The Chancellor’s Office received word of the passing of Reverend Steve Pujdak, 82, on Wednesday, November 12, in Dunedin. Father Pujdak was residing at the Priests of the Sacred Heart Residence in Pinellas Park.

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Fr. Steve professed his first vows with the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians) in 1962.  His initial studies were at his religious community’s seminaries in Honesdale, PA (Kilroe) and Sacred Heart in Hales Corners, WI. He later went on to the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, where he earned a Ph.D. and an STD in theology.  He was ordained to the priesthood in 1969 by Bishop Joseph DePalma, SCJ, former superior general of the Priests of the Sacred Heart.

Fr. Steve’s first full-time assignments were in academics, initially serving as a professor at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology (1975-77) and at Marquette University in Milwaukee (1977-82). In 1983 he moved into provincial administration as planning director and then provincial secretary.  In 1988 he moved to the Rio Grande Valley, where he ministered at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Raymondville, TX, from 1988-2004. He then moved to Pinellas Park, where he assisted with the Dehonians’ retirement community there and did support ministry in the diocese.  In recent years he was been a fully retired member of the community.  Skilled in sign language, Fr. Steve also ministered to the deaf and hard of hearing.

Funeral arrangements in Wisconsin are as follows:

Friday, November 21 ~ Good Shepherd Chapel at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake, Franklin
Vigil: 9:30 a.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m.
Interment will follow in the community mausoleum.

Please keep Father Pujdak and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

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May his soul and the souls of all the faithful
departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace!