RIP: 30/10/2022 - Szczecin
Fr. Jan Matuzik was born on 28 October 1934 in Jeziorzany near Krakow. His childhood and youth, were significantly marked by the trauma of the German and afterwards Russian occupation. The religious atmosphere of his family home and the seeds sown during his meetings with the Salvatorians became the inspiration for his choice of school, when in June 1949 he completed the 7th grade of primary school in Rączna and directed his steps to the Salvatorian Grammar School in Kraków-Zakrzówek. After it was moved to Mikołów in 1950, he also moved to the Salvatorian Minor Seminary in Upper Silesia. There he had the opportunity to continue his secondary school education and to see the Salvatorian community up close. On 14 August 1952 he began his novitiate in Bagno, which he completed exactly one year later, professing his first religious vows on 15 August 1953. Subsequently he was sent to Trzebinia, where, philosophical disciplines were given. From 1954 until 1959 he was in Bagno, where he studied philosophy and theology. On 21 December 1959, he was ordained a priest. The assignments that would follow were all in the field of parish work and popular mission retreats. Having obtained a master´s degree in Catechetics, he developed his skills more and more and became an expert in this apostolic field in Poland. After a sudden deterioration in his health, Fr. Jan was taken by medical services to the hospital in Szczecin on 29 October. Despite attempts to provide medical assistance, he died during the night on 30 October 2022. He ended his earthly pilgrimage at the age of 88. He had been a Salvatorian for 69 years.