Obituaries

Chicago (May 31, 2024) – Rev. Jan F. Kaplan, retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and pastor emeritus of St. Ladislaus Parish on Roscoe Street in Chicago, passed away Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the age of 80.

Kaplan was born on May 11, 1944, in Janów Podlaski, Poland. He attended high school in Janów Podlaski and the diocesan seminary in Siedlce, Poland.

Kaplan was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Siedlce in Poland on May 20, 1967, by Most Rev. Wacław Skomorucha, and he celebrated his first solemn Mass on June 25, 1967, at Trojcy Swietej Parish in Janów Podlaski, Poland.

After ordination, from 1967 to 1977, Kaplan served as an associate pastor at several different parishes in the Diocese of Siedlce in Poland. He then served as a missionary in the Diocese of Anatuya in Argentina from 1977 to 1985, and moved to Canada to serve in the Diocese of Prince Albert from 1985 to 1998.

Following his time in Canada, Kaplan moved to Illinois and served as associate pastor at the following parishes: Ss. Cyril & Methodius Parish in Lemont, Transfiguration Parish in Wauconda, St. Joseph Parish in Round Lake and St. Blase Parish in Summit Argo (now Blessed Martyrs of Chimbote). Kaplan was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Chicago on April 27, 2005. He served as pastor at St. Ladislaus Parish on Roscoe Street in Chicago and was bestowed the title of pastor emeritus in 2014.

Following his retirement, Kaplan had been residing in his family home in Poland.

Rev. Wojciech Kwiecień, archdiocesan priest and one of Kaplan’s close friends, first met Kaplan when they were both at St. Ladislaus Parish. Kwiecień remembered Kaplan as an incredible person who was dedicated to connecting with people. “He was very happy to be a priest and had a great passion for traveling and spreading his ministry around the world.” Kwiecień recalled his charisma, how he “was very helpful in parishes, specifically with the Spanish and Polish communities.” He had a passion for uniting all the different cultures within the church communities, Kwiecień added.

Kaplan’s funeral was held on Saturday, May 25, 2024, in the Basilica of the Holy Trinity in Janów Podlask, Poland, the church in which he was baptized. Presiding at the funeral Mass was Most Rev. Grzegorz Suchodolski, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Siedlce. Kaplan’s wishes were to be interred in Poland.