Did you know this about the IW Knights of Columbus?
Often we do not fully appreciate the hard work and dedication to the Churches' mission by its priests because so much of their work occurs outside our daily vision. Monthly, the KofC Columbia online magazine publishes a column called Catholic Man of the Month which often highlights individual priests. This month the column spotlighted the career the late Father Joseph Waijewski.
"FATHER JOE was not discouraged by obstacles when it came to serving the Church. 'Don’t worry, nothing will be all right!'' he liked to joke about the challenges of missionary work. The only thing that mattered was to trust in God’s grace — to be, as he often said, a 'pencil in our Lord’s hands'.
Growing up in Grand Rapids, Mich., in a poor but devout family, Joseph Walijewski felt called to the priesthood from a young age. He struggled academically, however, and had difficulty finding a bishop who would sponsor him. But he persisted and was eventually accepted by the Diocese of La Crosse, Wis. Before his ordination in 1950, one of his teachers predicted, 'Joe Walijewski may not be the most intelligent priest, but he will be a holy priest'.
In 1956, Father Joe received permission from his bishop to move to South America, fulfilling a long-held desire to serve as a missionary. For most of the next 50 years, he established parishes, constructed churches and found creative ways to care for the poor — first in Bolivia and later in Peru.
One of Father Joe’s most ambitious projects began after St. John Paul II’s visit to Peru in 1985. The pope donated $50,000 to the Archdiocese of Lima, and Father Joe was given the funds to build Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II, a home for orphaned and abandoned children. Father Joe directed the home, which is located in the city of Lurín, for more than 15 years. He celebrated Mass for the children there just two days before he died on April 11, 2006. Thousands of people attended his wake and funeral. Father Joseph Walijewski’s cause for canonization was opened by the Diocese of La Crosse in 2013."
Find more about the Knights of Columbus at IWKnights9981.com/bulletin or on facebook.com/IWknights9981 and NOW on Twitter at twitter.com/IwKnights.
Links Related to this week’s column:
Catholic Man of the Month (April 2021) Father Joseph Walijewski By Knights of Columbus Columbia Magazine (4/1/2021) Click here for Website
Prayer for Protection in Time of Pandemic A Novena which seeks Our Lady’s Intercession for Protection in Time of Pandemic By His Holiness, Pope Francis (3/2020) A PRAYER FOR PROTECTION IN TIME OF PANDEMIC (PDF Version) Click here for the Prayer
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We would like to talk with you about becoming an IW Knight. Please visit us on-line at our web site at www.IWknights9981.com/AboutUs. Or call Rob Schultz at: (314) 973-2373.
