Brother Thomas Rochacewicz
Archdiocese of Baltimore/Redemptorist
Ordained: 1968
Died: 2015
Assignment History:
- 1968: Redemptorist College Seminary (Suffield, CT)
- 1968-1972: Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Ellicott City, MD)
- 1972-1986: St. Michael Church (Baltimore, MD)
- 1987-1997: Redemptorist Parish St. Cecilia and Provincial Residence (NY)
- 1997-2002: San Alfonso Retreat House (Long Branch, NJ)
- 2002-Unknown: St. Alphonsus Villa (New Smyrna Beach, FL)
- Unknown: Holy Redeemer College (Washington, DC)
- 2015: St. John Neuman Residence at Stella Maris (Timonium, MD)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Brother Thomas Rochacewicz:
Br. Thomas Rochacewicz was ordained a Redemptorist priest and worked in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. In 2002, Br. Rochacewicz was listed on the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of Minors list. In April 2023, Maryland’s Attorney General released a report alleging 156 Catholic clergy members sexually abused at least 600 children over six decades. The report lists the names of the abusers, including Br. Thomas Rochacewicz.
According to the Attorney General’s report, Brother Rochacewicz sexually abused numerous young girls during his time as a brother in Maryland. Between 1987 and 2002, the archdiocese received reports of abuse at the hands of Rochacewicz from at least nine women. In 1987, a woman reported having been sexually abused by Br. Rochacewicz when she was a 14-year-old student at St. Michael in Baltimore. Br. Rochacewicz took the victim and other children to go swimming, where he sexually abused the victim.
According to the report, a woman was sexually abused by Br. Rochacewicz repeatedly between 1975 and 1983, primarily while the victim was between 11 and 14 years old. The victim met Br. Rochacewicz at her grandmother’s funeral, after which Br. Rochacewicz began visiting the victim at her home, taking the victim and her sisters to the movies, and sexually abusing the victim.
In 2002, a victim reported having been sexually abused by Br. Rochacewicz repeatedly between 1975 and 1979 at St. Michael Church in Baltimore, beginning when the victim was 13 years old. Br. Rochacewicz instructed the victim to try on clothing items and swimsuits, as well as instructed her to pose in a provocative manner as he photographed the victim, according to the report.
In 2002, another victim reported having been sexually abused by Br. Rochacewicz at St. Michael when the victim was in 4th grade. When the victim began attending the school, Br. Rochacewicz was the first person she met. Br. Rochacewicz began to take a special interest in her, taking her swimming and horseback riding and arranging for her to go to summer camp. Br. Rochacewicz then repeatedly sexually abused the victim over the course of three years, which occurred in the rectory and at the school at St. Michael.
The victim’s cousin also reported having been sexually abused by Br. Rochacewicz. According to the report, Br. Rochacewicz would visit the victim’s home, where he would sexually abuse her.
According to the report, the Archdiocese received reports from three sisters who were sexually abused by Br. Rochacewicz while they were students at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School between 1968 and 1969 when the youngest victim was in 1st grade, and the oldest victim was approximately ten years old.
In 2010, the archdiocese received a report from a victim who had been sexually abused by Br. Rochacewicz at St. Michael School between 1973 and 1980, beginning when the victim was in kindergarten and continuing until the victim was in 6th grade. The archdiocese entered a settlement with the victim.
Br. Rochacewicz died in 2015.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Maryland. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Maryland, contact our office today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse nationwide. We can help. Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.