New England priest starts tenure at Mother Cabrini

Monday Profiles are published on the first Monday of each month.

SHAMOKIN - "I have big shoes to fill, but I am committed to continuing the fine work Father Dennis has done for this church and its parishioners during the past 15 years."

Those comments by the Rev. Martin Kobos, who was officially installed Sunday morning as the second pastor of Mother Cabrini Church, summarized the priest's appreciation for his predecessor and his confidence in meeting future challenges.

During a lengthy interview last week, the well-educated native of Lawrence, Mass., talked about his background, the friendly people of the Shamokin area and the challenge of beginning a new chapter in his 34-year career as a priest in which he has served as a teacher, director of vocations, director of the Franciscan Mission Association and parochial vicar.

The 61-year-old reverend comes to Mother Cabrini after serving as parochial vicar at St. Paul's Church in Kensington, Conn., for the past five years. He succeeds the Rev. Dennis Grumsey, who served as the first pastor of Mother Cabrini Church for 15 years before being re-assigned to serve as pastor of St. Casimir Church in Baltimore, Md.

The well-respected Grumsey, who claimed Shamokin as his second hometown, also spent three years as a parochial vicar for the Tri-Parish of St. Stanislaus, St. Mary's and St. Michael prior to being appointed pastor in 1995 when the consolidation of Catholic churches throughout the Diocese of Harrisburg began.

When asked if he had any certain goals or objectives for his new parish, Kobos said, "Not really. I just want to continue to go forward with the fine work Father Dennis did here. He was a firm, but gentle pastor who shepherded his people through a difficult time. I am trying to get to know as many of our parishioners as possible and I look forward to serving them and working with them in various activities."

The friendly, well spoken and humorous priest added, "I plan on using the many talents of our parishioners to best serve the needs of our parish and help us all move forward toward reaching the kingdom of God."

The Franciscan friar mingled among the crowd at the church's annual Youth Center Picnic last weekend, where he met many parishioners and others while enjoying an assortment of delicious ethnic food.

Kobos has always lived his life in accordance with the gospel values and like all Franciscans, models his career after the virtues of St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order.

Saint Francis of Assisi (Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone), who died Oct. 3, 1226, was a Catholic deacon and preacher, and is known as the patron saint of animals, the environment and one of the two patrons of Italy.

Father Martin, who is well versed on the history of St. Francis and the Franciscan order, also strongly adheres to the scripture passage that quotes Jesus as saying: "Love one another as I have loved you."

Kobos said, "That's my theme."

Father Martin was assigned to a four-year term at Mother Cabrini by the Province of St. Anthony of Padua in Ellicott City, Md. His pastorship was confirmed by Bishop Joseph McFadden of the Diocese of Harrisburg, and made official Sunday when the Very Rev. Francis Karwacki, dean of the Northumberland Area and pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, installed him on behalf of McFadden, who took office as the 10th bishop of Harrisburg on Aug. 18.

Kobos is a son of the late Joseph and Genevieve Kobos. He has one sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Albert Argenziano, of Salem, Mass.

The priest, who is proud of his Polish heritage, attended St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, N.Y., near Buffalo, a boarding school staffed by Franciscan friars.

He entered the Franciscan community in 1966 with five other classmates at St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate in Ellicott City, Md. After completing his one-year novitiate studies, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy in 1971 from St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, Mass.

He then served a one-year internship as a teacher at Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, Md., before studying theology for four years at St. Anthony-On-Hudson in Rensselaer, N.Y.

Kobos was ordained into the priesthood on May 15, 1976, at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Albany, N.Y..

His first assignment came as an instructor and guidance counselor at Archbishop Curley High School from 1976 to 1979.

From 1979 to 1981, the friar was the director of vocations in Ellicott City, Md., where he did a lot of traveling recruiting priests.

He also served as the associate director of friars/seminarians and in 1987, became the director of the Franciscan Mission Association, a fund-raising office for friar mission work.

In 1990, Kobos organized the first development office for the Franciscan Mission Association and had the opportunity to visit missions in Ghana, West Africa, and Jamaica. During his work in the development office, Kobos formed the "Companions of St. Anthony," a fund-raising committee comprised of friars and friends of the Franciscans who donated money to the religious order.

He worked in the development office for the Province of St. Anthony of Padua in Ellicott City, Md., until 2005, when he was appointed parochial vicar of St. Paul's Church in Kensington, Conn., which is part of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Conn.

He also edited a prayer book known as the "Companion Prayers," which has sold approximately two million copies throughout the country.

Father Martin, who considers himself a renaissance friar, said his hobbies include gardening, traveling, reading and cooking.

Name: Father Martin Kobos.

Age: 61.

Hometown: Lawrence, Mass.

Occupation: Pastor of Mother Cabrini Church, Shamokin.

Education: Graduate of St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, N.Y.; St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate, Ellicott City, Md.; St. Hyacinth College and Seminary, Granby, Mass., and St. Anthony-On-Hudson, Renssalaer, N.Y. Ordained into the priesthood May 15, 1976, at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Albany, N.Y.

Family: Son of the late Joseph and Genevieve Kobos. One sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Albert Argenziano, Salem, Mass.

Hobbies: Gardening, traveling, reading and cooking.