• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Father Joachim Anthony Giermek, only the third Friar from the United State to serve as minister general of the Conventual Franciscans, died Jan. 5 in Ellicott City. The member of the Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province and former teacher at Archbishop Curley High School in Northeast Baltimore was 80. (Courtesy photo)

Franciscan Father Joachim Giermek, 118th successor of St. Francis of Assisi, dies at 80 in Ellicott City

January 8, 2024
By Catholic Review Staff
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Father Joachim Anthony Giermek, only the third Friar from the United States to serve as minister general of the Conventual Franciscans, died Jan. 5 in Ellicott City. The member of the Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province and former teacher at Archbishop Curley High School in Northeast Baltimore was 80. 

A funeral Mass for the Buffalo, N.Y., native will be held Jan. 13, 9:30 a.m., at the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City. A viewing will be held Jan. 12, 4-7 p.m., with a wake service at 7 p.m. at the shrine.

In 1982, Father Giermek was elected secretary and regent of studies of the then-St. Anthony of Padua Province. In 1983, he was elected the assistant general of the Conventual Franciscan Order, representing the friars from the English-speaking jurisdictions. He served in that capacity until 1995 when he was elected vicar general. In 2001, Father Giermek was elected the 118th successor of St. Francis of Assisi, becoming the third friar from the United States to serve as minister general of the order.

Returning home from Rome in 2007, Fr. Joachim moved to Ellicott City where he was assigned until his death.

He entered the novitiate of the Conventual Franciscans in Ellicott City, professing simple vows in 1961 and was ordained in the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles in Rome in 1969. He served as professor of philosophy and then associate director of clerics at St. Hyacinth Seminary in Granby, Mass., 1970-76. He earned his master’s in Franciscan spirituality from St. Bonaventure University in Olean N.Y., a degree he used both as an instructor at St. Bonaventure and for a Franciscan retreat ministry.

Father Giermek was the son of the late Joseph and Mary (nee Kowalczyk) Giermek. His sister, Anne Holmes, and brother, Stanley, predeceased him. 

Read More Obituaries

Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

Father Herman Benedict Czaster, former Curley teacher, dies at 86

Sister Ann Belz dies at 88

Surgeon and Men’s Fellowship leader, Dr. Joseph Orlando, remembered for his compassion

Sister Joan Minella, former principal and pastoral life director, dies

Oblate Sister Trinita Baeza, teacher and pastoral associate in Baltimore, dies at 98

Copyright © 2024 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Catholic Review Staff

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • superman Movie Review: Superman

  • Hunt Valley parishioner recalls her former student – a future pope

  • Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

  • Loyola University Maryland graduate ordained Jesuit priest

  • Pope Leo visits Italian Carabinieri station, Poor Clares during summer break

| Latest Local News |

Scopes Monkey Trial ignited century-long debate on evolution and belief 

Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

Radio Interview: The music and ministry of Seph Schlueter

Hunt Valley parishioner recalls her former student – a future pope

Father Herman Benedict Czaster, former Curley teacher, dies at 86

| Latest World News |

Poll: Record-high percentage of U.S. adults say immigration good for country

Patriarchs support Christian communities attacked by Israeli settlers in solidarity visit

Pope Leo visits Italian Carabinieri station, Poor Clares during summer break

1 officer dead, 3 seminarians kidnapped after attack on Nigerian seminary

Trump administration to appeal after judge blocks ICE detentions based on race

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Poll: Record-high percentage of U.S. adults say immigration good for country
  • Scopes Monkey Trial ignited century-long debate on evolution and belief 
  • Patriarchs support Christian communities attacked by Israeli settlers in solidarity visit
  • Pope Leo visits Italian Carabinieri station, Poor Clares during summer break
  • 1 officer dead, 3 seminarians kidnapped after attack on Nigerian seminary
  • Trump administration to appeal after judge blocks ICE detentions based on race
  • Remember common decency in immigration enforcement
  • Sponsors – for life
  • Listen for God this summer

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en