Church of Our Lady of Lourdes—Jamaica Plain

Saturday, 19 June 2010

Presbyterial Ordination

Fr. Andrew Nowak, O.F.M. Cap. Presbyterial Ordination—19 June 2010

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Seán P. Cardinal O’Malley with Christopher & Sarah Seymour [Andrew’s sister & brother-in-law], Melaine Rajca [Andrew’s mother], and brothers James and Josh

[Below] M. Sevigny, J. Gallagher, M. Connolly & C. Sammons

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Called to Serve Newly-Ordained Andrew Nowak, O.F.M. Cap.

Andrew Nowak, the son of John and Melaine [nee] Włostowski-Rajca, was born on 20 June 1972 while his parents resided in Buffalo, New York. He was baptized on 09 July 1972 in Saints Peter and Paul Church in Depew, New York. Andrew happily grew up in the Rajca household along with his two younger stepbrothers James and Joshua and one stepsister, Sarah.

In 1983, because of a job opportunity for Andrew’s step-dad James, the Rajca family moved to Johnstown, PA when Andrew was eleven years old. Following his elementary education, Andrew attended Westmont Hilltop High School also in Johnstown. The Rajca’s would eventually re-settle in the Buffalo, NY area.

From 1990-1993, he attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio and later attended Hilbert College [a small Franciscan college] in Hamburg, New York [1993-1995] where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in the fall of 1995.

Following graduation he first worked as a part-time aide to Erie county Legislator, Ray Dusza. His duties included addressing constituent requests. In 1996, at the age of twenty-six, he was asked to be Village Clerk of Depew. His position involved the running of the day-to-day operations of the village with a population of 20,000. Andrew also served as one of the campaign managers for Mr. Dusza, who ran for state assembly in 1998.

Andrew assumed a civil service position in 1999, working as a child protection worker for Erie County. His duties included investigating abuse and neglect of children by their caregivers. Andrew shares, “My role as a social worker had increased my faith. Seeing the daily tragedies in families had brought me closer to God and the church. I did not think I could have worked in that setting without daily reliance on prayer.”

Andrew began his postulancy at St. Michael Friary in Brooklyn in 2003. He was invested with the Capuchin habit on 28 November 2004 at Saint Conrad Friary in Allison Park, PA and was a member of the first NAPCC interprovincial novitiate class. Andrew pronounced his first vows on Sunday, 20 November 2005 at the Church of Saint John the Baptist in New York City.

After his simple profession, Andrew became a member of the fraternity of San Lorenzo in Jamaica Plain, MA. He began his preparation for theological studies by attended Emmanuel College in Boston where he accumulated his philosophy requirements. In 2006, Andrew then attended Weston Jesuit School of Theology and later transferred to the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College where he received his graduate degree in theology in 2009.

During his time in postnovitiate Andrew ministered in a variety of locations. In 2006 he ministered at St. Francis House a Boston-based food pantry, soup kitchen and community closet and also participated in the cross-culture Honduras Program that summer.

In 2007 Andrew ministered at the Redemptorist Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mission Hill in Roxbury in the RCIA program, visiting families, led wake services and had the opportunity of preaching at the daily liturgy.

The following year he began a ministry at Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta where he worked hard to get to know the Vietnamese population, and to understand the violence that sometimes erupts among Vietnamese youth.

Andrew was ordained to the Diaconate on 03 October 2009 by John D. Corriveau, O.F.M. Cap. Bishop of Nelson, British Columbia at the Monastery Church of the Sacred Heart. During his diaconate year he resided with the friar community of St. Francis of Assisi in Jamaica Plain, while ministering with the staff and parishioners of the Tri-Parish of Dorchester, Blessed Mother Teresa, St. Peter and Holy Family.

Continuing his studies, Andrew received his Masters in Theology from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry on 24 May 2010.

With great joy, Andrew celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, 20 June 2010 at Blessed Mother Teresa in Dorchester, MA following by a parish celebration.

This month, Andrew will begin his new ministry as a member of the parish staff of the Monastery Church Sacred Heart and member of the Capuchin friar community in Yonkers, New York.

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Fr. Andrew Nowak, O.F.M. Cap. Presbyterial Ordination—19 June 2010

Called to Serve

[Below] Michael Connolly vesting Andrew

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Fr. Andrew Nowak, O.F.M. Cap. Presbyterial Ordination—19 June 2010

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[Left] Proclaiming the Word: Mario Guerrero, Francine Cardman and Michael Sevigny [Below] Michael, Cardinal O’Malley, John Gallagher and Tim Marci, Leader of Song

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Fr. Andrew Nowak, O.F.M. Cap. Presbyterial Ordination—19 June 2010

Called to Serve

[Above] Andrew with Martha Novelly; Timothy Aller, Huy Nguyen, James Donegan, Andrew with Jack Ahern; Joseph Yakimovich with Walter Ostermann; John Koelle and Salvatore Cordaro; [right] Sarah Seymour, Josh Rajca and Seán Patrick Cardinal O’Malley

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