Msgr. Francis KarwackiWhen he was given the surprising yet humbling news from Bishop Timothy Senior that he had been named a Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor, Msgr. Francis Karwacki said he felt a bit like the Blessed Mother during the Annunciation.
“The bishop had asked to see me during a priests’ gathering at the Diocesan Center in February and he leaned in, smiled and said, ‘You are now a Monsignor.’ My reply was that I said what the Virgin Mary said – ‘How could this be?’” Msgr. Karwacki recalled.
“Really, I meant that. I’m just a longtime pastor here in Mount Carmel, serving my people,” Msgr. Kawarcki, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, told The Witness.
From the Italian monsignore, which means “my lord,” the title is one of honor in the Catholic Church and is bestowed upon priests who have served in an exemplary way. Six priests in the Diocese were given this title on February 28 of this year; in addition to Msgr. Karwacki, they are: Msgr. Peter Hahn, Msgr. Edward Lavelle, Msgr. Lawrence McNeil, Msgr. Edward Quinlan, and the late Msgr. Daniel Mitzel, who entered into eternal rest on March 30.
A title granted by the pope at the recommendation of the bishop, “Monsignor” is an honorary title in the Catholic Church. Monsignori are entitled to wear distinctive vestments indicative of the honor, however the title does not impact their duties or ministry.
“I’m just so humbled,” said Msgr. Karwacki, who was ordained in 1983 and celebrates his 20th anniversary as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel this year.
“The title reminds me I am to submit to His Lordship more and more every day, and I hope others do as well. I am a faithful servant promoting His Lordship,” he said.
A native son of the former St. Joseph Parish in Mount Carmel, Msgr. Karwacki started out as a biology teacher and chair of the science department at his alma mater, Mount Carmel Area High School. In his free time, he served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, joined the St. Vincent de Paul and Holy Name societies and volunteered as a ninth-grade religious education teacher.
And then, a Monsignor who was influential in his life drew him deeper into the faith and ultimately on a path of discernment.
“Msgr. Robert Lawrence was in Mount Carmel at St. John’s Slovak Church, and he got me involved in Charismatic Renewal. He started the first Charismatic prayer meeting in Danville for the whole Diocese, and encouraged me to join. And what’s funny – I’m still involved in the Charismatic Renewal, serving as its Diocesan liaison,” he said.
“All of those things in the Church – Charismatic Renewal, volunteering – led me to discern the priesthood. I remember waking up one spring morning and a voice came to me: ‘You are spending all of your free time with me, why don’t you go full-time?’”
“The Lord has provided for me throughout the years, even in the most difficult times,” said Msgr. Karwacki, who suffered the loss of his twin sister to spinal meningitis when they were three years old. Later, his father, a blue-collar worker in the coal region, fell from the top of a coal plant and suffered debilitating injuries, relying on the care of his wife and son the rest of his life.
“I tell the people that we must always look for the good God provides, even in the bad times,” said Msgr. Karwacki, who penned a book with stories of what he calls “God-incidences, not coincidences.”
“Even when my mother was dying, I can see God’s providence,” he said. “She was in Holy Spirit Hospital while I was assigned in Camp Hill. I remember saying to the Lord, ‘Please don’t let my mother die alone; please let me be with her.’ And on that day, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, I was able to be with her in her final moments at the hospital.”
Msgr. Karwacki reminds his parishioners over and over again: we are all connected as the Body of Christ. We are all brothers and sisters.
“I will be a priest 42 years this June. I’ll meet people somewhere in public and they’ll say, ‘You visited my family when we had this crisis 15 years ago,’ or ‘You anointed my mother when she was dying,’ or ‘You were at our house for a Confirmation party way back when.’ I don’t always remember all those things, but the people sure do because I was there for them at that time. That’s the privilege priests have in bringing the Lord to others,” he said.
The first people to learn of Msgr. Karwacki’s honorary title when it was made public in February were the members of the Charismatic prayer group, where Msgr. Lawrence had invited him more than 40 years ago. “It’s fitting they were the first to hear of it. The people you pray with become your spiritual family,” Msgr. Karwacki said.
“But I still just can’t believe it,” he said. I never in my life thought I would have the title of Monsignor. I’m just here in Mount Carmel, doing what a priest should do.”
(Solemn Vespers to mark the occasion of the six priests who have been named a Chaplain to His Holiness will be held at St. Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg on Sunday, May 18 at 4 p.m. The public is invited to attend.)
By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness
