Fr. Edward J. Vilkauskas, C.S.Sp. of Bethel Park, PA, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, died at St. Clair Hospital from complications from COVID-19. He was 74 years old.

Fr. Vilkauskas was born August 6, 1946 in Danville, PA and was baptized and nourished in the faith at Our Mother of Consolation Church in Mt. Carmel, PA. He professed his vows as a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit on August 22, 1965 at the Holy Ghost Novitiate in Ridgefield, CT and was ordained to the Priesthood June 2, 1973 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.
 
After ordination, Fr. Vilkauskas was first appointed to the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Pittsburgh as assistant pastor. In 1975, he went to Catholic University to complete a Masters in Liturgical Studies. In 1976, he was assigned to be the Director of Vocations and Liturgical Animation of the Eastern Province of the Congregation. He later was appointed as Director of Collegiate Seminarians at Duquesne University.

In 1982, he became Director of Theologians at CTU in Chicago and then pursued additional studies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend. He took a position as a lecturer in liturgy at the Mission Institute of London in 1985. He was then appointed in 1988 as Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Charlotte as well as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe, NC.

In 2001, he was assigned as temporary administrator of St. Mary Magdalene in Chicago. He was appointed pastor of Old St. Mary’s in Detroit, MI in 2002. At Old St. Mary’s, he worked hard to bring the Spiritan charism to the area and established a program to feed the poor and homeless people every first Monday of the month. In 2013, after a sabbatical, he took a position as chaplain for the Sisters of Christian Charity at the Holy Family Convent in Danville, PA until 2018 when they closed the convent. He then retired at Libermann Hall in Bethel Park, PA.

Fr. Vilkauskas was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent and Wanda Gardocki Vilkauskas. He is survived by his brother, Vince Vilkauskas (wife Carol) of Whitehall, PA and two nieces and nephew: Cheryl and Chris Dorschutz and children Wyatt and Sierra of Coplay, PA; Denise and Jeffrey Vilkauskas and son Zachery of Northampton, PA; Cynthia Vilkauskas of Northampton, PA.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, funeral arrangements will be limited to close family. The viewing will be held on Wednesday, January 13 from 9:00 – 10:30am followed by the funeral Mass at 10:30am. For those not able to attend, the Funeral Mass will be live-streamed on the U.S. Spiritans Facebook page: www.facebook.com/spiritans. There will be another Mass on Saturday, January 16 at Holy Ghost Prep, 2429 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA, beginning at 11:00am followed by burial in the community cemetery.

In memory of Fr. Vilkauskas, donations may be made to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit designated for retirement or for the education of future Holy Spirit Fathers and Brothers, 6230 Brush Run Road, Bethel Park, PA 15102.

Read the following to learn more about Fr. Vilkauskas' ministry:

• Fr. Vilkauskas' Farewell Homily (8/27/00, Our Lady of Lourdes, Monroe, NC)
• The Stories Not Told by Fr. Don McEachin, C.S.Sp.