Digital Marian Helper Magazine Spring 2021

included picking cotton. Desperate for meat, at one point his mother killed a stray dog. A few days after that meal, the whole family, save the eldest boy, fell ill with typhoid. Walter witnessed the death of his 2-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister. Eventually, under the British Protection Act whereby Polish survivors were sent to British colonies, his mother and the youngest children were sent to Kenya, while his eldest brother was sent to Egypt. Walter was sent to Palestine. He attended grammar school in Nazareth and a Salesian high school in Jerusalem. In 1947, Walter was sent to England where he was reunited with his mother and siblings. Meanwhil e, Fr. Joseph Jarzebowski, MIC (the Marian who brought the Divine Mercy devotion to America), and other Marians had just arrived in England and established a novitiate. Walter was accepted into the Congregation in 1953. He was ordained in Rome on July 4, 1960. “It was the most beautiful day of my life, because my mother was there to witness it,” he recalled. Following his ordination, Fr. Gurgul taught in England. He came to the United States in 1997. Most of his years in the U.S. were spent in Stockbridge, where he earned a reputation as an excellent confessor. Father Walter said, “My advice to all who will listen: One, make your last words of the day an Act of Contrition for any- thing you might have done to offend God. Two, stay in touch with Our Lady. She brings us to Jesus. Three, always carry a Rosary, wear a scapular, or have a prayer card with you. “Also, keep in mind what Our Lady said at Fatima. … She’s worried about our future, about our final happiness, like any mother. … God will help anyone, as He helped me, if they approach Him through a love of Mary. She never fails us.” MH M arian H elper • S pring 2021 • marian . org 25 the Blessed Mother to always, always, protect the vocation, and she did, and I’m so thankful for that.” From an early age, Br. Tyler of Hanover, Pennsylvania, was known affectionately as the monk — “because he was never one for possessions,” his mom, Valerie, said. He was attached to relationships and his faith. He joined the Marians in 2015. “I just feel the overwhelming sense of God’s love, the immense love that He pours out,” Br. Tyler said. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to say yes to Him.” Both newly ordained deacons are pursuing the priesthood. As for Brs. Mark and David, both men are diligent workers for the Kingdom of God — and both prefer to remain behind the scenes. For their profession of perpetual vows, however, they were front and center as more than 20,000 viewers from around the world tuned in to watch the livestream, vi a Facebook , YouTube, and TheDivineMercy.org. The viewers have Br. Mark to thank for the livestream. Since the worldwide coronavirus pandemic hit last spring, it was he who researched how to bring the daily Masses and devotions to the world via livestream. He’s been the man in the choir loft making it all happen ever since. Born and raised in Florida, Br. Mark earned an archi- tectural degree and worked two decades as a director for Florida’s largest architectural firm. “In 2012, I was in my office, in a high-rise, overlook- ing the traffic jam of Tampa, and I asked myself, ‘Is this really all there is to life?’” he recalled. At the time, he was tithing to the Marians and would receive Marian Helper magazine. In one particular issue, he was moved by a story on the evangelization efforts of Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC, who served at the time as director of the Association of Marian Helpers. “It seemed like he may need some help,” Br. Mark recalled. He contacted the Marians. In 2012, he prayed “Jesus, I trust inYou,” sold everything he owned, and came to Stockbridge. Ever since, he’s played key roles in amplifying the Congregation’s spiritual outreach. Brother David, originally a farm boy from Michigan, first professed perpetual religious vows with the Oblates of the Virgin Mary in 1986. He came to the Marian Fathers in 2014 to work with the Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy, doing street ministry and helping with the Missionaries’ construction and farming needs. He decided to stay. “The two of you have dedicated yourselves completely to the service of God,” said Provincial Superior the Very Rev . Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC, in his homily on Dec. 12. “You want to serve, fully. You don’t waste time. You don’t even waste a moment. You want to take advantage of every moment that’s given to you. For what? For the promotion of the Gospel — sometimes with words, but mostly with works.” The Marian Fathers wish to thank our Marian Helpers for their prayerful and financial support of our seminarians! Visit marian.org/vocsupport to learnmore about our Campaign for Holy Priests. Brother David Guza, MIC Brother Mark Fanders, MIC Deacon Tyler Mentzer, MIC DeaconMatthew Tomeny, MIC