Holy Spirit Mims at 2309 Holder Rd, Mims, FL 32754 US - Fr. Andrzej (Andrew) Wojtan's Biography

   Fr. Andrzej was born December 3, 1954 to Franciszek and Maria Wojtan in Warsaw, Poland. He is the eldest of three children. He has two sisters; Anna resides in Warsaw, and Maria lives in France.

   In 1978, Fr. Wojtan earned a Master's Degree in Engineering from Technische Hochschule in Chemnitz, Germany. In 1978, he entered the Diocesan Seminary of Warsaw and began studying philosophy and theology. He completed a masters degree in moral theology. On May 29, 1983, Fr. Wojtan was ordained a priest by Cardinal Glemp in Warsaw, Poland.

   Newly ordained, Fr. Wojtan began serving the Diocese of Warsaw as an assistant priest in the village of Domaniewice, and later in the town of Sochaczew.

   Three years after being ordained, in 1986, Fr. Wojtan began preparing for missionary work. In 1987, he traveled to Central Africa and began serving the people in the Diocese of Mbala in Zambia as a Fidei Donum priest.

   In 1992, Fr. Wojtan began serving as a pastor in Mpulungu, Zambia. He returned to Poland in November 1994.

   Beginning in February 1995, Fr Wojtan provided pastoral assistance in the Diocese of Munster in Germany, Later in November 1995; he continued his missionary work by serving the people in the Diocese of Kimberley in South Africa. In November 1996 he became a pastor in Kuruman (Kalahari Desert) and was responsible for pastoral service in nine parishes. In 2002, Fr. Wojtan was selected to serve as a dean of the Kuruman Deanery.

   In 2003, he returned to Warsaw due to health problems. After his health improved, Fr. Wojtan continued providing missionary work through the Pontifical Mission Societies.

   After arriving in the United States in November 2004, Fr Wojtan began serving the people in the Diocese of Orlando as a parochial vicar at St. Isaac Jogues Parish. On February 1, 2006, Fr Wojtan was transferred to St. James Cathedral.

   Bishop Wenski announced that Fr. Andrew Wojtan has been assigned as Parochial Administrator to Holy Spirit Parish in Mims, effective January 4, 2008.

   Fr Wojtan speaks five languages including Polish, German, Cibemba (Zambia), Setswana (South Africa) and English. He practices the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius. He also enjoys working on his computer and playing his guitar.

This was adapted from Jubilee, St. James Cathedral’s newsletter, Lent 2006. The article was written by Barbara Tyrlik.