Polish native named pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish
by BRIAN NADIG
A Polish native who grew up in Jefferson Park has been named the new pastor at Our Lady of Victory Parish.
The Reverend Michael Wyrzykowski, an associate pastor at Saint Ferdinand Parish, initially attended Beaubien School but transferred to Prussing School after his family moved. His family later moved to the suburbs, where he went to Addison Trail High School.
The 37-year-old Wyrzykowski, a graduate of DeVry University, said that his experiences as a lay minister and coordinator with various ministries led to his decision to later attend at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary in 2008. He was ordained in 2014, celebrating his first mass as a priest in May of 2014.
Wyrzykowski said that he is looking forward to working with other area parishes as part of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s "Renew My Church" initiative, which calls on parishes to share personnel and resources. "We’re going to be collaborative more (and) create stronger ministries," he said.
Wyrzykowski is scheduled to start as pastor at Our Lady of Victory this summer. He will replace the Reverend Robert Fedek, who has been named the new pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish, where the Reverend Thomas Srenn is retiring.
Fedek, who was appointed to OLV in 2010, wrote the following in a recent parish bulletin:
"As a 30-year-old priest, I was deeply humbled and honored to become one of the youngest pastors in the Archdiocese of Chicago. I have to admit that the appointment brought a lot of joy and excitement into my life, but at the same time fear and hesitation.
"I questioned myself if I was ready for the mission entrusted to me. All those worries went away at the moment I arrived at OLV parish. I was deeply moved by the way people welcomed me and helped me to feel comfortable. Within a few weeks of my stay at the parish I felt at home."
Wyrzykowski said that that the parish has thrived under Fedek’s leadership, who oversaw several building improvements, and that he feels honored to have been appointed to the parish.
"Father Robert Fedek did a wonderful job bringing the parish around," he said.
