Digital Marian Helper Magazine Spring 2021

Remembered as a gentle soul, a scholar, and a dogged defender of the Catholic faith, Fr. Walter Gurgul, MIC, died Dec. 7. He was 90. Born on Sept. 28, 1930, in eastern Poland, he had a simple, happy childhood that came to an abrupt end in 1939 when the Soviets invaded. “The 10 th of February 1940, a day one remembers so well,” Fr. Gurgul shared in a recen t interview for Marian Helper magazine. The Gurgul family of eight and their neighbors were among the hundreds of thousands of Poles forced onto freight cars and brought to Siberia where they were placed into squalid labor camps. At least half of their fellow Poles died from starvation or disease. “It was bitterly cold,” Fr. Gurgul remembered. “And we were constantly re- minded that we were ‘destined to die here like dogs.’” His beloved father eventually fell ill and was sent to a hospital, never to be seen again. Meanwhile, young Walter attended school. His father’s words to him echoed in his ears: “My dear little boy. Child, learn; learn as much as possible. It will be use- ful and serve you in your life.” On a cold night in November 1941, pulling their children behind them on sleds, Walter’s mother and aunt escaped, eventually arriving in Uzbekistan, where they were greeted by the Polish army, who safeguarded them. Walter’s new life Rest in Peace, Fr. Walter Gurgul, MIC (1930-2020) 24 M arian H elper • S pring 2021 • marian . org A midst a nationwide drought in religious voca- tions, the Marian Fathers continue to celebrate an increase in zealous men giving their lives to Christ and His Church as Marians. Most recently, Br. Tyler Mentzer, MIC, and Br. Matthew Tomeny, MIC, were ordained to the transitional diaconate on Jan. 2, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. In addition, Br. Mark Fanders, MIC, and Br. David Guza, MIC, professed perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, thereby becoming full members of the Marian Fathers on Dec. 12, at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy i n Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The Marians now have more than 30 men in forma- tion. “They are orthodox and faithful to the Church,” sai d Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, the Marians’ vocations director. “They’re very ‘Marian’ — they love Our Lady immensely. They have a very Eucharistic-centered spiri- tuality, and they want to be apostles of mercy.” The fourth of 10 children, Br. Matthew of Tampa, Florida, joined the Marians in 2013, drawn to their devotion to Mary and their Divine Mercy e vangelization efforts. “Since Matthew was born, I prayed to the Divine Mercy that he would have a vocation to the religious life,” said Br. Matthew’s mother, Nelly. “And then I asked For Christ and the Church P hoto by M arie R omagnano “There is so much joy in my heart!” said the Very Rev. Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC, in his Dec. 12 homily for the Mass of Perpetual Vows of Br. Mark Fanders, MIC, and Br. David Guza, MIC.