Fr. Stanley Joseph Dombrowski's Obituary
With sadness, but with faith in the Resurrection, we announce that our brother, Rev. Stanley Joseph Dombrowski, OSFS, passed away at the age of 78 on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. He was a professed member of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales for 46 years and a priest for 42 years. A teacher, counselor, hospital chaplain, military chaplain, and pastor, Fr. Dombrowski was a dedicated Oblate and priest.
Born in Philadelphia on July 30, 1947, Stanley was the son of Stanley Dombrowski and Mary (Kwaitkowski) Dombrowski. He was baptized at St. John Cantius Parish in the Bridesburg section of the city and attended grammar school at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bensalem, PA. In 1965, Stanley graduated from Father Judge High School and entered the Oblate community. He attended Brisson Seminary and studied at Allentown College (now De Sales University). He made his first profession of vows in 1967 and did his student teaching at Father Judge. In 1972, Stanley earned a B.A. in Economics,
After a period of discernment, Stanley left the Oblate community and took time off to consider his call to the priesthood. During his time away from the seminary, Stanley taught and became assistant principal at Allentown Central Catholic High School.
Stanley returned to the Oblate community in the late 1970s and continued his theological studies. He professed his religious vows once more in 1979. He studied at De Sales Hall School of Theology and received his Master of Arts degree in pastoral theology in 1983. On May 5, 1983, Stanley was ordained a priest by Bishop Thomas Mardiga at St. Anthony Parish in Wilmington, DE. Years later, he would smile and wink and tell people: “I am a recycled vocation.”
Fr. Dombrowski spent his first year after ordination teaching science and religion at Padua Academy in Wilmington. He was asked to consider chaplaincy work and received hospital training at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He returned to Delaware and became part of the Pastoral Care Department at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington.
In 1989, Fr. Dombrowski was invited to go back to Allentown College and serve as the assistant superior at Brisson Seminary. After a year working with Oblate seminarians, Fr. Dombrowski felt called to do more pastoral and hospital ministry. That summer, he returned to Wilmington, DE and St. Francis Hospital to once more serve as chaplain. In January 1991, at the start of Operation Desert Storm, Fr. Dombrowski, a member of the Navy Reserve, left St. Francis and became Lieutenant Stanley Dombrowski, Chaplain, U.S. Navy. He spent almost four months in Saudi Arabia, ministering to people of all faiths. Because of the shortage of chaplains in all faith traditions, Fr. Dombrowski used to say he was “chaplain to everyone.” When he returned from the Middle East, Fr. Dombrowski was interviewed by local news stations and newspapers. L He was also featured in a spring People magazine article that highlighted soldiers and stories from the war. In the piece titled “Tales from the Front,” Fr. Dombrowski reflected on his experience in the desert: “Military life is not all that different from the seminary. I live in a tent with 12 other men, and I get up early. But the food is a lot better here.”
With his military experience still on his mind, Fr. Dombrowski left St. Francis Hospital in 1994 and served as chaplain at the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. In 1996, he began a new ministry as a chaplain at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA.
In 1998, Fr. Dombrowski began his long association with St. Cecilia Parish in Fort Myers, Florida. He began as parochial vicar in 1998 and was named pastor in 2001. He ministered as pastor until 2020.
Fr. Dombrowski was well known for his kindness, caring, and sense of humor with everyone at the parish. He worked in big and small ways to build a sense of community and family among the members of the congregation. He was enthusiastic about everything and everyone. As pastor, he participated in almost every parish event, including charity golf tournaments, fashion shows, carnivals, and concerts. One parishioner remembered how Fr. Dombrowski would promote the yearly Valentine’s Dance by dressing up in a tux and sing “You Gotta Have Heart.”
As he neared the end of his term as pastor, Fr. Dombrowski’s vision of building community became a physical reality. In 2019, he oversaw the plan and construction of a new event center and gathering space next to the church named “Marian Hall.” This became a beautiful place to share many of the qualities that people often used to describe Fr. Dombrowksi: stories, laughter, food, and friendship.
After stepping down from parish leadership, Fr. Dombrowski stayed at St. Cecilia and continued to help new pastor Fr. Paul Dechant with sacramental ministry. He also assisted local priests and pastors by celebrating mass at various parishes each weekend. Fr. Dombrowski loved to cook and would often share his culinary talents with his brother Oblates, parishioners, and friends.
Throughout his years in ministry, Fr. Dombrowski received many honors, accolades, and awards. He was recognized for his leadership in hospital chaplaincy and in his military career. He was especially proud of the medals he was given by the United States Navy for his service in the Middle East. He always kept a sense of humor and would often say that his personal motto was: “If it’s not necessary for your eternal salvation, don’t worry about it!”
As Fr. Dombrowsksi makes his journey toward salvation, we recall the words from the Book of Revelation: “Blessed are those who die in the Lord…let them find rest from their labors (14:13).” We pray that Father Stan may rest well from his labor.
Father Dombrowski is preceded in death by his father and mother. He is survived by his sisters Marcia, Christine, and Michaelene, his many nieces and nephews, his St. Cecilia family, and his Oblate confreres.
Arrangements:
The viewing for Fr. Stanley Dombrowski will be held on Thursday, October 16 at 4:00 PM at St. Cecilia Parish in Fort Myers, Florida. Recitation of the Rosary begins at 5:00 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial begins at 6:00 PM.
There will be a Visitation beginning at 10:00 AM at the Oblate Chapel in Childs, Maryland on Tuesday, October 21. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM.
Burial will follow at the Oblate Cemetery at Childs after the mass.
Condolences may be sent to Fr. Stan’s sister: Mrs. Michaelene Oskowis 5183 S. Big Horn Place Chandler, Arizona 85249
Arrangements are being handled by Fort Myers Memorial Gardens.
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