The Priest Who Knew St. Maximilian Kolbe

National Catholic Register ^ | 10/9/10 | Joseph Pronechen

[marshmallow]

Father Lucjan Krolikowski, a Conventual Franciscan Friar at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus in Chicopee, Mass., (see related story on the upcoming Oct. 24 issue’s travel page) started his journey to priesthood in Poland in the seminary run by St. Maximilian Kolbe. After a detour to a Soviet concentration camp, he eventually was ordained, had to outrun communists once again, then for decades became a key worker for the “Father Justin Rosary Hour,” which is still the oldest Catholic radio program in the Polish language in the world.

Having celebrated his 91st birthday in September, he remains quite active in ministry at the basilica. Shortly after his birthday, this gentle friar spoke spiritedly about his life and Maximilian Kolbe.

Where did you start to study for the Franciscans?

I was a seminarian at Niepokalanow, Father Kolbe’s monastery. It was the largest in the world, with 700 friars. We were about 130 boys in the seminary, besides the 700 friars.

I was living in his monastery in Niepokalanow three years in the minor seminary for the missionaries. Maximilian Kolbe was himself a missionary, and he wanted us to go all over the world and spread the Gospel.

Tell me how your studies were interrupted.

I made my vows three days before the outbreak of the war in Poland (on Sept. 1, 1939). Father Kolbe was at the ceremony of the vows.

We were invaded from the east and the west by the German Panzers and the Red Army. They wanted to destroy Poland. I was arrested by the Soviets and sent to a Soviet concentration camp in Siberia because they colonized Siberia with prisoners. I was sentenced for 10 years. I didn’t know why I was there. They never told me.

It was providential after the invasion of Russia by Hitler’s..............

[marshmallow]

And then there are those Catholic priests who have been heroically faithful to their vows and mission...........

[Salvation]

**I was a seminarian at Niepokalanow, Father Kolbe’s monastery. It was the largest in the world, with 700 friars. We were about 130 boys in the seminary, besides the 700 friars. **

And Niepokalanow is such a humble place. When we visited Poland it was one of our stops. The little original chapel with wood floor and no insulation was where we had Mass. Very humbling as well as inspiring experience.

[Salvation]

Welcome back, freeper Salvation! (Vanity)