On Saturday, May 29, Bishop Mikołaj Łuczok ordained six dominican deacons as presbyters. This group included Mikołaj Walczak OP, who for the last year was a member of our Foundation’s team, and Mariusz Stopa, who served in our catechumenate.

– God himself loves through me, he loves those whom I have served with sacraments and priestly service, with a priestly attitude – said bishop Mikołaj in his homily. – This is a great mystery that surpasses me. And it is good that this mystery surpasses me, because the true priesthood cannot get bored. Even “the same” Holy Mass, celebrated every day, (…) is a great mystery, which each time reveals an ever greater depth of unity with God – said bishop. As a warning for the ordained, he also quoted the saying of Fr. Joachim Badeni: “preacher goes out to the pulpit and say something wise there – and elderly lady in the church feels if there is the Holy Spirit involved.”

– “Holy Mass, even if we wear these vestments, is not our performance and our preaching, our ministry is not meant to be our performance. This is not our action, we are participants in a very deep union with Christ (…). I am asking you: do not pretend to be a priest. Be the priest according to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” he concluded.

Bishop Mikołaj Petro Łuczok entered the Dominican Order in 1994. He made his first profession in 1995, perpetual vows in 2000, and was ordained priest in 2003. Before that, he studied at the Dominican Philosophical and Theological College in Warsaw and Krakow. In 2018, he was appointed the superior of the monastery in Lviv, as well as the delegate of the Vicariate of Ukraine to the General Chapter of the Order of Preachers. In November 2019, Pope Francis appointed him auxiliary bishop of the Mukachevo diocese. He took the word “Misericordia” (Mercy) as an episcopal call.

The ordination liturgy took place in the Basilica of the Holy Trinity during the Holy Mass at 10 am, it was also broadcasted on the cloister’s YouTube channel. The next day, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the newly ordained fathers celebrated their first Mass. The homily was delivered by Father Cyprian Klahs OP.

– “Dear brothers, God wants to be present and act through you. It seems to me that there is nothing better to do in life than that God could do it through you,” the preacher said to his wards.

The newly ordained fathers were sent by the provincial, Father Paweł Kozacki, to various places – Fr. Mikołaj will serve in the Convent of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Tarnobrzeg. We will remember about him and all the ordained in our prayers, which we encourage you to do as well – at the same time counting on further contact and cooperation!

photo from the liturgy: Dominicans in Kraków