Father Jerome C. Romanowski had such a passion for America’s pastime that he became known as “The Baseball Padre.” He was the author of three books about sports, including “The Mackmen: Reflections on a Baseball Team,” a 144-page book on the Philadelphia Athletics and Connie Mack.
But his passion for sports paled in comparison to his work with the Holy Name Society, his devotion to the Blessed Mother and his evangelical zeal.
The priest, who retired in 2009, after serving as pastor at a parish he loved, Saint Mary, Malaga, for 12 years, died June 14. He was 81.
Bishop Dennis Sullivan celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial June 20 at Saint Joseph Church, Camden. Interment was at Saint Joseph Cemetery, Chews Landing.
Father Romanowski spent several years in the Camden Diocese’s Brazilian Missions, 1965-69, and served as director of the diocese’s Holy Name Society and Legion of Mary. He also was chaplain at Ancora State Hospital.
He studied at Saint Joseph’s and Villanova universities in Pennsylvania and Saint John Seminary in Kentucky. He was ordained May 16, 1964.
He was parochial vicar at Our Lady of Grace Parish, Somerdale, 1969-77; Sacred Heart, Mount Ephraim, 1977-78; Saint Gregory, Magnolia, 1978-82; Saint Isidore, Vineland, 1983-84; Saint Cecilia, Pennsauken, 1984-85; and Saint Rose of Lima, Newfield, 1989-92.
Father Peter Idler, the newly-appointed pastor of All Saints Parish, Millville, described Father Romanowski as “a priests’ priest,” one who would “always reach out to a brother priest in need.”
“He loved the priesthood, and he loved priests,” said Father Idler, who valued Father Romanowski as a friend for 15 years. He saw the priesthood in terms of both “evangelization and contemplation,” Father Idler said.
Father Romanowski’s devotion to sports was not entirely unconnected to his faith. In a 1990 piece he wrote for the Catholic Star Herald, he praised professional athletes he considered good role models, such as “that perennial pillar of gentlemanly Christian behavior, Stan Musial.”
Youth should be made aware of their example, he wrote.
“Without stretching the point too much,” he concluded, “we can offer them the example of that famous well-conditioned athlete, Pope John Paul II.”
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
