Brother Anthony Kowalczyk declared Venerable

Story courtesy of  Annie Kessler

On March 28, 2013 – the beginning of the Paschal Triduum – Pope Francis declared Oblate Bro. Anthony Kowalczyk as Venerable.

Brother Anthony was born in Dzierzanów, Poland on June 4, 1866 and died on July 10, 1947 in St. Albert, Canada.  His first mission as an Oblate brother was in Lac-La-Biche, Alberta, Canada where an accident at a sawmill caused him to lose his right arm.  Despite this disability, he never refused a task as a lay brother.  Brother Anthony came to be known for his holiness.  The last 36 years of his life were spent in continual prayer, which inspired him to live a life of strict obedience.

The process of his cause for canonization began in Edmonton in 1952 with 44 witnesses: 21 Oblates and 23 non-Oblates.  On June 1, 1979 his cause was opened in Rome.  After 34 years Pope Francis has signed the Decree.

The next phase of the canonization process for Bro. Anthony is known as beatification.