RIP: 13/07/2024 - Mikołów
Fr. Artur Chrzanowski was born on 6 October 1965 in Namysłów, Opole region in Poland. After his primary and secondary education, he continued his education at a medical vocational college in the nursing department. During this period, he lived in Piastów and worked at the Mother and Child Institute in Warsaw. It was then, when he got to know the Salvatorians serving in the parish in Piastow, that he began to think seriously about following his vocation. After completing his education and becoming a nurse, he decided to join the Society, through the Italian Administrative Unit. He started novitiate in Bagno on 7 September 1989 and professed his first religious vows on 8 September 1990 in Bagno. Here he continued with his studies of philosophy and theology until the third year of theology, when he was transfered to Italy, where he continued his studies and seminary formation. He culminated his initial formation when he was ordained priest on 8 December 1995. Initially, Fr. Artur wanted to go to Tanzania in Africa, to become a missionary, but his destination changed and he would work in Asia, especially in the recently started missions in India and the Philippines. From 2001 to 2011 he was involved in the development of these vibrant mission units, especially in formation and administration. Touched by seeing so much poverty in the slums of Manila, Fr. Artur started with the organisation “Puso sa Puso” (“Heart to Heart”). He believed that education was the key to changing the status of the poor. He wanted to contribute at all costs to changing the lot of those who have no voice. The last period of Fr. Artur’s life was strongly characterised by serious health problems. In 2022-24, his health problems prevented him from continuing his ministry in the Philippines. Therefore, in June 2024, he arrived at the Salwator Park Nursing Home in Mikolow, where he was cared for by the local community and received specialist medical care. Fr. Artur died on the morning of 13 July 2024 in Mikołów. He was 58 years old and had been for 33 years a Salvatorian.
