A Journey of Mission and Grace: The Ordination of Father Mateusz Garstecki, OMI

On Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas, family, friends, and fellow Missionary Oblates gathered to witness a sacred milestone: the priestly ordination of Brother Mateusz Garstecki, OMI. The ceremony, presided by Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas, marked the culmination of years of spiritual formation, academic study, and pastoral service.

As the final hymn echoed through the sanctuary of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, a quiet reverence settled over the congregation. Father Mateusz Garstecki, OMI, newly ordained and radiant with joy, turned to his mother, the woman whose faith had been the foundation of his own.

With deep emotion and gentle reverence, he offered her his first priestly blessing. Their eyes met, and in that exchange was a lifetime of prayer, sacrifice, and unwavering love. She stood before him, not as a witness to his vocation, but as one who had helped shape it through years of quiet devotion and steadfast support.

The blessing was more than a gesture. It was a sacred moment that spoke of grace passed from one generation to the next. For his mother, it was the fulfillment of countless prayers whispered in hope. For Father Mateusz, it was a humble acknowledgment that his priesthood was born not only of personal calling but of communal love and the enduring
strength of family.

Born in 1998 in the suburbs of Chicago, Mateusz was raised in a Polish-American Catholic family steeped in tradition and prayer. Frequent pilgrimages to Poland deepened his connection to faith and heritage. After relocating to San Antonio in fifth grade, he encountered the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate—a charism that resonated deeply with his growing sense of vocation. Inspired by the Oblates and his missionary aunt serving in Paraguay, Mateusz began discerning religious life in high school.

At 18, he entered the Oblate pre-novitiate in Buffalo, New York, and soon after served in Tijuana, Mexico, where he witnessed the transformative power of ministry among the poor. His novitiate year in Godfrey, Illinois, led tohis first vows in 2020, followed by theological studies at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio. In 2021,he was selected to study at the International Roman Scholasticate—becoming the first U.S. Oblate seminarian to do so since 2010.

Rome became a spiritual home, where Mateusz studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University alongside seminarians from over 15 countries. On May 1, 2024, he professed perpetual vows at the General House in Rome, receiving the Oblate Cross of the late Fr. Alejandro “Alex” Roque, OMI—a symbol of faithful service and hope.

Returning to the U.S., he began his pastoral internship at Holy Rosary Parish in Fairmont City and St. Stephen Parish in Caseyville, Illinois. On October 26, 2024, he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Michael McGovern of the Diocese of Belleville, IL at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. His ministry as a deacon was marked by compassion, humility, and a deep commitment to walking with others through life’s joys and sorrows.

The day after his priestly ordination, September 14, 2025, newly-ordained Father Mateusz celebrated his first Mass at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in San Antonio. Surrounded by loved ones and the faithful community that had supported his journey, he offered the Eucharist with reverence and joy. His humble words reflected the depth of his formation and the sincerity of his mission—a tapestry of love, sacrifice, and global awareness.

This moment was not only a personal triumph but a testament to the power of communal support. The Seminarian Club had walked with him every step of the way, making his vocation possible through prayer and generosity. “I know that my daily life and the opportunity to be in Rome depend on you and other generous donors who remember me in their prayers,” he had once written.

As Father Mateusz begins his full-time priestly ministry, his first obedience is to the Sharing & Caring Hands Center in Minneapolis, MN and residing at St. Casimir Parish in St. Paul, MN. Wherever he ministers, he will doit with a love for the poor and a heart anchored in mission.