Circuitous route led Pole to priesthood here

He has already tried a career as a professional soccer player, driven construction equipment, left his native Poland for a seminary in the U.S. and learned a new language at the age of 27.

But when he's ordained a priest of the Albany Diocese June 9, he believes he'll be starting his greatest adventure.

Surprising life

The 33-year-old was recalling his introduction to America -- not a place he expected to spend his life when he was growing up with his older brother in Krapkowice, Poland, about three hours northwest of Krakow.

His dream as a young man was to play soccer professionally, and he worked his way up to a spot on the Polish National soccer team. "That was the best part of my life," he remarked.

New goal

"He was 32 or 33," Father Tkocz said. "I thought, `Wow, that's strange. Is it time to think about the future, when I finish playing soccer?'"

Through the next few years, although he took a job as a heavy machinery operator, the future priest realized his vocation. He joked that while he thought construction work was a "good job for a real man," he couldn't stop thinking about what to do with the remainder of his life.

Globe-trotting

"I didn't want to stay in Poland," he explained. "There are too many priests, and I didn't want to be just one of them! And I like adventure."

He entered a mission seminary in Nysa and earned a degree in philosophy but realized he didn't want to spend another four or five years there studying theology. Instead, he decided to become a diocesan priest.

Start in U.S.

"It's a different culture, different food; people think in a different way," he noted.

For example, before he came to America, he never carried a calendar. He was surprised to learn that in the U.S., when a person cancels an appointment, they're expected to call and say so. In Poland, he said, people haven't had the luxury of telephones as long, so they're more casual about missing appointments.

Besides the cultural differences, Father Tkocz also had to learn a new language. At the seminary, he was able to speak Polish to his classmates, but he also polished his English.

"It wasn't easy for me," he admitted. "In the first year, there were good and bad days. I thought, `What am I doing here? I'm too old to learn a new language and lifestyle.'" Then he would bump into a friend who'd cheer him up, and "everything changed."

Albany impressions

Having spent the most time at Blessed Sacrament, he noted that he particularly liked that parish, where "the people are warm, friendly."

With his ordination just days away, Father Tkocz was looking forward to finding out what parish he'd be assigned to. He explained that Bishop Howard J. Hubbard makes sure priests have experience at urban, suburban and rural parishes, so he had no idea where he'd end up.

However, the new priest said he'd be happy in any assignment: He enjoys working with both youth and the elderly, so he was sure to find one or the other at his assignment.

As for ministry with Polish-Americans, he said, "Obviously, I'm open to do that, because it's easier for me to be with people from Poland than someone who doesn't know Polish culture."

Positives

"I always say I like to make trouble," he said. "I like troubles, because that makes your life more interesting than daily routine. So I can work with people who are in trouble. I'm not a shy person, and I'm not afraid to make any language mistakes."

He also called himself "pretty much open to any suggestions from laity. [I don't think,] 'I'm a priest and I know everything best'; laity can be better than priests about making decisions in a parish."

Being the only priest in his "graduating class" doesn't concern Father Tkocz.

"Maybe I'm not the best one, but I'm the only one!" he joked. "Last year, we had just one person; and probably next year, we'll have just one -- and in 2003, we're not going to have anyone [ordained]. That's the reality we have right now. I hope we're going to have more ordained in the future."

Going home

"I haven't seen my family in almost four years," Father Tkocz said. "I don't think they're going to recognize me!"

However, he shrugged off the sacrifice of one country for another. "This is my place," he stated.

And the priesthood, he said, means "new challenge, new plans -- new adventure."

(06-07-01) [[In-content Ad]]