Summary of Case: David Dobrowolski was a priest of the Diocese of Erie, ordained in 1969. He was an assistant in an Erie parish until 1972, when he joined the staff of Kennedy Christian High School in Sharon. While there he may have resided briefly at a West Middlesex parish, moving in 1973 to St. Adalbert's in Farrell. In 1978 Dobrowolski was assigned as chaplain to the Harborcreek School for Boys, which was a treatment facility for 'troubled juveniles,' ages 10-18. He remained there until his death in December 1985.

Dobrowolski's name was included on the diocese's list released April 6, 2018 of priests, lay employees and volunteers accused of
sexually abusing minors. The allegations against Dobrowolski were noted to have been reported after his death.

Ordained: 1969
Died: December 28, 1985

1969

Diocese of Erie

Bishop was Alfred Michael Watson (1969-1982).

1/4

Msgr. James J. Gannon, V.F.; Rev. David V. Dobrowolski. In res., Revs. John W. Swoger; Charles Drexler.

1972-1975: Rev. Andrew Karg, Headmaster; Revs. Michael Barletta; Ronald Gmerek; James Kennelley; David Dobrowolski.

1975-1977:Rev. Andrew Karg, Headmaster; Revs. Michael Barletta; Ronald Gmerek; James Kennelley; David Dobrowolski; Glenn Whitman.

1977-1978: Rev. Andrew Karg, Headmaster; Ronald Gmerek; James Kennelley; David Dobrowolski; Glenn Whitman; Ronald Witherup. 

Kennedy Christian had 242-275 boys and 225-275 girls.

Barletta was accused of the sexual abuse of at least three Cathedral Prep students in the late 1970s-early 1980s. One of the alleged victims told the diocese in 1994. Barletta wasn't removed until 2003.

2/2

1973-1977: Rev. William J. Maloney. In res., Rev. David Dobrowolski.

1977-1978: Rev. Charles S. Murcko. In res., Rev. David Dobrowolski.

1978

Watson was succeeded as Erie bishop by Michael Joseph Murphy (1982-1990).

The Harborcreek School for Boys was a facility for the treatment of 'troubled juveniles,' ages 10-18. There were 135-150 boys during Dobrowolski's time there.

Dobrowolski died December 28, 1985. Per the diocese, child sexual abuse allegations against him Dobrowolski surfaced sometime after his death.

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Source: Official Catholic Directory (Kenedy & Sons, 1970-1986).

• Revision to the Policy for the Protection of Children, Diocese of Erie , April 6, 2018
• Erie Diocese Releases Names of Accused Priests, Laypeople, GoErie , April 6, 2018
• Assignment Record – Rev. Michael G. Barletta, Bishop-Accountability.org, June 14, 2018
• Harborcreek Youth Services, webpage accessed June 15, 2018



Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Dobrowolski's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with the allegations against him, as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegations we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on June 15, 2018.