Poland, Rabka: Fr. Ryszard Kukiełka, MIC, passes away

KURIA PROWINCJALNA ZGROMADZENIA KSIĘŻY MARIANÓW
ul. św. Bonifacego 9; 02-914 Warszawa;
tel.: 22 642 29 00; fax: 651 90 30; e-mail: [email protected]

Warsaw, October 12, 2011

With great sorrow we inform the confreres that

Fr. Ryszard Kukiełka, MIC, age 54,

member of our Zakopane-Cyrhla Religious House passed away
at the hospice in Rabka during the night hours of October 12, 2011.

The solemnity of Christian burial will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 15, 2011, in Licheń. Following the Holy Mass, the body of our Departed Confrere will be interred on the Marian cemetery in Licheń.

We commend the late Fr. Ryszard to the Divine Mercy: may he rest in peace

Curriculum vitae

Father Ryszard Kukiełka, MIC, son of Józef and Janina neé Dyniec, was born Feb. 20, 1957, in Zamość. He also finished his elementary and high school there. Upon obtaining his high school certificate, he completed three years at the Wrocław Politechnic University. In 1982, he was admitted to the Congregation of Marian Fathers and made his first vows in Skórzec on Sept. 8, 1983, after completing his novitiate. Next, he began his studies at the Marian Major Seminary in Lublin. On August 26, 1988, in Elbląg, he made his perpetual profession in our Congregation. On June 3, 1990, Bishop Zbigniew Kraszewski ordained him to the priesthood at the church of our Lady Mother of Mercy in Warsaw-Stegny. After the ordination, Fr. Ryszard was sent to fill the duties of a catechist, parish vicar, and house counselor in Skórzec. In 1994-96, he took the German language course at the university in Eichstädt along with pastoral training in preparation for his ministry in Germany. In 1996-98 he served at the Marian post in Vilgertshofen, carrying out the duties of the house counselor and working pastorally in nearby parishes. In 1998, he was transferred to our house in Grzybowo. In 1999-2005, he went to Stoczek Klasztorny to take over the office of the house superior and treasurer. Later he also became the pastor of local parish and the shrine of Our Lady of Peace. The following year he spent serving at the Marian shrine in Licheń, which he left for pastoral work at the rectoral church (located at Kościelna Street) in Grudziądz. During his two-year service there, he also completed his post-graduate studies at the Faculty of Theology of the Mikołaj Kopernik University in Toruń, obtaining the licentiate in Theology. From 2008, he was the pastor of The Divine Mercy Parish in Zakopane-Cyrhla. For more than a year he struggled against cancer, while continuing to carry out his pastoral obligations. He died in the night hours of Oct. 12, 2011, in the Rabka Hospice. May the Lord grant him eternal rest.