“Forty years have passed, it’s a beautiful age; forty years, and even one more day. Be ready for twice as much now and perhaps the triple one, who knows?” lyrics of the title song from 70s’ and 80s’ popular Polish TV series “Czterdziestolatek” (A Man in Forties) say . And today (February 28), we can sing this song to Father Jan URBANIAK CM who celebrates his 40th (Ruby) anniversary as a priest . Almost half of his priesthood life he dedicated to St. Stanislaus Kostka in Brooklyn, NY.
Fr. Jan URBANIAK was born in the midst of Nazi occupation of Poland on May 24, 1942 in small village of Jadachy in the community of Nowa Dęba, in Tarnobrzeg county (South Eastern Poland), in the St. Stanislaus B & M parish in Chmielow, diocese of Sandomierz as son of Katarzyna (Cathrine) and Jozef (Joseph) Urbaniak. In the toughest period of Stalinist regime he took his First Communion. He received Sacrament of Confirmation in the atmosphere of so called June Revolt (1956) against communist rule. In the the early 1960s’ he entered diocesan seminary in Sandomierz which was staffed by Vincentians in those times. And the bishop of Sandomierz, Msgr Jan Kanty Lorek (1936 – 1967) one of the most prominent and zealous prelates of his times was a Vincentian, too. During seminary formation he witnessed important events in Poland’s modern history, two strong political crisises – first, so called 1968 March Events and another one, more cruel, December 1970 events which could not be easy to get through for a young cleric. Two month after the December protests, in the threshold of some political reforms he became a priest. He was ordained on February 28, 1971 by bishop Walenty Wojcik, an Auxiliary Bishop of Sandomierz.
For over twenty year after ordination he was assigned to various parochial ministries in his diocese, including pastorate of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Tomaszow Mazowiecki (nowadays diocese of Radom), St. Tekla in Tymienica Nowa (also diocese of Radom presently), Our Lady Maother of Church – St. Stanislaus Kostka in Nagorzyce and St. Jospeh the Worker in Kotowa Wola parishes.
In 1994 he moved to the United States. After arrival to New York he assisted at St. Stanislaus Kostka church, Brooklyn, where finally he stayed for good. He was involved in religious education of children and other Priestly duties. A year later, Father entered Congregation of the Mission in the Province of New England starting his novitiate – Internal Seminary – on the feast of Assumption, August 15, 1995. In 1997 he took his vows in the Congregation. Since 1999 Father Jan has been serving as parochial vicar in St. Stanislaus Kostka in Brooklyn.
After Fr. Rafal Kopystynski CM, pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka, was appointed Provincial in September 2007 administration of the parish was temporarily handed to Fr. Urbaniak. He held the position of Parish Administrator for almost a year until Fr. Marek Sobczak CM was called from Ansonia to become current pastor and Superior at St. Stanislaus Kostka. Father remained in the parish being engaged in its various ministries. Presently, he is responsible for Living Rosary Society, Holy Heart of Jesus Society and Ushers groups as their chaplain.
Our Province will celebrate Fr. Jan’s anniversary during the Eucharist at St. Stanislaus Kostka church on May 22, 2011. We will update you on this event later.
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On this special day wish Fr. Jan, that God bless him with good health and graces so he can continue to serve the people of God with zeal and love.
Fr. Jan Urbaniak CM (center) with Fr. Marek Sobczak CM (left), current pastor of St. Stanislaw Kostka and Fr. Rafal Kopystynski CM, previous pastor (right)
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