Eternal Memory - Fr. Andrew Krafcik, CSsR

Today, April 22nd just few minutes after the midnight, Fr. Andrew passed away in Michalovce, Slovakia.

Father Andrew was born in Michalovce, Slovakia in 1919. After theological studies in Uzhorod (Ukraine), Olomouc (Czech Republic) and Budapest (Hungary) was ordained a priest by blessed bishop Paul Peter Gojdich at famous pilgrimage shrine in Lutina (Slovakia) in 1945. After his ordination served as secretary to the bishop in Prešov and later in pastoral life in Jastrabie and Trebišov.

In 1951 left his native land and ministered among Ukrainian refugees in camp Kufstein. For a shrot time stayed in Rome and afterwards came to Canada in 1952 and immediately started with organizational work for establishment of Hungarian and Slovak Byzantine Rite parishes in Windsor. He was one of the priests, who celebrated the first Byzantine liturgy for Slovaks in Hamilton on December 12th 1952.

Using the gifts God given him was the first editor of the magazine Maria. After the death of Fr. Chanath in 1957 it was his task to minister in Welland. He joined Redemptorists of the Yorkton province and with approval of his provincial made his vows to the hands of Fr. Michael Rusnak.

His later assignments included: Gary, Indiana 60-61; Shaw St., Toronto 61-63; Roblin, Manitoba Assistant Pastor, 64-68; Wynyard, Sask., 69-70, Ituna; Sask.,70-72, Washington, D.C. 73, Newark & Wilkes-Barre, PA 74-84, Yorkton, Sask Missions 84-95 while also serving in Slovakia; Cathedral of the Transfiguration 95-03 Markham, ON; 03-07 in retirement in Yorkton, Sask, He returned to Slovakia in May, 2007 to Michalovce, where he spent his final months with his Redemptorist brothers.

May his memory be eternal!

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