It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Fr. Tadeusz Kowalczyk, CSMA, who departed this life on 20th of December 2024, at the age of 91, in the Michaelite Fathers’ residence in Melrose, Canada.

His journey was one of deep faith, tireless service, and unwavering commitment to God’s calling. Born on June 3, 1933, in the small village of Zabrodzie near Ostrołęka, Poland, young Tadeusz grew up in a devout and humble family. After completing primary school in his hometown, he answered God’s call early in life, joining the Michaelite Fathers in Miejsce Piastowe. It was there, in 1952, that he began his postulancy and novitiate, laying the foundation for a life dedicated to God and His people. 

In 1953, Fr. Tadeusz made his temporary vows, and just three years later, he professed his perpetual vows. That same year, he graduated from high school in Bydgoszcz. During this time, he demonstrated a servant's heart, taking on roles such as manager in Struga and caretaker of Michaelite houses in Kraków-Olsza and Pawlikowice. 

His academic journey began in 1958 at the Institute of Theology of the Vincentian Fathers in Kraków. However, his studies were interrupted during his fourth year due to a serious illness. Despite these challenges, Fr. Tadeusz’s resilience and faith carried him through, and in 1966, he was ordained to the priesthood—a moment that marked the fulfillment of his long-held dream to serve Christ and the Church. 

His first assignment as a priest was as a hospital chaplain in Kraków’s Prądnik hospital (now John Paul II Hospital). His compassionate ministry brought solace and hope to countless patients and their families. 

In 1972, Fr. Tadeusz embarked on a new chapter of his ministry, traveling to the United States. A year later, he arrived in Canada, where he devoted himself to serving Polish communities in Hamilton, London, Windsor, Sarnia, and beyond. His pastoral care and dedication to learning English allowed him to connect deeply with the people he served. In 1978, he took on a temporary assignment in an English-speaking parish in Chatham, followed by 15 years as a hospital chaplain in Sault Ste. Marie (1979–1994). Even in retirement, his zeal for service remained strong, and he served as pastor of a parish in Sault Ste. Marie from 1997 to 2000. 

For the past two decades, Fr. Tadeusz made his home in Melrose, where he continued to serve quietly and faithfully, assisting at Our Lady of Częstochowa Parish in London. His presence was a blessing to all who encountered him—a priest of humility, wisdom, and gentle kindness. 

Fr. Tadeusz's life was marked by perseverance through hardship, a profound love for God, and an unwavering dedication to the mission of the Church. Despite his health challenges, he never wavered in his vocation, finding strength in prayer and the Eucharist. 

May Fr. Tadeusz now rest in the loving embrace of the God he served so faithfully. May he intercede for us, his Michaelite brothers and all those he ministered to during his long and fruitful life. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. 

Visitors will be received in the O’Neil Funeral Home, 350 William St., London on Sunday, December 29, 2024 from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 419 Hill St., on Monday, December 30, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. 

His Holiness, Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Joseph Dabrowski, C.S.M.A., as the 14th Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown. Bishop-designate Dabrowski was until now the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of London and he succeeds Bishop Richard Grecco who retired after serving the diocese from 2009 to 2021. Bishop Dabrowski will be installed at a ceremony at St. Dunstan’s Basilica on a date to be confirmed soon. Following his installation he will have the responsibility to shepherd the Catholic residents of Prince Edward Island and its 50 parishes.

Bishop Dabrowski commented on the announcement, “I am honoured and humbled that the Holy Father has entrusted to my care the Church in the Diocese of Charlottetown, and I am grateful for it. I accepted this appointment with trust that God will provide for me the necessary graces. I look forward to meeting the priests and people of the Diocese of Charlottetown, shepherding them, and working with them in furthering the mission of the Church there. In the spirit of synodality promoted by Pope Francis, we can express our confidence that Jesus will accompany us ‘together on the road.’ Additionally, I want to thank Bishop Ronald Fabbro, with whom I have worked so closely in the last eight years as his Auxiliary Bishop. He has been a true friend, teaching me so much about the life and work of bishops. His mentoring has prepared me for this moment as I take on my new responsibilities. The people of the Diocese of London have made me feel at home from the time I first stepped off the plane to begin my priestly ministry here in 1991. I will always have a special place in my heart for all of you, priests, deacons, Religious and lay faithful. It has been a great blessing and an honour to serve in this diocese all these years.”

