Father Mitchell Sawicki, OFM Conv.

Parochial Vicar

 Father  Mitchell arrived at St. John Church Friary in 2001 after serving twenty years as a missionary Franciscan Brother in Ghana West Africa. 

 In Ghana Fr. Mitchell was the treasurer of the Franciscan Mission staffed by Friars from Padua, Italy, and the United States.  He also served as the assistant director of Formation at St. Bonaventure Friary, the  Franciscan House of Studies in Accra.  

Upon his arrival in Cromwell He completed his preparation for priesthood at Holy Apostles Seminary and was awarded Master of Divinity in May 2005. 

Fr. Mitchell is a 1980 graduate of St. Hyacinth College and Seminary.  He entered the Franciscan Order in 1974, professed his first vows in 1975 and made final profession as a Franciscan Friar with solemn vows in 1979.  Fr. Mitchell was born in Lyse, Bialystok, Poland and immigrated with his family to Bridgeport CT where he continued his elementary education at St. Michael Parish School and then continued at Kolbe High School, staffed by the Conventual Franciscan Friars.

Fr. Mitchell was ordained to the transitional Deaconate at St. John Church on May 28th, 2004 by Bishop Michael Cote. And was ordained a priest on May 21, 2005 by His Eminence Peter Cardinal Turkson at St. John Church in Cromwell.

As Parochial Vicar Fr. Mitchell assists in all areas of Parish ministry and especially directs his ministry to the homebound and hospital visits.  Fr. Mitchell has served on our RCIA team and is frequently seen as a roving photographer.  He publishes the weekly parish bulletin insert which includes several photographs of parish events each week. 

On September 1, 2005 Fr. Mitchell was appointed Parochial Vicar of St. John Parish by Bishop Michael Cote.