Domaniewice, Poland — Jan Chmurski, 88, died peacefully in the late morning of July 5 at Glowno Hospital following a long illness. Jan married his devoted wife, Cecylia, in 1962. She passed away on July 19, 2017. He was the caring father of Father Marek Chmurski, parochial vicar at Christ the King Parish, Mashpee; and Krzysztof Chmurski and his wife, Ewelina of Ostrow, Poland; and grandfather to their young daughter, Laura Helena. Jan was born on Oct. 12, 1929 in Sapy, Poland. He was the youngest of six children of the late Franciszek Chmurski and his wife, Jozefa Siek. Jan was preceded in death by his four brothers, Jozef, Andrzej, Walenty, Julian, his sister, Helena, and is survived by his sister, Malgorzata. Jan’s formative years occurred during Poland’s politically turbulent times
Jan Chmurski, father of Father Marek Chmurski
of World War II, the Nazi invasion, and its subjugation to Communist rule as a satellite state of Soviet Russia until 1989. Jan and Cecylia made their home in Domaniewice, Poland for 56 years. Jan supported his wife and family his entire life as an employee of the National Railways and supplemented his income as a farmer during the Communist rule and beyond. Like so many families at that time, Jan’s work and the financial needs of his family required him to spend days at a time away from his family and home. Despite the many hardships, Jan provided for his family not only food and necessities for the body but food and necessities for the soul as well. The life he chose to live was a true reflection of the man he was and of his sincere devotion to and trust in God, the Catholic faith, and a deep appreciation for and loyalty
to his family and their wellbeing, the Polish culture, and their country. Jan was blest with Spiritual comfort and joy when he learned that his eldest son chose to devote his life to the service of God through the Church as a Roman Catholic priest, as did his maternal cousin and his paternal uncle, a Franciscan Friar. With the blessing and support of his parents, Father Marek answered the call to meet the shortage of priests in the United States. He left his parents, homeland, and all he had known to serve God. Later, Jan’s family grew with Krzysztof ’s marriage to Ewelina, followed by the happiness that only a grandchild could bring.
visiting these gravesites — and other memorial sites dedicated to aborted babies — as a regular part of their Pro-Life witness. “By participating in the National Day of Remembrance, visiting these solemn memorial places at other times of the year, and spreading the word about this prayer campaign, you are helping to humanize our aborted brothers and sisters and deepening your own commitment to ending the injustice of abortion.” The website offers visitors a comprehensive list of where there are gravesites of aborted children and memorials for them in every state.
The site also offers links to prayers that can be used on September 8 and throughout the year — “Prayer at a Gravesite or Memorial Site,” “Prayer of Mourning for Victims of Abortion,” and “Prayer for Those Who Have Lost a Child to Abortion.” Urging faithful to attend a service, the website says, “Tens of thousands of these children have been retrieved and buried at gravesites across our country. The stories of how they were killed, how they were found, and how they were buried, along with the pictures and videos that document those events, are powerful tools to awaken the consciences of our fellow citizens.”
North Attleboro cemetery to hold service for abortion victims continued from page 17
Hill. “Mothers who chose abortion will also read their letters to their lost children which is a very powerful witness of the healing and forgiveness of God.” At the National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children website (abortionmemorials.com) it stresses the importance of visitng gravesites and memorials of the unborn: “When people become truly aware of the reality of abortion, they can more easily cut through the lies by which some try to justify it, and the natural apathy to which human nature is inclined. Even Pro-Life people are thrust into a higher level of commitment and activism. “Pro-Lifers should be 20
The Anchor - August 24, 2018
In the coming weeks, the family will be blessed with another grandchild. Jan had a life well lived. He survived the political unrest of his country, Nazism, and Communism. He married, raised a family, and lived to see his sons grow up, one devoting his life as a Spiritual father and the other as a father of two children. Jan traveled to America for his son’s ordination in 1995, then again, in 1997 for an extended visit, and a final visit in 2010 to be present for the celebration of Father Marek’s anniversary of ordination. A Mass of Christian Burial for Jan took place on July 11 in the Church of St.
Bartholomew in Domaniewice where Jan received not only the Sacraments of Baptism, Penance, the Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage and Sacrament of the Sick, but also where three generations of the Chmurski Family have been members. Father Marek presided at the Funeral Mass and FatherAdam Domanski, a close family friend, delivered the homily. Following the Funeral Mass, the procession moved on foot to the parish cemetery where the committal service and interment took place. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee at a later date.
In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Aug. 25 Rev. Joseph F. Hanna, C.S.C, Founder, Holy Cross, South Easton, 1974 Rev. Thomas E. Lawton, C.S.C., Holy Cross Retreat House, North Easton, 2002 Aug. 27 Rt. Rev. Francisco C. Bettencourt, Pastor, Santo Christo, Fall River, 1960 Rev. Msgr. Hugh A. Gallagher, P. A., Retired Pastor, St. James, New Bedford, 1978 Rev. James E. Tobin, C.S.C., 2008 Aug. 28 Rev. Thomas L. Campbell, C.S.C., 2012 Aug. 29 Rev. Joseph DeVillandre, D.D., Founder, Sacred Heart, North Attleboro, 1921 Msgr. William H. Harrington, Retired Pastor, Holy Name, Fall River, 1975 Aug. 30 Rev. Frederick Meyers, SS.CC., Former Pastor, Our Lady of the Assumption, New Bedford, 2008 Aug. 31 Msgr. Armando A. Annunziato, Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1993 Rev. Thomas M. Landry, O.P., Former Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River, 1996 Sept. 1 Rev. Jorge J. de Sousa, Pastor, St. Elizabeth, Fall River, 1985 Rev. James F. Lyons, Pastor, St. Patrick Parish, Wareham, 2008 Sept. 3 Rev. Thomas J. McGee, D.D., Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1912 Sept. 4 Rev. Joseph P. Tallon, Pastor, St. Mary, New Bedford, 1864 Rev. John J. Maguire, Founder, St. Peter the Apostle, Provincetown, 1894 Sept. 5 Rev. Napoleon A. Messier, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1948 Sept. 7 Very Rev. James E. McMahon, V. F. Pastor, Sacred Heart, Oak Bluffs, 1966 Rev. Raymond Pelletier, M.S., La Salette Shrine, North Attleboro, 1984