Polish-born Father Marcin Lukasz Chilczuk, 26, will model his priesthood on the examples of St. Pope John Paul II and St. Padre Pio.
Born in Gliwice, Poland, he is the oldest son of Jolanta and the late Krzysztof Chilczuk. He has one younger brother, Lukasz. The family attends All Saints Church, Sieradz.
He attended public elementary and high schools before entering SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Krakow, Poland, and then SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake, Mich., where he earned his master of divinity degree.
While studying in Orchard Lake, he learned about the Brooklyn Diocese and was invited to visit.
“I really liked the diversity of the diocese,” he said. “There are so many cultures.”
He served summer assignments at Corpus Christi, Woodside, and Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen, Carroll Gardens. He served his diaconate year at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Ridgewood.
Priesthood was something he considered from childhood, having become an altar server after receiving First Holy Communion. Growing up, he said, he was “always connected with the Church.”
During high school, he thought more seriously about religious life. He attended religious vocation retreats and participated in walking pilgrimages to the national sanctuary of Our Lady of Czestochowa, where he prayed before an image of the patroness of Poland. As she gazed at him, and he at her, he realized the call to enter religious life was the deepest desire of his heart.
Father Chilczuk said his priestly – and saintly – role models are St. Pope John Paul II and St. Padre Pio. As a priest, he hopes to embrace John Paul’s “integrity” and “openness to different people.” He aims to follow Padre Pio’s example of “really listening to people” and speaking the truth with gentleness, especially in the confessional.
His mother and brother will come to the U.S. for the first time to attend his ordination.
Father Chilczuk will offer his First Mass of thanksgiving at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church on Sunday, June 29 at 12:45 p.m.
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