Polish Priest Becomes A Polish-American

By ERIKA ANDERSON, Staff Writer

Published: November 20, 2003

ATLANTA—While studying for the priesthood in his native Poland, Father Peter Jandaczek swore that America was the last place he’d ever live.

He recalled a priest from England who would come to Poland and take only those students who were studying English out for ice cream.

Father Jandaczek was outraged.

“I said, ‘Forget it. I’m not going to study English. I never want to learn the language,’” he said.

But all that changed. And 10 years after he arrived in America, Father Jandaczek became an American citizen.

On Friday, Oct. 24, at the Martin Luther King Federal Building, Father Jandaczek, a parochial vicar at St. Oliver Plunkett Church in Snellville, raised his right hand and pledged his allegiance to the United States of America.

Across the ocean, in the homeland he shares with Pope John Paul II, Father Jandaczek’s parents waited anxiously for the phone call that their son had achieved his dual citizenship.

“They were very excited,” he said. “Poland has always had a very great respect for the United States.”

Father Jandaczek grew up in Przemysl, in the southeast of Poland. It is a town that boasts over 1,000 years of history. From a very young age, he made his faith an important part of his life.

“I always had many, many friends and was very active in my church and school,” he said. “I was an altar server and was really involved in my youth group. I even went to international youth group meetings in other parts of Europe.”

The young Peter Jandaczek considered becoming a priest but also loved animals and contemplated becoming a veterinarian.

His father had been a staunch underground supporter of anti-communism and, because he “liked diplomacy and politics in general,” Father Jandaczek also considered a career in government.

But God’s call was the loudest of all.

Father Jandaczek decided to enter the LaSalette community.

“I enjoyed teaching, but I joined the LaSalettes because I would be able to do other things besides teaching and wouldn’t be limited in ministry,” he said.

He always knew he wanted to serve in a mission, and thought about Africa or South America.

“I saw that there were plenty of priests in Poland and I wanted to go where there was a need,” he said.

When a friend recommended he come to America, it took some convincing to make him consider the move. But after writing to the LaSalette provincial, who wanted to welcome him to the country with open arms, Father Jandaczek was convinced.

In 1993 he arrived in Boston and was greeted there by a LaSalette priest. Father Jandaczek spoke no English.

“The priest (who met me at the airport) didn’t speak any Polish, but we managed to get by with sign language, and each of us had a Polish-English dictionary and we would kind of point to the word we wanted to say,” he said.

But he began studying English, and Father Jandaczek, who speaks seven languages, picked it up quickly. After about three months of study, he was nearly fluent, he said.

He studied and lived in Washington, D.C., for five years, which only increased his already growing love for America.

“I love the openness here. I love that there are so many various cultures and traditions brought together,” he said. “Everyone is different, but we can all find common ground. There is a lot of tolerance here.”

To become a citizen, an immigrant must establish U.S. residency for five years and take a test based on the history of the United States. A history buff who often visited the national museums in Washington, Father Jandaczek said the test was fairly easy for him.

On the day of the citizenship ceremony he was accompanied by several members of St. Oliver Plunkett.

“They were very excited for me,” he said. “But I was also very excited because of the support of the parish. It really means a lot to me.”

Father Jandaczek has a deep love for America and for the American people who have welcomed him openly. His younger brother now lives and studies in Massachusetts, and because of that Father Jandaczek gets to experience one of his favorite things about America.

“There are so many distances in this country and I love to fly,” he said. “I always think my best prayers are in the plane.”