Fr. Adam Szufel, OFM, 89, passes away in Florida

Fr. Adam Szufel, OFM, 89, of St. Petersburg, Florida, passed away on Sept. 5, 2026. A Franciscan friar for 70 years, he faced his final days with courage, humility, joy and trust in God's presence as he battled esophageal cancer.

Br. Erick Lopez, OFM, will preside at the Funeral Mass for Fr. Adam on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary, Our Lady of Grace Church, 515 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

He is remembered for being a dedicated friar who was loving, kind, peaceful, deeply generous to the poor and a devoted U.S. Air Force chaplain.

Fr. Adam professed first vows on Aug. 15, 1956, and solemn vows on Aug. 15, 1959. He was ordained a priest on June 13, 1964.

Originally from Poland, he was born to Michael and Zofia (née Wasilewska) Szufel on May 16, 1937. As a young boy, he and other children were sent to the U.S. for their safety. Arrangements had been made for Polish families in the U.S. to foster refugee children arriving from Poland and his family later immigrated to the U.S. He attended grade school at Holy Family Institute in Emsworth, Pennsylvania and Holy Cross School in Glassport, Pennsylvania. His high school years were spent at Padua Prep School in Watkins Glen, New York. He earned a theology degree from Christ the King Seminary in West Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, with a master’s degree in religious education.

In the late 1960s, he served at Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia.

From 1971 to 1995, he served as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force and retired at the rank of colonel. He continued to assist military personnel as a retired chaplain while living in Macon, Georgia, from 1995 to 2011.

From 2011 to 2016, he served at St Francis of Assisi Church in Greenwood, Mississippi.

In 2016, he retired to St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg. Fr. Adam was a thoughtful and kind presence in the retirement house. He lived simply and was incredibly generous. He maintained long standing friendships with families he had met very early during his time in the Air Force.

Whether ministering to high school students, parishioners or men and women serving in the Air Force, Fr. Adam shared the Gospel with love and courage throughout his life.

Please keep Fr. Adam’s family and his brother friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe in your prayers.