Pastor Andrew Skrzypiec is very popular among Polish community and needs to be introduced only to a few Poles living in the area. He was born in Pszczyna, a town in southern Poland. His mother, Teresa, and his sister still live there. I know Pastor from the church in Magna, Utah, but also from ski slopes in his favorite Deer Valley. Pastor Andrew is avid, robust and excellent skier. Now, I invite you to the interview.
Tomasz Zola: How long do you live in the United States?
Ksiadz Andrzej Skrzypiec: I came from Poland in November 1989, first to Orchard Lake Seminary located in Michigan, where I was learning English. From seminary I was assigned to Utah, first as pastor associate for the Cathedral of the Madeleine, and then as pastor in Helper, near Moab.
TZ: You surely had not have many Polish parishioners over there?
AS: There has been one lady, Sybirak Helena, who spoke slightly exotic Polish.
TZ: And after that?
AS: In 1996 I have been appointed a pastor to the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Magna, Utah. Currently I serve as a pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Salt Lake City, UT.
TZ: Since when there are Polish masses here?
AS: Masses in Polish language were in Salt Lake City before I have appeared here. Two Polish pastors, Stanislaw Herba in Midvale in Saint Teresa church, and pastor Baraniewicz before him, served as clergy here.
TZ: Are there any other Polish priests in our area?
AS: Yes, priest Jan Bednarz.
TZ: Where the tradition of coffee and cake after mass came from?
AS: That tradition existed before I have arrived.
TZ: Over those years, is attendance on Polish masses increasing?
AS: General attendance is rather steady, however rise of number of children is visible.
TZ: Was there ever an idea to establish Polish parish?
AS: There were attempts, but currently it is rather impossible. Bishop does not support ethnic parishes while striving for integration; today such idea would be opposed. As far as I know, the Vietnamese have the only ethnic parish.
TZ: When have you decided to become a priest?
AS: An idea was sprouting when I was in high school. Obviously I was an altar boy, and active in Polish Oasis movement.
TZ: Were your parents very religious?
AS: My mother, yes, but father liked to be independent. I have not had a priest in the family, only a good example of priests in my parish, and Christian ideals to live by. The times were different...
TZ: So, then seminary?
AS: Yes, first in Krakow, and next in Katowice.
TZ: Have you ever met our pope?
AS: Yes, first I met him in the seminary in in Krakow, where he had lectures in ethics and philosophy, and later personally on an audience. I was lucky that my sister personally knew Arturo Mari, papal photographer. My sister and her husband were making documentaries about Vatican for Polish TV. Mr. Mari had arranged audience, were 20 persons could met pope in his private library. The year was 2002, pope has been already quite sickly. I remember his "God Bless" directed to me. I also remember, that he was stooping on his kneeler like a figure of humility.