Brother Benjamin S. Sunday, CSC

Valatie- Brother Benjamin Stanley Sunday passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. He was born in Meriden, Connecticut, on July 28, 1922, the youngest of the three sons of Thomas Mielcarz and Mary Sondej Mielcarz, both Polish immigrants. Within a few weeks, Benjamin was baptized at St. Stanislaus Church in Meriden. When he was 4 years old, his father passed away and his maternal aunt and uncle (Mary and Andrew Sadaj) adopted him. (Sunday is the English rendering of Sadaj.)

Benjamin received his primary and secondary education in Middletown, Connecticut, and in grammar school was taught by the Felician Sisters. Graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1940, he enrolled at Morse Business College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he majored in stenography, typing and bookkeeping, completing the program in 1941.

By September of 1942, he was working in Washington, D.C., as an administrative assistant to an officer in the 4th Squadron, Army Air Corps Headquarters in Bolling Field. Benjamin's service was so valued that the officer persuaded him to join the Air Corps in January 1943 and continue as his administrative assistant in the Pacific Theatre in the Target Unit, Intelligence Division, Twentieth Air Force. Benjamin served as a Staff Sergeant in Hawaii, Saipan and Guam until his honorable discharge in November of 1945.

Over the next few years, Benjamin was employed as a secretary at the Russell Manufacturing Company of Middletown (1946–1948), as an insurance claims clerk at the Robert B. Brainard Agency (1948–1951), and as an IBM bank operator at the First National Bank of Boston (1951–1952). During this year in Boston, Benjamin took classes in Latin at the Newman Preparatory School, so that he could be admitted to St. Joseph's Abbey, a Trappist monastery in Spencer, Massachusetts.

Since early in life, he had been thinking about a religious vocation, but had not been sure which direction to take. In his hometown, he was impressed by the dedication of the Felician Sisters to their vocation, and he witnessed the joy in young women from the neighborhood who entered the religious life. His initial response to the call was to join the Trappists in June 1952. As a novice at St. Joseph's Abbey, Benjamin was given the name Frater Philip. In August 1953, the novice master determined that he was not suited for the demanding regime of austere contemplative life, and Benjamin left St. Joseph's Abbey and reentered “the world” as a payroll clerk and bookkeeper at Shrivers Gas Conversions, Inc.

Still, the inner call persisted, and he applied to be admitted to the Brothers of Holy Cross. The Abbot at St. Joseph's Abbey described Benjamin as sincere, affable, kind, and open. Vouching for his sincerity and earnestness, the Abbot recommended him to Holy Cross, saying, “I know he will give his best.” Although he left the Trappists, Benjamin reserved a special place in his heart for St. Joseph Abbey in Spencer, where he first explored religious life. For many years, he returned there to make his annual retreat.

Upon being accepted to enter the St. Joseph Juniorate in Valatie, New York, Benjamin wrote to the Director: “In checking with the railroad information office here in Hartford with reference to railroad connections to Valatie, N.Y., the gentleman could not be of much assistance – he said that he had not heard of Valatie (believe it or not). Any information you can pass along these lines will be appreciated.” Benjamin arrived in Valatie to begin his candidacy on June 15, 1954, and was received into St. Joseph Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, Indiana on August 15, 1954, at age 32. He made his first profession of vows there on August 16, 1955.

Describing his calling, Brother Benjamin wrote, “I believe that I will be able to sanctify myself and serve God as a Brother. That is, if I can correspond with the graces God sends each day.” Brother Benjamin was then assigned to the Vincent Hall Scholasticate in Austin, Texas, to study at St. Edward’s University for the 1955–1956 academic year. Later, he took philosophy courses at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

In 1956, Brother Benjamin was assigned to Notre Dame High School, West Haven, Connecticut, and made his profession of perpetual vows on August 23, 1958. At Notre Dame High School, Brother Benjamin served for 58 years—all of his active ministry—teaching religion and typing, working in the school office, and running the bookstore full time. He initiated a gift shop and established an annual Christmas Fair, which became a significant fundraiser with its raffles and unique prize offerings. Brother Benjamin also helped found the Alumni Mothers group, whose volunteer activities raised money for student scholarships.

Brother Benjamin’s persevering commitment to the school, his many kindnesses and good works, and the lasting relationships he cultivated over the years made him legendary at Notre Dame High School. Characteristically, he humbly deferred credit from himself to praise others for the successes they accomplished together.

Cardinal Henry Newman wrote about one’s defining grace—those virtues which define a person’s life. Brother Benjamin often spoke of loyalty and generosity as marks of a person’s character. Those were most important to him. From the hundreds of comments on Facebook, it is obvious that Brother Benjamin modeled those virtues and left a lasting memory and impression on the students, staff, and faculty at Notre Dame. The common theme expressed in many remembrances indicated that they knew what was good, proper, and acceptable from Brother Benjamin’s example and that it served them well.

In 2014, at age 92, Brother Benjamin retired from his ministry at Notre Dame High School and moved to St. Joseph Center in Valatie, New York. Up until his death, he continued to maintain contact with the many grateful members of the school community.

God bless our Brother Benjamin and grant him eternal peace. Well done, good and faithful servant!

Services for those who knew Brother Benjamin Sunday, CSC will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in the Chapel of St. Joseph Center, Valatie, NY, with visitation at 9:30 a.m., and a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m., followed by interment in the St. Joseph Center Cemetery.

At the request of Brother Benjamin, any donations in his memory may be sent to:

Notre Dame High School Attn: Development Office One Notre Dame Way West Haven, CT 06516