On Thursday, January 29, 2026, Fr. Rajmund Dorawa, C.Ss.R., passed away peacefully at the age of 75.

Fr. Rajmund Dorawa was born on August 25, 1950, to Franciszek Dorawa and Sophia Zielinska. He professed on August 15, 1970, and was ordained on June 17, 1976.

Fr. Dorawa was born in Inowrocław, Poland, the younger of two brothers. He received his early education at Elementary School No. 2 in Inowrocław and attended Technical College in Toruń, Poland. He entered the novitiate at the Redemptorist House in Braniewo, Poland, in 1969, where he made his first profession on August 15, 1970. He went on to attend the Redemptorist Seminary in Tuchów, Poland.

Fr. Dorawa was ordained as a member of the Province of Warsaw in Tuchów, Poland, on June 17, 1976. He continued his studies at the Academy of Catholic Theology in Warsaw and obtained his Master of Theology degree there in 1982. His first appointment was as Associate Pastor and Prefect of Youth in 1976.

Fr. Dorawa arrived in Canada on April 17, 1979, to study English as a second language, which he did in Edmonton, Alberta, for one year. He was appointed on loan from the Warsaw Province to the Edmonton Province and served as Associate Pastor at St. Joseph’s Church, Grande Prairie (1980–1982). Following this appointment, he served at St. Mary’s Parish, Saskatoon (1982–1984), where he also worked as Chaplain at St. Paul’s Hospital. He was appointed Associate Pastor at St. Gerard’s Church in Yorkton, Saskatchewan (1984–1987), then at St. Mary’s Church in Saskatoon (1987–1990), serving both as Associate Pastor and Pastor.

During this time, he completed his Doctorate in Moral Theology in Rome and worked for several years in the Redemptorist mission territory of Denmark.

In 2011, Fr. Dorawa petitioned to join the Edmonton–Toronto Province in Canada. Upon his return to Canada, he was assigned as Associate Pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Toronto, ON.

In 2014, he returned to Grande Prairie as Associate Pastor at St. Joseph’s Church. Due to decreased mobility, he continued to offer pastoral assistance to St. Joseph’s Parish while living with the Redemptorist Community.

Due to his health issues, Fr. Dorawa moved into long-term care in 2024 and lived at Pearson Place in Hythe, Alberta.

Fr. Dorawa was predeceased by his parents, Franciszek and Sophia Dorawa.

He continued to maintain strong friendships and connections with many people in the Grande Prairie community, with whom he served over many years and who remained close to him throughout his time of care.

A viewing will take place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grande Prairie (10404 102 St). The funeral mass will begin at 11:00 a.m., with a luncheon to follow in Tranquille Hall at the church. Interment will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Edmonton, AB (14611 Mark Messier Trail).

For those who cannot attend in person, the funeral mass will be livestreamed. The link will be available 5 minutes prior to the mass.

While every effort is made to ensure a smooth livestream, technical or broadcast issues may occasionally occur beyond the control of Oliver’s Funeral Home.