Father James Casimir Bernas Obituary (1930 - 2024)

James C. (Abbot Casimir) Bernas, o.c.s.o. Abbot Casimir passed away August 9, 2024 in at St. Joseph Villa in Salt Lake City. He was born January 19, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois to Casimir Bernas (ship's officer) and Pauline Janowiec. (librarian). He attended grammar school in Chicago, Brooklyn NY, Port Arthur Texas and Portland Oregon. He attended and graduated in 1947 from Columbia Preparatory School, Portland Oregon. He attended University of Norte Dame in 1948. He entered the Abbey of the Holy Trinity in 1949 and took his final vows in 1955. He was ordained a priest in July 1958 in Rome. He studied philosophy and 3 years of theology at the Abbey: Angelicum University (Rome)..S.T.L. (master's in theology) 1959; Pontifical Biblical Institute (Rome)..S.S.L. (master's in Sacred Scripture) 1961; S.S.D. (doctorate in Sacred Scripture) 1975. Father Casimir was elected abbot of the Abbey of the Holy Trinity on July 5, 2001 for a six-year term. At the monastery's closure in 2017, he moved with six other monks to St. Joseph's Villa retirement facility in Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Villa, 451 Bishop Federal Lane, SLC, UT 84115, followed by Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Huntsville Monastery Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd., Ogden.