Czeslaw Michal Krysa | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 12, 1954 Niagara Falls, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 9, 2025 (aged 70) |
| Occupations | Catholic priest, author, educator |
| Known for | Promoting Polish-American religious and cultural traditions |
| Awards | Oskar Kolberg Award (1991), Michigan Heritage Award (1994) |
Czeslaw Michal Krysa, S.L.D. (September 12, 1954 - June 9, 2025) was a Polish-American Roman Catholic priest, author, educator, and cultural advocate known for his efforts to preserve and promote Polish heritage, traditions, and religious practices in the United States. He served as the rector of St. Casimir Roman Catholic Church in Buffalo, New York, and was recognized for his contributions to Polish-American culture, including receiving the Oskar Kolberg Award from the Polish Ministry of Culture.
Czeslaw Michal Krysa was born on September 12, 1954, in Niagara Falls, New York, to Stanisław Krysa, a Polish World War II veteran and survivor of Siberian exile, and Zofia Magdziak Krysa, a Polish-American. Raised in a Polish immigrant family, Krysa inherited a deep appreciation for Polish culture and traditions from his father, who introduced him to the spiritual significance of Polish folk art, such as crafting illuminated nativity scenes and caroling stars for Christmas celebrations.
Krysa attended the parochial school of the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Niagara Falls, where he learned to create traditional Polish Easter palms under the guidance of Franciscan sisters. He was baptized on December 26, 1954, and received his First Holy Communion on May 18, 1963.
Krysa pursued higher education at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Seminary at Orchard Lake, Michigan, the only Polish-American Roman Catholic seminary in the United States. He was ordained a priest on May 17, 1980. He later earned a Doctorate of Sacred Liturgy (S.L.D.) in Rome, specializing in popular religious devotion and the celebrations of the domestic church. [1]
After his ordination in 1980, Fr. Krysa served as parochial vicar at St. John Gualbert Roman Parish in Cheektowaga, New York. In 1984, the Diocese of Buffalo assigned him to the faculty of the Graduate School of Theology at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Seminary. He also ministered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Wyandotte, Michigan and later Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, New York. [1]
Fr. Krysa served as the rector of St. Casimir Roman Catholic Church in the Kaisertown neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, often referred to as "Kazimierzowo." Since taking this role, he worked to revive Polish faith traditions, engaging multiple generations in practices such as crafting Easter palms, caroling with traditional stars, and sharing the opłatek wafer during Christmas Eve celebrations. In April 2022, Bishop Michael W. Fisher appointed him as the administrator of St. Bernard Parish in Buffalo in addition to his duties at St. Casimir.
St. Casimir Church, under Krysa's leadership, operated as a shrine-like community, offering unique "event liturgies" that engage all five senses—sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell—in worship. These liturgies draw attendees from beyond the parish, celebrating an ethnic Roman Catholic heritage while embracing a diversifying community.
Fr. Krysa was a prominent figure in preserving and promoting Polish-American traditions. He authored books, conducted workshops, and produced media to educate Polish-Americans about their cultural and religious legacies. His notable works include:
Krysa was also a master artist in creating Polish pisanki (traditional "written" Easter eggs) and elaborate Easter palms, spending up to 18 hours in meditation while crafting these items for Palm Sunday processions. He has mentored youth and community members in these crafts, adapting traditions like Lublin-style palms and Leżajsk nativity scenes to American contexts. [2] [3]
For over 40 years, Fr. Krysa had crafted krupnik , a traditional Polish honey liqueur, using a recipe passed down from his father and refined with input from priests and Polish community members. He used honey from local beekeepers, and shared krupnik during Christmas celebrations and events like the Krupnik Leap Fest, a benefit for St. Casimir’s Food Pantry held at Polish Villa II in Buffalo. [4] [5]
Fr. Krysa had received numerous accolades for his contributions to Polish-American heritage:
Fr. Krysa has been active in Polonian organizations, guiding Polish-Americans in rediscovering their family legacies through workshops and publications. He accepted the role of chaplain for the Polish American Congress, Western New York Division, furthering his commitment to community leadership.
In 2024, amidst financial challenges facing St. Casimir Church, including a $55,000 annual insurance cost, Krysa and supporters launched a GoFundMe campaign to preserve the historic parish, which has a unique connection to St. John Paul II, who stayed there for two days as a cardinal nearly 50 years ago. The church, built between 1927 and 1929, operated on a volunteer-run model and was financially stable for nine of the last twelve years. [7]
Fr. Krysa’s passion for Polish culture stemmed from his father, Stanisław, a veteran of the Carpathian Brigade at Monte Cassino, who shared stories, dialogues, and crafts from his youth in Leżajsk, Poland (formerly part of the Lwów Voivodeship). Krysa integrated these traditions into his ministry, blending them with American adaptations to reach diverse audiences.
Krysa died on June 9, 2025 at the age of 70. [8]