11 AUGUST 2022
www.therecord.com.au
Edition #395
SUFFERING OF OTHERS INSPIRES DEACON GRZEGORZ TO THE PRIESTHOOD
Deacon Grzegorz Rapcewicz, following his ordination to the diaconate on 12 August 2021, with Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, fourth from left, Redemptoris Mater Seminary Rector, Fr Michael Moore SM, Neocatchumenal Way Australia formator, Fr Tony Trafford, and Simão Silva and from right, Perth Priest Fr John Hogan, Neocatechumenal Way formators Toto and Rita Piccolo.v PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
Perth is set to gain another priest with the ordination of Redemptorist Mater Seminary trained Deacon Grzegorz Racpewicz this Friday 12 August at St Mary’s Cathedral. Hailing originally from Warsaw, Poland, as the third of seven children – all boys - Deacon Grzegorz will celebrate his 33 birthday on Sunday 14 August. Deacon Grzegorz arrived in Perth in March 2011, af ter initially commencing university studies which he did not finish. Prior to that, at the age of 20, he went on a two month mission to Belarus in 2009 as a lay itinerant, supporting a priest in a parish. “I had some free time in between my university studies at the time and I went not having any ideas about the seminary,” Dcn Grzegorz explained. “It was when I returned that my I
began to feel in my heart, God was calling me to something, but I wasn’t quite sure what it was at the time.” What gripped Dcn Grzegorz, he recalled was a pivotal moment while praying during a Eucharist with his community. It was the following year in 2010 that he attended a Vocational Meeting in Warsaw with Kiko Arguello, founder of the Neocatechumenal Way. “This meeting helped me, together with other circumstances which took place prior to going to Belarus, to understand how God was calling me.” It was there that Dcn Grzegorz “stood up” during the call for vocations, making clear his desire to become a priest. Dcn Grzegorz explained that he is inspired to be of service to others. He has spent the past year as a transitional deacon at the parish of Osborne Park, under the guidance
of Parish Priest, Fr Wilson Donizetti Martins. During his period of diaconate, Dcn Grzegorz, who says he is naturally a shy person, highlights he has learnt much, particularly with regards to giving homilies. “God has really helped me to come out of myself, to be more open to people, to listen to them and their experiences. “To be able to give meaning to someone’s suffering, to be with people who are sick, it has all been a tremendous experience,” Dcn Grzegorz said. Dcn Grzegorz also spoke his eye condition, which he says, for some time shook his heart as to whether he would be capable being a priest. Full Text available at
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