| Written by Eugene Mccarthy, Catholic Register Special,
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 Retired Hamilton diocese Auxiliary Bishop Matthew Ustrzycki is serenaded in Polish by a group of men and women, among 450 people who attended a dinner in Waterloo honouring him for his 50 years in the priesthood. (Photo courtesy of Eugene McCarthy)
As the amiable jubilarian concluded his remarks at an event organized by the Kitchener-Waterloo Serra Club, Polish-speaking members spontaneously broke into their country’s traditional song, “Sto Lat” (“100 years”) to express their affection and good wishes for the bishop.
Later, as he greeted individuals who lined up to convey their wishes, another group of women serenaded him in Polish, much to Ustrzycki’s delight.
Adding to the evening’s enjoyment was the presence of Cardinal-emeritus William Keeler of Baltimore, who first met Ustrzycki when they were in Rome together during the Second Vatican Council. They had been introduced by their respective bishops and became fast friends.
Keeler recalled how they had kept in regular contact after parting company in Rome and how, one day, he got a phone call from Ustrzycki saying he had been named a bishop and asking him to give the homily.
Keeler said he didn’t think it would be right for an American to do that but Ustrzycki told him he had “already cleared it with Bishop (Anthony) Tonnos.”
“(Keeler’s) presence means so much to me,” Ustrzycki told the dinner guests.
Ustrzycki was ordained in 1959 and made an auxiliary bishop in 1985 after serving in pastoral and chancery roles. He retired at age 75 as auxiliary but maintains a busy schedule operating out of the Church of Our Lady in Guelph, Ont., where another celebration of his 50 years as a priest, attended by more than 80 priests and a large number of laity, preceded the Waterloo event by several days.
“I make myself available when people ask me to do something,” said Ustrzycki, adding with a grin, “I am working extra hard to do nothing.”
Another Guelph native, Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins, the featured speaker, reminded the audience that the “greatest vocation is holiness” and that they should always try to “love people and use things and always serve others with a willing heart.” The priesthood, he noted, has always been “the pathway to holiness.”
“We are all called to holiness and we are all called to serve,” he said.
Tonnos thanked his auxiliary for his 22 years of service to the diocese and presented him with an apostolic blessing from Pope Benedict.
“He is a loyal and dedicated son of the church,” said Tonnos.
Among other head table guests were Bishop James Wingle of St. Catharines, Ont., and Bishop-emeritus James MacDonald of St. John’s, Nfld.
(McCarthy is a freelance writer in Waterloo, Ont.)
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