WINDSOR –– On Thursday, October 26th, St. Joseph’s Catholic High School was given the honour of welcoming the Most Rev. Dabrowski, the Auxiliary Bishop of London. The Grade 11 students were invited to attend his presentation in the school cafetorium to hear his vocation story.
The presentation was commenced by Religion teacher Mr. Polewski, as he presented some details about the life experiences of Bishop Dabrowski, or “Father Joe” as known affectionately by his parishioners.
Bishop Dabrowski was born in 1964 in Wysoka Strzyżowska, a small village in Poland. He grew up being active in sports, and was even invited to play for a local soccer team. He was given the ultimatum of choosing between playing soccer professionally or becoming a worker for Christ’s church as a priest, and eventually a bishop. He had not come to an official decision on his own accord because God has chosen his path for him.
To his dismay, he had injured his foot during one of his practices for soccer, and was advised by the doctor to let it heal for 5-6 months. The position that he was offered was urgent and they needed a player immediately. Bishop Dabrowski did not end up pursuing his career in soccer and decided to to enter the Michaelite religious order after graduating from a high school administered by the Michaelite Fathers.
After completing his one year of Novitiate and one year of Internship in Poland, he was selected to study in Italy at the St. Peter Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Viterbo. After graduating from the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm in Rome, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 4, 1991 at the Pontifical Sanctuary of Santa Maria ad Rupes, Italy.
Bishop Dabrowski was later assigned to join the Michaelite Fathers community in London, Ontario. He has served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Czestochowa in London from 1992-1993; St. Michael in Leamington from 1993-1996; St. Pius X (now Holy Family) in London from 1996-1997; and St. Mary in London from 1997-1998.
He was named pastor of St. Mary’s Church in London; he served until he was ordained auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of London on April 14, 2015.
“Father Joe” had a great interaction with the Grade 11 students and it was evident that the students appreciated his visit and telling his vocation story.
“Father Joes’ story about his vocation gave me a lot of insight on whether I should choose to pursue a career in Religious Studies,” Tina Ighorewo, a Grade 11 student, said about the bishop’s presentation.
After his presentation, students were given the opportunity to ask him a couple of questions. 3 classes were asked to come up with questions, but unfortunately, due to time constraints, only one class was able to participate.
Bishop Dabrowski was questioned by Kayla Bunde if he struggled with anything regarding his faith. “I struggled that I was asking God for one thing and he wasn’t answering the way I wanted,” the bishop said regarding his initial dream of doing missions instead of priesthood. “I asked [God] why he didn’t answer my questions and why he didn’t answer my wishes [...] but I came to understand that [he] has plans, and he has [visions].”
St. Joe's holds a deep regard for Bishop Dabrowski for sharing some details of his life as a dedicated Catholic that inspired many Grade 11 students, and they welcome him to visit again in the near future.