On Sunday, March 16, 2025, Friar Florian SZCZĘCH, the oldest friar in the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow), celebrated his 65th anniversary of priesthood. Friar Florian is almost ninety-five years old.
Friar Florian presided over the Mass which was attended by his closest family members and the Minister Provincial, Friar Mariusz KOZIOŁ. The Mass was celebrated in Harmęże (Poland), the town where, with only one interruption, the celebrant ministered for twenty-three continuous years. During the liturgy, the Major Superior gave Friar Florian a pearl rosary with the relics of the Blessed Missionary Martyrs of Pariacoto (Peru): Friars Zbigniew STRZAŁKOWSKI and Michał TOMASZEK.
The Minister Provincial, based on documents preserved in the archives, stated that Friar Florian discerned his religious vocation as an altar boy, precisely during Mass, when he was thirteen years old. He when on to describe the most important events in Friar Florian’s life and called the attention of the faithful to his positive qualities, which have remained unchanged since his youth. “Those who knew him know that he is a good, helpful man with a truly Franciscan soul,” Friar Mariusz stressed, “Father Florian, you deserve recognition and gratitude for your faithful service to God and His people, for your love for the Order and for the witness of your priestly life.”
The Guardian of the friary in Harmęże, Friar Kazimierz MALINOWSKI, listed some of Friar Florian’s virtues: patience, kindness, gentleness, subtlety in dealing with others and the ability to speak only well of others. “You teach us how to live religious, Franciscan and priestly life magnificently. You placed your hope in the Lord when, at the age of thirteen, you decided to follow the priestly and Franciscan path. You gave yourself to Him. Moreover, you have certainly remained faithful to Him all these years, as you so naturally and simply reveal these beautiful virtues to all who live with you. It is a great gift and blessing for us, friars of the friary, to have you in our midst, nourishing us with your faith, hope and love. We thank you immensely for this. You are most precious, you are a treasure―and here we have a treasure from Lubenia.” A letter had been sent from Friar Florian’s native town of Lubenia (Diocese of Rzeszów, Poland) by the local Pastor, Father Bogdan HAHN, who assured Friar Florian that a Mass would be celebrated for his intentions. “In it we wish to give thanks for the years of priestly service and ask for health, divine protection and the protection of the Mother of God of Lubenia.” Congratulations and best wishes were also sent by the Most Reverend Roman PINDEL, Bishop of Bielsko-Żywiec, Poland, the diocese where the friary in Harmęże is located. The bishop wrote: “On the occasion of your 65th anniversary of priesthood, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and express my gratitude and appreciation for your dedicated priestly service. I hope that the fruits of your pastoral ministry may continue and flourish in the hearts of all those whom the Lord places on the path of your life. May the infinite power of God support you in your efforts to restore hope to the world. For your continued ministry in the Church of Christ, I wish you good health and an abundance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I assure you of my prayers through the intercession of the Mother of God and the Patron Saints of the Diocese and I offer you my blessing.”
Parishioners of all ages also offered Friar Florian their thanks and best wishes.
Friar Jan M. SZEWEK
