Who is this priest that we honor today? He is the “real deal”! What you see - is who he is. He often preaches on kindness, caring, compassion, and love. He is a man of deep faith and exhibits this through words and actions. There are times he can become a lion when pushed too far.
His call to the priesthood was rooted at an early age and encouraged by his grandmother. He went to high school and studied his first couple of years in the seminary in Southern Poland. A distant cousin was very active at SS Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake. He visited with family and encouraged Stanley to think about finishing his education here in the States and the great need for priests here at that time. Speaking only a few words of English and never having traveled, it took a great deal of courage to take this giant step not knowing when the next time you would see your family,
Thankfully this opened a whole new world for him. I often think he has a better command of the English language than me! Prior to his ordination as a priest, he served an internship in Ohio. Following his ordination by Cardinal Maida, he became incardinated into the Archdiocese of Detroit, where he has served for the past 32 years.
You often here him reference his family in Poland. He speaks to his mom and dad weekly. We continue to pray for his mom who suffered a massive stroke in December and his dad also has health issues at 94.
Blessed am I that my family welcomed Father into our family. My daughter and son in law sing his praises to their friends. Father S is particularly enamored with my precocious little grandchild Charlotte who is 2. He loves to hear her chatter and sing on videos as well as see the antics she is up to in the weekly pictures coming from Connecticut.
After returning from a wedding at Our Lady of Good Counsel a couple of weeks ago, he shared “it is so good to be back with my parish family here at St Mark.” His heart is here with all of you.
Thank you, Fr Stanley, for bringing the good news of Jesus to all of us.
Please pray this prayer for all of our priests.
Help our priests to be strong and filled with courage in their vocation. Set their souls on fire with love for your people and compassion in their service to all. Grant them the gifts of the Holy Spirit they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.