Fr. Brian MacDougall, the Administrator of the Diocese of Charlottetown, welcomes the Bishop Dabrowski, “For the last two years I have been asked countless times; is there any word on a new bishop? To which I would reply, no word yet. Finally, that word has arrived with the appointment of Bishop Joseph Dabrowski as the incoming bishop, the 14th in the history of the diocese. This is wonderful news. Now we have a shepherd once again. On behalf of the priests and lay faithful of the Diocese of Charlottetown I congratulate and warmly welcome Bishop Dabrowski to our diocese.”

Bishop Fabbro offered his support for the bishop designate, “I was delighted to hear the news that Bishop Dabrowski was appointed the Bishop of Charlottetown, although I received it with mixed feelings. I am happy for him to have this opportunity to serve as the bishop of a diocese, and for the people of Charlottetown who will receive him as their bishop. I am saddened, however, to lose a friend and a wonderful co-worker in the Lord’s vineyard of London. We have worked closely together over these eight years. I came to rely on Bishop Dabrowski’s pastoral zeal and instincts that came so naturally from his many years as a dedicated and faithful pastor in the Diocese. I know I can speak for the priests, deacons, Religious and laity of London in saying that we are deeply grateful for his episcopal ministry and wish him well. As he begins this new appointment, we promise him our continued prayers.”

Bishop Dabrowski was born in 1964, the second of five children and grew up in Wysoka Strzyżowska, a small village in the south of Poland. After graduating from a high school run by the Congregation of St. Michael the Archangel, he chose to enter the Michaelite religious order. After completing one year of the Novitiate he made his first profession in 1982, and graduated from the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm in Rome, obtaining his Master of Divinity in 1991. He was ordained to the priesthood on 4 May 1991 in Italy at the Pontifical Sanctuary of Santa Maria ad Rupes, and he was assigned to join the Michaelite community in London, Ontario.

He served as Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Czestochowa in London from 1992 to 1993; St. Michael in Leamington from 1993 to 1996; St. Pius X (now Holy Family) in London from 1996 to 1997; and St. Mary in London from 1997 to 1998. In 1998 he was named Pastor of St. Mary parish in London, where he served until he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in 2015. As a priest he served on the Ministry to Priests Team, Council of Priests, as a Spiritual Director for St. Peter’s Seminary, the advisory board for St. Peter’s Cemetery, and the Linguistic Communities Committee.

In the Michaelite community, he served as Vice Superior, Advisor, Vice Provincial, and Provincial of North American Vice Province. Since his ordination as Bishop on 14 April 2015 at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica in London, Bishop Dabrowski has served as Vicar General, Vicar for Priests, Episcopal Liaison to St. Peter's Seminary, Member of the Board of Directors of St. Peter's Seminary, Episcopal Liaison to the Knights of Columbus, Episcopal Liaison to the Catholic Women's League, Episcopal Liaison with Religious Communities and on the Ministry to Priests Team.

As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Bishop Dabrowski was appointed as co-chair to the Roman Catholic / Evangelical Dialogue Group and a member of the Episcopal Commission for Evangelization and Catechesis. For the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario, Bishop Dabrowski served as a Member of the ACBO Commission for Priests, State Chaplain of the Ontario Knights of Columbus, Member of the ACBO Social Affairs Commission, Liaison Bishop to the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education (OAPCE) and Liaison Bishop to the Ontario Catholic Cemetery Conference.

Bishop Dabrowski enjoys serving and speaking with the faithful of many cultures, and celebrating the Catholic faith in many languages. He speaks English, Polish, Italian, Spanish and has previously studied French, Russian and Latin. Bishop Dabrowski enjoys playing the guitar, volleyball, tennis, soccer, and skiing. He is a big fan of Italian football club AS Roma.

Announcements and photos available as Download Attachments below. 

The Pontifical Sanctuary of Our Lady ad Rupes (Italy) was the site of an important event in the history of the Congregation. A native of Windsor, Quebec, Emmanuel Langlois, after a one-year postulate at the religious house in Melrose, ON, on September 20, 2022, began his canonical novitiate. North American community supports him with their prayers and is grateful to the Italian confreres for the effort of formation along with intellectual and spiritual development.

