By Kathi Stearns, Staff Writer

ATLANTA - A few weeks short of the 50th anniversary of his priesthood, Father John A. Ozarowski was laid to rest at a Mass celebrating the victory of the resurrection Feb. 15.

Priest, employees of the archdiocese, family and friends gathered at the Cathedral of Christ the King, where he had served as parochial vicar since 1992, for the Mass of Christian Burial. Archbishop John F. Donoghue was the principal celebrant. The liturgy was followed by burial at Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs.

During the Mass Father James Cummings, SM, chaplain at St. Joseph’s hospital in Atlanta, read the homily he had prepared for Father Ozarowski’s 50th anniversary of his priesthood, which falls on March 17.

Known as “Father O’ by his parishioners, he was remembered as a man who did the ordinary in an extraordinary way.

“Armed with his favorite pancake breakfast, he was off each day to do the work he was ordained to do--visit hospitals, shut-ins, prepare wedding couples, baptize the new and bury the old--nothing extraordinary,” Margaret Jones, secretary at the Cathedral Parish, wrote in the church bulletin. “But add in his bouncy step, his happy grin and always joyful self and you have the picture of a person, rooted in God, doing what made him happy.”

Father Ozarowski, 74, was ordained by Bishop William A. Griffin in 1945 for the Diocese of Trenton, N.J. While in New Jersey he served as a parochial vicar at St. Stephen’s Church, Perty Amboh, All Saints Church, Burlington, and St. Mary’s, South River. He was the founding pastor of St. Dominic’s West Point Pleasant.

“During his service to our diocese he was an outstanding priest and a hardworking individual,” said Trenton’s Bishop John C. Reiss. “We are truly saddened by his loss.”

The priest died at the Cathedral rectory Feb. 11, a month before his 75th birthday.

Father Ozarowski was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Atlanta in December 1978. He served as a parochial vicar at St. Anthony’s, Atlanta, Sacred Heart, Atlanta, Corpus Christi, Stone Mountain and the cathedral before being named pastor of St. Andrew’s Church in Roswell, where he served from June 1982 to October 1988.

While he was pastor at St. Andrew’s the church facility was built. “This was a herculean task,” Father Cummings said. “Until the new church was built Father had to celebrate Mass in an office space with all the difficulties that ensued.”

Parishioners at St. Andrew’s remembered Father Ozarowski as a leader with a vision. “He saw everything right through to the bitter end,” said Miriam Flanagan, Father Ozarowski’s secretary at St. Andrew’s. “He wanted to make sure this parish got off the ground and was a go. Nothing was going to stop him.”

While at St. Andrew’s Father Ozarowski was a “kind, compassionate, but strong leader,” she said. “Certain people seemed to follow him where he was assigned,” she said. “He loved working with the sick, elderly and shut-in members of our community. The day before he died he had visited one of his former parishioners.”

Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, appointed Father Ozarowski pastor at good Shepherd in Cumming from October 1988 to January 1992, after he served in Roswell.

This time the work was just as challenging. He was asked to build a new church, a new hall and classrooms for catechetical education, Father Cummings said. “Hard work had always been a trademark of Father Ozarowski because he was always doing the work of the Lord.”

Dr. Elizabeth Gurtler-Krawcynska spoke of Father Ozarowski’s dedication to the members of the Polish community. In 1992 Father Ozarowski began celebrating Mass on Christmas and Easter in Polish even though he had not spoken the language publicly for 35 years.

“He understood us and was ready to help always with a smile,” Dr. Gurtler-Krawcynska said. “He became a part of our community, celebrating weddings and christenings. He understood the importance of having food blessed before Easter Sunday and sharing wafer before Christmas Eve dinner...We will miss him.”

Father Charles Kerscher, parochial vicar at St. Pius X Parish, Conyers, played golf with Father Ozarowski every Thursday. “In a priest’s life there are so many things that people don’t know about,” Father Kerscher said. “I can tell you that he was a talented man who loved opera, loved the Knights of Columbus and was the best of hosts after our golf outings. But more importantly he was a man who loved the Lord and rejoiced in the celebration of the holy Mass...It was truly a gift from God, to have a friend like him.”

In closing Father Cummings reminded the congregation of the words of St. Ambrose, “We have loved him in life...let us not forget him in death...but by prayers and sacrifices we shall not cease until we have conducted him into the land of the living.”

Father Ozarowski is survived by his sister, Florence Modzelewski of Hollywood, Fla.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home.