he was named Pastor of Resurrection Parish in Brookline; and
WHEREAS, in September 2002, Fr. Grosko was assigned Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in West Mifflin, as well as Administrator of St. Agnes Parish; today, he serves as Administrator to both parishes; and
WHEREAS, Fr. Grosko has the distinction of being the oldest living active priest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and will celebrate his 83rd birthday on March 27, 2015;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Allegheny County Council does hereby honor the lifetime of dedicated service and achievement of Father Joseph R. Grosko, and this Council wishes him all the best as he celebrates his 83rd birthday.