Michał Józefczyk


Michał Józefczyk was a Polish Catholic priest since 1972, a prelate
since 1994, a protonotary apostolic since 2002, and a provost of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Tarnobrzeg since 1979. He was born in Krościenko Wyżne, and studied theology as a seminary clerical student in Przemyśl. He was consecrated as a priest in Miejsce Piastowe on June 17, 1972.
In pastoral work, he always put other people's interests first. A special charism was concern for the last, for people from the periphery, for the forgotten, rejected and abandoned people.

Awards and orders

Finalist of Provost Of The Year in 2000.
Honoured as a "Provost of Third Millennium" by the Polish Catholic News Agency.
In 1998, the City Council awarded him with the highest municipal award Sigillum Civis Virtuti.
Tarnobrzeg City Hall appreciated also his public and social work, by naming him "Citizen of Tarnobrzeg of 20th Century"
Listeners of the local Radio Leliwa and viewers of cable Miejska Telewizja Tarnobrzeg named him "Citizen of Tarnobrzeg in 2008".
For his working for children he was decorated by them by Order of the Smile on November 4, 2006.
On May 10, 2011, by decision of the President of the Republic of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski, he was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit for his services to the local community.
On September 8, 2016, he was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda for outstanding services in the activity of the local community and achievements in pastoral work.

Initiatives

Churches

In times of Polish People's Republic for building churches he was held prisoner and judged in courts by communist authorities.
After regaining by Poland the full sovereignty he initiated the coming into existence of many new churches and the parishes in Tarnobrzeg and in Diocese of Sandomierz.
As the parish priest he is well-known from his commitment and the public work. In parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help were formed many social welfare centres, medical centres, chemist, "Caritas". Together with the City Hall he built figures and monuments. By the church, or his nearby surroundings a building and monuments complex came into existence.
After visit of Pope John Paul II on 12 June 1999 in Sandomierz he put up a monument in the landing place of the helicopter in Tarnobrzeg - Wielowieś. Together with the foundation established at this aim he opened the Catholic school.