Submitted by: Dan Rich
Rev. Walter G. Michalik C.S.C.
Feb. 21, 1918 - Dec. 25, 2003
South Bend Tribune 12/27/2003
Rev. Walter G. Michalik, C.S.C., died
on Thursday, December 25, 2003 at Holy Cross House, Douglas Road,
Notre Dame, Indiana after a long illness with diabetes. He was
surrounded by his brothers in community and the nursing staff of
Holy Cross who took such great care of him. His brother, Eduardo
Michalik, C.S.C., of the Midwest Province, prayed with him to the
end. Father Michalik was 85 years old.
Father Michalik was born to Michael and
Sophia (Denda) Michalik on February 21, 1918 in Delancey,
Pennsylvania. He attended St. Adrian Parish grade school and high
school as well as Sts. Cosmas and Damien high school in nearby
Punxsutawney.
Before entering the Holy Cross Seminary, he
worked for five years in coal mines in Pennsylvania and spent
four years (1941-1945) serving in the United States Army and
received the Victory Metal for his honorable service during World
War II.
Father Michalik entered the University of
Notre Dame as a freshman and candidate for Holy Cross in 1947.
From August 1948 to August 1949 he was at Sacred Heart Novitiate
in South Bend. In the next three years he finished his college
study at Notre Dame before moving to Holy Cross Foreign Mission
Seminary in Washington, D.C. for his graduate work in theology in
1952.
On June 6, 1956 Father Michalik was ordained
to the priesthood in Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame. Fulfilling
a dream to serve the poor, later that year he went to the Holy
Cross Missions in Bengal, East Pakistan, now called Bangladesh.
He worked there in many places and at many missions before taking
a year of rest and study in 1970-1971 at the Oriental Institute
in Pakistan.
Father Michalik left the mission service in
1975 to assist at Our Lady of the Lakes in Deltona, Florida. In
1983 he came to South Bend's St. Patrick Church before returning
to Florida a year later. Until 1996 he ministered to the people
of St. Ignatius in Tarpon Springs before returning to Notre Dame
and three years at Holy Cross House.
From 1999-2001 he resided at Holy Cross
Mission House and moved to Holy Cross House in 2001 due to
failing health. He never complained, never asked for special
treatment and loved each day looking to the coming of God's
Kingdom and trying to make it happen.
Father Michalik is survived by his brother,
Brother Edwardo Michalik, C.S.C., Notre Dame; and his sisters,
Sally Marcinak and Anne Misterovich, Florida; and Bernice
Ponczak, Illinois; and by several nieces and nephews. He was
preceded in death by his parents.
Viewing will be held for Father Michalik in
the chapel of Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, on Sunday, December
28, 2003 from 3:30 to 9:00 p.m. with a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m..
The
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the
Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, on Monday, December 29,
2003 at 9:30 a.m.. Burial will follow in the Community Cemetery
at Notre Dame.
The Kaniewski Funeral Home in South Bend,
Indiana is in charge of arrangements.