- Fr. Ziggy Kruczek CSMA
The Congregation of
St. Michael the Archangel
(CSMA)
The Congregation was founded by the Blessed Father Bronislaus
Bonaventure Markiewicz. Its beginnings date back to the year 1897. From
the very start of his priestly life, he was particularly sensitive towards the
religious, moral, and material neglect of children and youth and to the mis-
ery of simple people. Following the divine voice, he went to Italy and be-
came a follower of St. John Bosco. After seven years, in 1892, he re-
turned to Poland and began work in Miejsce Piastowe (South-East Po-
land). In September, 1897, he petitioned the Church‘s authorities to allow
him to found the Congregation of St. Michael the Archangel. On 29th Sep-
Blessed Bronislaus Bonaventure Markiewicz
(1842-1912) The founder of the Michaelites
tember, 1921, Bishop of Kraków, Adam Stefan Sapiecha issued the Erect-
ing Decree of the Congregation. On 15th June, 1966, the Congregation
was affirmed under Papal Law. Today the Michaelites are working
throughout Europe, the Americas and in the Pacific Region: i.e., in Can-
ada, Germany, Italy, Austria, France, Paraguay, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Switzerland, Ukraine, Belarus, Aus-
tralia, the Nederland Antilles, Aruba, and Papua New Guinea.
Michaelites in Papua New Guinea
The first Michaelite who arrived in Papua New Guinea in 1970
was Fr. Stanislaus Śnieżek. Later on in 1977 another two priests
followed him: Zdzisław (Ziggy) Kruczek and Ludwik Wypasek.
In the year 2000 our community was officially installed in Austra-
lia, Archdiocese of Sydney. Today, we Michaelite members from
PNG and Australia make one delegation under the leadership of
Fr. Janusz Bieniek residing in Sydney. There is one canonical
community in Australia and one in PNG. In Australia the pastoral
work in three parishes, Catholic University chaplaincy and hospital
chaplaincy is done by seven priests (five from Poland and two
recently ordained Australians). In Papua New Guinea four priests
are missionaries from Poland, one from Simbu Province and one
finally professed religious brother from Enga Province.
In PNG we are working in two provinces: Western Highlands and
Enga. In Enga we take care of two parishes: Wanepap and Ka-
sap. Wanepap has 15 outstations and Kasap 10. In many cases
the priests must travel to these outstations by foot for it is impossi-
ble to go there by car. At times it can take more than six
hours to walk there. In Western Highlands Fr Bogdan
Świerczewski (the community superior) looks after Kuli
parish where currently at the outstation of Kartanim his
parishioners are constructing a Shrine to the Divine Mercy.
Since 1995 we have published annually the periodic ―Mi-
cha-el CSMA‖ and have produced some articles and books
on mission, social and pastoral matters.
Apart from our pastoral activity we Michaelites are working
very hard on the field of vocations. Right now in Australia
we have one novice and in PNG two temporally professed
seminarians doing their studies in Vanimo Diocesan Semi-
nary and one postulant in Kap near Madang. We also
stress more and more on the importance of spreading the
devotion to St. Michael the Archangel as PNG country is
devoted to this Archangel. In some parishes the faithful are
familiar with the Leo XIII prayer to St. Michael and recite
the chaplet to his honour as well. There is an urgent need
to invent some songs in honour of this Archangel.
In 1999 two Michaelites, victims of the Second World
War were beatified and recognised by the Church as
martyrs. These are Fr. Ladislaus Błądziński and Fr.
Adalbert Nierychlewski. Right now the co-founder of
Michaelite Sisters, the Servant of God, Mother Anna
Kaworek‘s case is in Rome. There is a hope that within a
few years she will be beatified. The Michaelite Sisters
work in France, Cameroon, Germany, Ukraine, Belarus
and Italy. Many years ago they got invitation from Papua
New Guinea to work in this country as missionaries, but
they could not make it so far.
Michaelites at their annual retreat in 2011 at Rebiamul (Mount
Hagen).
Standing l-r: Fr. Z. Kruczek, Fr. Gregory Jasłowski, sem. Paul
Porali (he had already left the community), Bro. Lambert Büter
SVD (retreat master), Fr. Bogdan Świerczewski, sem Kenneth
Kamalan, Fr. Joseph Pękala; kneeling l-r: sem Bernard Saka, Bro.
Thomas Lasen and Fr. Peter Kaupa
2
TAVUR - The newsletter of the Salesian delegation of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands