I am deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected death of the beloved Bishop of the Western Diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church. On behalf of myself and my family we offer prayer for the repose of his soul and for Jesus’ comforting presence among all who grieve — his wife Leslie, the people of the Western Diocese, and all in our Holy Church.
Right Reverend Jaroslaw Rafalko, Bishop Ordinary of the Western Diocese, Polish National Catholic Church, Pastor of All Saints Cathedral Polish National Catholic Church. Beloved husband of 33 years to Leslie ‘Wieslawa’; cherished son of the late Wanda and Jan Rafalko; loving brother of Elzbieta (Jozef) Wasilewski and the late Janina (Stanislaw) Serwin; dearest uncle of Anna (Dominik) Dym, Artur (Cortney Johnson), Piotr (Wioletta) Gryko, Michal (Iwona) Gryko and Grzegorz (Beata) Gryko; great-uncle of Aleksander Dym, Damian Johnson Wasilewski and Piotr Gryko; dear son-in-law of Eugenia and the late Stefan Czaban; loved brother-in-law of Barbara Czaban and Alicja (Mikolaj) Gryko. Jaroslaw was ordained to priesthood, June 8, 1980 in Bialystok, Poland. Appointed Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish PNCC in Kewanee, IL in 1990. Appointed Administrative Senior of the Northcentral Seniorate of Western Diocese PNCC in August of 2016. Elected Bishop of the Western Diocese PNCC October 25, 2019. Consecration as Bishop at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Cathedral, Scranton, Pennsylvania on Sept. 14, 2020 and Installed as Bishop at All Saints Cathedral Parish in Chicago, IL on October 3, 2020. Lying in State, Sunday, July 23, 2023 from 3 to 7 p.m., Monday, July 24th from 2 to 8 p.m. with Holy Vespers celebrated at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, July 25th from 9 a.m. until time of Mass, 10:30 a.m., at All Saints Cathedral PNCC 9201 W. Higgins Ave., Chicago, IL 60631. Interment Private. In lieu of flowers, donations will be used to benefit a future scholarship in the Bishop’s name or a donation to the Youth Fund of the Polish National Catholic Church would be appreciated.
Eternal rest grant unto Thy servant O Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Wieczny odpoczynek racz im dać, Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj im świeci. Niech odpoczywają w pokoju. Amen.
