Missionary With 25 Years Experience In Caribbean Named New Provincial

Superior General Father Paulus Budi Kleden SVD of the Society of the Divine Word has appointed Father Adam Oleszczuk SVD as the next provincial superior of the order’s Chicago Province.

Elected by his fellow Divine Word Missionaries, Father Oleszczuk, 52, has held several leadership roles in the Society of the Divine Word; the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica; and the Diocese of Willemstad in the Caribbean.

Born in Pasłęk, Poland, he professed vows in his home country in 1991. After completing a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Divine Word Seminary in Nysa, Poland, and a master’s degree in theology from Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule St. Gabriel in Mödling, Austria, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1998.

Father Oleszczuk served his first assignment as assistant pastor at Our Lady of Assumption in Morant Bay, Jamaica, joining a pastoral team that focused on basic Christian communities and the area’s youth. Their efforts resulted in several archdiocesan awards for the church youth groups.

Six years later, he was assigned to Portmore, Jamaica, where he built upon the unique ecumenical history of the Church of Reconciliation and Good Shepherd parish. Two faith communities—one Roman Catholic and one Anglican—share the parish buildings, as well as pastoral, social, and fund-raising activities.

He increased parish membership, developed lay leadership, renovated the pastoral center, and began a breakfast program at a local school. The renovated pastoral center was equipped with computers so that students had a place to do homework.