Fr. Waldemar Stawiarski (Fr. Valdi) was born and raised in Poland. His hometown of Libusza is located in Southeastern part of Poland, around 75 miles Southeast of Krakόw. He has two older brothers and one younger sister living in Poland along with his parents. When he was 19, he entered the Seminary of his home diocese of Rzeszόw where he studied for three years. When he was 22, he came to Chicago responding to the invitation of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He spent his first year living at Abramowicz House opened for Polish seminarians while studying English at UIC. A year later, he went to complete his theology studies at Mundelein Seminary preparing for priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

 

     As a deacon, he was assigned to St. Stephen Deacon and Martyr parish in Tinley Park. After ordination, in May 2003, he became an Associate Pastor of that parish and he spent his first five years of Priesthood there. At the age of 31, in March of 2008 he was called to be a new Pastor of St. Helen Church in the Westside of Chicago thus becoming the youngest Pastor of the Archdiocese of Chicago, in that year. He was there for five years leading that community through a time of transition and preparing St. Helen Church and its community to celebrate its Centennial Jubilee. From 2009-2013, he was a representative of Priests of his generation at the Archdiocesan Placement Board. In 2012, he took his 6 months Sabbatical and went to Bolivia in South America to study Spanish preparing himself for future challenges. In March of 2013, he was called to be a new Pastor of SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish in Lemont. While working at different parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago he has learned how to minister to both English and Polish speaking community and continues to do so here at SS. Cyril & Methodius. He enjoys traveling, skiing, bike riding and watching Spanish soap operas.