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Fr. Witold Malej (1922 - 2006) Print E-mail
Written by Fr Pietro Trabucco, IMC   
Friday, 18 May 2007
Fr. Witold Malej, IMC
1922 - 2006

Fr. Witold Malej is born on 29th July 1922 a Dzierknowszczyzna, in a Polish area which will be annexed to Bielorussia after the last war. He does his secondary studies at Glebokie, his native place. He finishes lyceum at Warsaw where, having joined the Seminary, he follows the formation courses leading to the priesthood. He was ordained a priest at Warsaw on 12th March 1949 by Card. Stefano Wyszynski.

Of his ministry in Warsaw we know only the many tasks carried out by him:
1949-51: Curate at Powsin;

1951-53: Curate in the University Church of St. Ann in Warsaw;

1951-66: Director of the Diocesan Library, Editor of the Diocesan newspaper, archivist for the Archdiocese of Warsaw.

1967-73: Parish Priest at Raszyn.

During his first years of ministry at Warsaw he received the doctorate in Theology from yhe Theology Faculty of Warsaw (1951). In 1953 he obtains the degree of “magister historiae” from the same University of Warsaw. Then he gets a specialization in Library Management in order to better carry out his service as Director of the Diocesan Library of Warsaw. During these years he also writes several biographies of eminent personalities of his Diocese and numerous articles for the diocesan magazine. In his file card, Fr. Malej never fails in mentioning that since 1960 he is member of the “Sociedad Mariologica Colombiana” of Bogotà. As such he contributes several writings on Mariology in Polish language, while collaborating also with the “Marianum” magazine in Rome.

Towards the end of the ’60 and beginning of the ’70, Fr. Malej comes in contact with our confrere Fr. Giovanni Garbolino who at the time was doing several trips to the USSR and Poland. Through these contacts he develops the desire of becoming a Consolata Missionary and spend the rest of his life involved in the missionary apostolate.

By the end of 1973 he gets his passport and comes to Italy in order to enter the Novitiate at the Certosa of Chiusa of Pesio. The following year, on 21st November 1974, he makes his religious profession. The Novice Master presents him having special consideration for the commitment shown by the confrere during the novitiate, his clear spirituality and spirit of sacrifice, the effort made in adapting to the Italian environment and to the rhythm of the novitiate itself, even though having with some perplexities due to his advanced age and some aspects of his character.

Fr. Malej spends in Rome his first three as a professed member. During this time he is being offered the possibility of visiting the missions of Kenya, Tanazania and Ethiopia. It is interesting to read the diary of these missionary trips in which he mentions in detailed manner and precision the people he met and the development of the various missions. He does not fail in accounting also for the number of Masses said in Kikuyu, Swahili, and Kimeru. He lists the number of rosaries, medals and holy pictures given out (a prodigality which will accompany him for the rest of his life!). In his letter to the General Government he expresses his positive impressions of the missionary work realized: “I am left with a strong and positive impression of the missionary work done in Kenya. I have seen how our confreres, with much serenity and experience, do all in their power to spread the Kingdom of God. There are some – like Fr. Manfredi and Fr. Comoglio – who have spent 50 years in Kenya. Others, like Fr. Giacosa who after 15 years of mission spends only two months of vacation in Italy. How many sacrifices (harambee, safari) are done in order to build Churches, houses, schools and hospitals. […] I feel compelled to thank Divine Providence, so much generous, and then also the General Government for all I have received in Kenya. It will eventually help me for my work of missionary and vocational work in Poland”.

The time spent by Fr. Malej in Rome before his final profession is used to enhance contacts with Poland. It was the time when the General Government was starting to open the doors of the Institute to the many requests of young people who wished to become Consolata Missionaries. But it was not easy to ascertain the real motivations of such requests: were they moved by an authentic desire to give oneself to the mission or were they looking for a way out from communist regime, oppressive of their Country? Fr. Malej, perhaps motivated by his desire that the Institute may have a solid foundation in Poland, shows himself rather optimistic on the good intentions of the young Polish. Nevertheless the outcome proved to be contrary to the wishes of the General Government and the dreams of Fr. Malej.

