Friends, family and parishioners of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church gathered in Chappell Hill Texas on Sunday, June 3, 2012 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Father Jozef Musiol’s religious vocation. Holy Mass was celebrated at 9 am by Bishop Joe Vasquez and concelebrated by Fr. Jozef Musiol, Msgr. Boli Zientek and Msgr. Ben Zientek. Escorted by Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus members in full regalia, the Mass procession included the bishop, priests, deacons, acolytes, altar servers and a group of the parish CCE children. Many of Fr. Jozef’s friends and former parishioners were present at the Mass.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr. Jozef talked about his life and his 40 years as a priest. Father Jozef Musiol was born in Myslowice, Poland, about 50 miles from Krakow and was ordained a priest in 1972 at the age of 25. He studied at the Catholic Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Krakow and received a master’s degree in theology. He served as assistant pastor in Zakopane and then went to London to learn English. From 1973 – 1983, Fr. Jozef served as a missionary to Tanzania in East Africa. Upon completion of a four-year doctoral program of the Catholic church’s canon law and liturgy, he returned to Africa as a Professor of Canon Law & Liturgy at Dar es Salaam Inter-Diocesan Seminary. Fr. Jozef later authored a book about his missionary experienced titled “In the Heart of Tanzania”.
Fr. Jozef arrived in the U.S. in 1994 and served for a short time in Brooklyn NY before coming to Texas in 1995 where he was appointed as an Adjutant Judicial Vicar at the diocesan Office of Canonical and Tribunal Services in Austin. Before his 2010 arrival in Chappell Hill, Fr. Jozef served as pastor of St. Mary in Bremond, Sacred Heart in Rockne and St. Paul in Smithville.
After Mass, a reception was held for Fr. Jozef in St. Stanislaus parish hall. Bishop Vasquez said grace and a delicious meal was served which included Polish sausage and southern fried chicken prepared by the Knights of Columbus along with many covered dishes and desserts provided by the attendees. During the meal, remarks were made by the Bishop, Fr. Jozef and representatives of St. Stanislaus Church Council, Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, CCD –Youth Religious Teachings, 50’s Group and Fund Raising Groups.
Entertainment was provided by Edek and Sarah Winiarski and the Polish dancing group “Wawel” from Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Church in Houston. The Wawel group was dressed in colorful folk costumes as they danced the Polonaise, Kujawiak, Krakowiak and other traditional dances.
Below are a few photos of the beautiful celebration and reception and there is a slideshow of more photos on page 2.
James Smock has always held an interest in his Polish ancestors and heritage. He is a native Houstonian with Polish roots in Bremond, Marlin and New Waverly, Texas.