Poland, Licheń: Father Wiktor Krawczyk, MIC, longtime resident of the religious house under the title of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Licheń Stary, Poland, a preacher and a confessor at the local shrine, passed away on March 13, 2019, in the hospital in Konin. He was 88 years of age, a religious for 68 years and a priest for 66. Funeral solemnities will take place at St. Dorothy’s Parish Church in Licheń Stary on Saturday, March 16, 2019. Afterwards, the body of the deaceased will be taken to its final resting place in the Marian section of the parish cemetery in Licheń Stary.
Father Wiktor Krawczyk, MIC, son of Stanisław and Weronika née Godyl, was born on Sept. 18, 1930, in Giżyce, Diocese of Włocławek, district of Kalisz, Poland.
After graduating from elementary school in Giżyce. In 1945, he began studying at the three-year Secondary Vocational School in Grabów-on-Prosna, learning tailoring at the same time, where he received his middle school certificate, in 1949. Admitted to our Congregation, in 1949-50, he completed his novitiate in Skórzec, and, on Aug. 15, 1950, he made his first religious vows.
He was sent to study at the scholasticate in Bielany, where he completed his 9th and 10th grades in 1950-52. Upon completing his 11th high school grade at the Marian house in Praga, he received his high school diploma in 1953. Also that year, he made his perpetual profession in Skórzec.
He studied at the seminary in Bielany (1953-54 – first year philosophy), then in Gietrzwałd (1954-56 – second year philosophy and theology) and in Włocławek (1956-59), where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 22, 1958, by Antoni Pawłowski, Ordinary Bishop of the Włocławek Diocese. In 1959-60, Father Wiktor took a course of theology (tirocinium) at the Franciscans Conventual in Krakow.
Father Wiktor’s first pastoral assignment took him to Skórzec, where he served as a catechist and assistant in pastoral ministry. Transferred to Głuchołazy, from 1961-64 he fulfilled similar duties there. Posted to our religious house in Warsaw-Praga, Father Krawczyk from 1964-65 served as a parish vicar at the local parish of Our Lady of Lourdes. In the following year he worked in Grudziądz as a catechist and assistant in pastoral work; and for the next five years (1966-1971) he performed the same duties in Warsaw-Marymont. Transferred again to Praga, he worked as a catechist in 1971-72.
In 1972, he was sent to work in Argentina. After returning to Poland in 1973, he became a catechist and assistant in pastoral ministry at our church in the Puszcza Mariańska [Marian Forest]. In 1974-81, he worked in Elbląg as a youth chaplain. Then, from 1981-86, he was a priest in Głuchołazy, also serving during his first four years there as the house superior. From 1986-87, he assisted in the pastoral ministry at Stegny, and from 1987-90, he was the house superior and treasurer in Goźlin as well as the local pastor.
After completing his term in the office of local superior in 1990, he was transferred to the Shrine of Our Lady of Licheń as a preacher and confessor. From 1999-2002, he served at the rector church of Saint Francis Xavier in Grudziądz. In 2002, he was transferred back to the Licheń house and assigned to work at the shrine. The last years of his life were marked by worsening health, which he bore with meekness and humility. He died in the hospital in Konin on March 13, 2019.