Already before his final profession (21st November 1977), Fr. Malej received his assignment, not to Poland but to Brazil, where the population of Polish origin is rather numerous. The Superiors think that Brazil could be a fitting place for him. It was not so. The language became had bone to chew because of his not young age, while the new environment finds him unprepared. These were the turbulent years after the Ecumenical Council, the time of new experiments if in formation and the quest for new ways of making mission. The apostolic formation received by Fr. Malej, who is still much influenced by the sacramental and devotional style of his native Poland, does not allow him to see these experiments in a favorable way in their pursuit of new pastoral methods. In writing to the Vice Superior General, after three years of work in Brazil, Fr. Malej lists the numerous difficulties met by him, the situations – specially in the field of formation – which clash with his own mentality, the impossibility of approaching the youth of Polish origin since they do not know any more their ancestral language. He concludes his letter reaffirming his conviction that though hard, this experience of his can constitute a precious contribution to his future missionary tasks.

A few months later he receives his letter of assignment to Italy. Fr. Witold willingly come back to Rome in order to resume again his relation with Poland through an intense correspondence. He helps parishes and priests of his native land by sending them liturgical material, he seeks mass stipends for the Polish priests who certainly have very little means available in their country. After eight years spent in Rome he moves on to Cavi di Lavagna where he has the possibility of multiplying his pastoral services to the local parishes, specially Mass celebrations and confessions.

The fall of the Berlin wall has already brought about new situations in East Europe and thus, to obtain a Visa for one of these countries is no longer an impossible task. On April 1994, at the age of 72, Fr. Witold Malej asks his Superiors in Rome and the Archbishop of Minsk to be allowed to spend 5 years in his native parish of Dzierkowszczyzna (Bielorussa) since at the time it is found without a priest. His request is accepted and already in December of that same year he is responsible there of some small country parishes, among which is the one where he had been baptized and spent the first years of his life. In his many letters written to his Superiors he retells his pastoral activities, his trips in the immense territory of the Diocese to help other priests during the strong moments of the liturgical year. The passage from the pleasant climate of Cavi di Lavagna to the -30 degrees below zero of Bielorussia does not worries one like him who, in January, used to peacefully swim in the waters of the Liguria Gulf. In Dzierkowszczyzna he does not fail to make the traditional visit and blessing of the houses exactly during the Christmas time when temperature is well below zero.

On April 1999 he is visited by the Superior General who spends a whole week with him. Despite the temperature being quite cold, he takes the Superior to visit various parishes using an old Russian Lada which he borrows from one of his parishioners. He is happy to bring him to visit a few families of the parish because – as he stated – he can have an idea of what life is under a “communist” regime. He takes the opportunity of the visit of his Superior to ask that he be allowed to continue his pastoral service in Bielorussia for some more five years. He leads a life of great sobriety, if not of utter poverty. He does not have an house employee and he takes care personally of the parish house with just the periodical help of some good women.

At the beginning of the year 2000 the new Diocese of Vitebsk is created by encompassing the eastern part of the Archdiocese of Minsk where Dzierkowszczyzna is located. Fr. Malej is almost 80 years old, but he repeats to his new Bishop his wish of being allowed to continue his pastoral service for as long as his heath will allow him.

On June 2001, two General Councilors, Fr. Giano Benedetti and Fr. Aquiléo Fiorentini, pay him a visit in order to study the possibility of starting a new presence of the Institute in that Country, motivated also by the wishes of Mons. Stanislao Blin, Bishop of Vitebsk. Despite the fact that Fr. Malej had always favored the presence of the Institute in Poland, now he fears that such presence in Bielorussia may not have sufficient assurance of success.

In the year 2004 the Superior of Italian Region, to which Fr. Malej belongs, pays a visit to him in order to offer him the possibility of his eventual return to Italy, due to his age. His health is still holding on, even though the first signs of infirmity start appearing. His transfer to the Blessed Allamano House in Alpignano takes place only on February 2006. His last months are spent in the pleasant environment of Alpignano and in the company of many confreres.

Fr. Malej dies on 7th September 2006 at Alpignano, at the age of 84 years old, of which 31 spent in the religious profession and 57 as priest. His body rests in the cemetery of Alpignano.

Fr Pietro Trabucco, IMC
Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 May 2007 )