Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine CATHOLIC www.biloxidiocese.org VOLUME 39 / NUMBER 10 January 7,2022 Bishop Kihneman to ordain Deacon Tomasz Powroźnik to priesthood, January 22 BY TERRY DICKSON DIOCESE OF BILOXI -- Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III will ordain Deacon Tomasz Artur Powroźnik to the priest- hood on January 22 at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Deacon Tomaz, 39, is a native of Częstochowa, Poland, and is the oldest of two boys born to Andrzej and Zdzisława Powroźnik. Deacon Powroź- nik’s younger brother, Konrad, is married to Malgorzata and has two children, son Kasjan and daughter Liwi. Deacon Tomasz’s parents and eight cousins will attend the ordina- tion. Deacon Tomasz credited his grandparents as the primary influencers of his decision to become a priest. His role model is St. John Paul the Great, Deacon Tomasz holds a degree in philosophy from Pontifical Seminary in Poland and an English degree from University UIC and DePaul in Chicago. He also holds a Masters’ degree in public administration and European institutions with some law elements. In May, Deacon Tomasz graduated from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans with a Master of Arts in Pastoral Leadership. Deacon Tomasz loves to read and drink hot tea. In fact, he drinks hot tea thrice daily. He also enjoys walking and listening to music. He has a devotion to Our Lady of Czestochowa called Black Madonna, Queen of Poland. He also likes to read books by Bishop Robert Barron and enjoys listening to Radio Maryja from Poland. During his time in the Diocese of Biloxi, Deacon Tomasz has served internships at St. Mary Parish in Gautier with Father George Kitchin, St. ThomasAquinas Parish in Hattiesburg with Father Mark Ropel, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Biloxi with Father Dennis Carver and, most recently, at Sacred Heart Parish in Hattiesburg with Father Ken Ramon- Landry. Father Piotr Kosk, of St Paul Church in Highland, Illinois, in the Diocese of Springfield, will vest Deacon Tomasz with the stole and chasuble. His chalice and vestments are gifts from his par- ents and two families from the Hattiesburg area. Deacon Tomasz will celebrate his first two Masses of Thanksgiving on Sunday, January 23, at Sacred Heart Church in Hattiesburg. His first Mass, which will be celebrated in English, will be at 10:30 a.m. Father Maciel Galle, of the Archdiocese of Chicago, will be the homilist. His second Mass, which will be cele- brated in Spanish, will be at 1:30 p.m. Sacred Heart pastor Father Ken Ramon-Landry will be the homilist. The ordination and both Masses of Thanksgiving will be live streamed on the Diocese of Biloxi’s YouTube and Facebook pages. Deacon Tomasz said he looks forward to serv- ing as a priest in the Diocese of Biloxi. “I want to serve and be with the people. I look forward to celebrating Mass because this is where we draw our lives and an example to follow Jesus, whom we strive to follow in our vocation,” he said. It is a call rooted in love. “There would be no faith and no hope if it weren’t for love.” He said. “Love was first and love will be last.” Photo Credit/Paul Sanchez