After two years of break, we anticipated with great joy this year's Feast in honor of St. Michael the Archangel. Everything has been planned and prepared, just like every year. We've been waiting for this day! The meeting began with the Chaplet of St. Michael and the 9 Choirs of Angels followed the Holy Mass. The square slowly began to fill with the presence of the faithful, among them representatives of various communities, young people, scouts, a music band, and the Domestic Church. This year, the Eucharist was presided by Fr. Zbigniew Rodzinka CSMA – who was celebrating 40th anniversary of priestly ordination. Therefore, there was an occasion to express thanks and wishes to the Distinguished Jubilarian. During the Holy Mass we also welcomed Fr. Krzysztof Stanula CSMA, who begins his ministry in the North American Vice-Province, he also shared his reflection on the Word of God. After the celebration, we had the opportunity to meet with each other, some took advantage of the opportunity of the angel’s fair. Thank you to all participants and welcome back to Melrose!

The Michaelite community of the North American Vice Province of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha had between 14th and 19th of November its annual retreats at the Religious House in Melrose. This year we were accompanied by Fr. Krzysztof Stanula, CSMA. The Retreat Father shared his spiritual experience while common prayer at the Eucharistic Table, the Liturgy of the Hours and the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as fraternal meetings strengthened the spiritual life and fraternal bonds. According to the customs religious vows were renewed at the end of the retreat. It was a very special time for the community because of the months of separation caused by the pandemic. Thanks be to God for all the graces and the blessed time!

On Sunday, September 26th, 2021, a solemn Mass of Thanksgiving on the centenary of the official recognition by the Church of the Congregation of St. Michael the Archangel took place at St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica in London. The Eucharist was presided by the Ordinary of the Diocese of London, Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, CSB, and the homilist was Most Rev. Joseph Dabrowski, CSMA, Auxiliary Bishop of London.
The temple was filled with the gathered priests along with the representatives of the faithful from Michaelite parishes from the Diocese of London and the Archdioceses of Toronto and Detroit. In his sermon, Bishop Dąbrowski presented the life’s journey of Founding Father of the Michaelites and drew attention to the timelessness of the vision of Bl. Markiewicz.
Celebration of the Centenary of the Congregation was an opportunity to honor people and institutions close to the Michaelite Fathers in Canada with the Benemerenti medal of the Congregations of Saint Michael the Archangel. The award was presented to the Ordinary of the Diocese of London, Bp. Ronald Piotr Fabbro and the Domestic Church Community in Canada.
Despite pandemic restrictions the celebration of the centenary of the Congregation was an occasion for a joyful meeting of the Michaelite family.
YouTube Link to the video from the Celebration.

Join us in thanksgiving for 100 years of Michaelite Fathers! Sunday September 26th 4pm ET at St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica in London, Ontario. Spacial Mass in Anticipation of St. Michael the Archangel Feast! YouTube link

On September 15th, 2021, on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, a special event took place in Melrose at the Religious House of the North American Vice Province: Emmanuel Langlois solemnly began the annual postulate in the Congregation of St. Michael the Archangel. The Michaelite community in Canada welcomes the new postulant with great joy and surrounds him with prayer. Emmanuel comes from Windsor Quebec, where his family has lived for 11 generations, after coming from France. Please join us in prayer for the fulfilment of God's will in the life of Emmanuel.

Pope Francis today named Rev. Joseph Dąbrowski, pastor of St. Mary’s parish in London and Superior of the North American Vice-Province of the Congregation of St. Michael the Archangel, an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of London, one of the largest English-speaking dioceses in Canada.

January the 30th is a day of Celebration among Michaelite Fathers. It is a day we thank God for life of Blessed Bronislaw Markiewicz. The liturgical memorial of our Founder is, as every year, an opportunity for us to gather together and to invite our friends to celebrate with us. We have invited our Guests (bishops and priests) to join us on January the 26th in Melrose, our Motherhouse, where we have sheared moments of Prayer and Festivities.

Bronislaw Markiewicz was born on July 13, 1842, in Eastern Poland, at the time annexed to the Russian empire, into a modest household that would eventually include eleven children. At the age of 18, he lost his faith. “I wanted to adapt to my teachers’ views,” he would write… “Along with faith in God, I lost the peace in my soul and my sense of interior harmony. I was overcome by sadness.” In his despair, Bronislaw turned to the great Polish authors. Touched by one of them, he fell to his knees and exclaimed, “My God, if You exist, make me know You! … May I see the Truth, and spend my life in thanksgiving! To gain this, I am willing to suffer any mortification.”

Let us Pray, through the intercession of Blessed Bronislaw Markiewicz, that we might follow God’s will throughout our whole life.