[Picture]

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Polonia Leaders: Monsignor Bernard Witkowski and Debbie Majka
at the 2005 Pulaski Day Parade in Philadelphia

Rev. Fr. Msgr. Bernard Witkowski

Monsignor Bernard Witkowski, son of Bernard and Marie Glowacz, was born (Feb. 24, 1935) and raised in St. Adalbert Parish in Port Richmond in Philadelphia. He attended St. John Kanty Prep in Erie, PA and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. On May 19, 1962 he was ordained by John Cardinal Krol. Following his ordination he continued his studies at Villanova University and received an M.A. in Theology. Monsignor also pursued studies at the Jagiellonian University in Poland.

His assignments included Philadelphia General Hospital, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, as administrator, and Pastor St. Ladislaus Parish. He is currently serving as Pastor of St. John Cantius Parish.

Monsignor Witkowski has been an active member of many Polish organizations and accompanied Joseph Cardinal Bernadin and John Cardinal Krol to Poland. He served as chairman of the Liturgical Committee during the Eucharistic Congress in August 1976, and arranged with Cardinal Karol Wojtyla for the visit of 29 Polish Bishops to the Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia. He is the author of The Miracle of the Bread, a multi-media production during the Eucharistic Congress, presenting the promise and the institution of the Eucharist.

Monsignor has the distinction of being the only American priest mentioned in the Marvel Comic Book on the life of Pope John Paul II (see panel above - Monsignior is first from left).

In addition to his pastoral duties at St. John Cantius Parish he is currently the editor of the 1996 Polish Heritage Desk and Appointment Calendar. He is also the Chaplain of the Polish American Congress and the Polish Veterans Plac. 12, Vice President of the Polish American Social Services, board member of the Polish American Cultural Center, Polish Apostolate Advisory Committee, moderator of the Liga Katolicka, Vice Chaplain of the Union of Polish Women in America, a member of the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia, and President of the Alumni of the St. John Kanty Prep.

Monsignor's immediate family includes a sister, Antoinette McCole and a brother, Casimir. His brother, Gerald died in 1989.

From: Resume (1996)

[Witkowski Picture]

 .... Reverend Bernard E. Witkowski

Pastor, St. Ladislaus Church appointed: June 6, 1978

Born on February 24, 1935, the first child of Bernard and Marie Witkowski. Baptized and educated in Saint Adalbert's Parish. High School education at Saint John Kanty Prep in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1953. Entered St. Charles Seminary that same year and was ordained on May 19, 1962 by John Cardinal Krol, Archbishop of Philadelphia.


Priestly Assignments

Chaplain, Philadelphia General Hospital 1962-1964

Professor, Cardinal 0'Hara High School 1964-1976

Administrator at National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa 1976-1978

Pastor, St. Ladislaus Church appointed: June 6, 1978

From: Diamond Jubilee, 1906 - 1981, Saint Ladislaus

Bernard Edward Witkowski

Roman Catholic prelate

Born Feb. 24, 1935, Philadelphia (PA), U.S.; son of Bernard and Marie (Glowacz).

Education: Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Ph.), St. Charles Seminary, Philadelphia, 1957; Master of Theology (M.Th.), Villanova University (PA), 1969.

Career: chaplain, Philadelphia General Hospital, 1962-64; teacher, Cardinal 0'Hara High School, Springfield (PA), 1964-76; administrator, Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown (PA), 1976-78; pastor, St. Ladislaus Church, 1978-90, St. John Cantius Church, 1990 -, Philadelphia.

Author: Miracie of the Bread (play), 1976; They Walked in His Way (poems), 1979.

Member of: chaplain, Polish American Congress (P.A.C.), Polish Army Veterans Association - Stowarzyszenie Weteranow Armii Polskiej (S.W.A.P.), Post 112; vice chaplain, Union of Polish Women; vice president, Polish American Social Services, Philadelphia; moderator, Catholic League; Kosciuszko Foundation; Polish Museum of America; Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (P.I.A.S.A.).

Honors: honorary alumnus, Orchard Lake Schools, 1982; merit award, Chapel of the Four Chaplains, 1982; Prelate of Honor, Pope John Paul II, 1991.

Affiliation: Republican.

Languages: English, Polish.

Hobbies: writing, family genealogy.

Office: St. John Cantius Church, 4415 Almond Street, Philadelphia, PA 19137.

From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation, New York, NY, 1996.