December 4, 2006

Polish Priest to Help in Chautauqua County Parishes

Poland native Father Jozef Dudzik has been named parochial vicar at several parishes in southern Chautauqua County giving some much needed help to Father Bernard U. Nowak who was juggling the responsibilities for these parishes as pastor. Father Dudzik accepted Bishop Edward U. Kmiec’s invitation to come to Western New York and serve as parochial vicar at St. Mary, Mayville; St. Isaac Jogues, Sherman; Our Lady of Lourdes, Bemus Point; St. Matthias, French Creek; and Our Lady of the Snows, Panama.

Ordained in 2000, Father Dudzik served his home diocese for three years before moving to Germany where he worked with Polish immigrants. He came to the United States a year ago and spent the past year at St. Joseph’s Basilica, a Polish shrine in Webster, Mass., where he learned English and prepared for ministry in the United States. His appointment at the southern Chautauqua County parishes is for a term of three years.

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