Perpetual Vows of Brother Mateusz Garstecki, OMI

On May 1, 2024, Brother Mateusz Garstecki, OMI, a member of the U.S. Province, professed his perpetual vows as an Oblate at the Congregation’s headquarters in Rome. Since 2021, he has been a student at the Pontifical Gregorian University and a member of the International Roman Scholasticate (IRS). The Oblate Superior General, Fr. Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, received Mateusz’s lifelong commitment to poverty, chastity, obedience and perseverance, along with the vows of six other Oblates from Sri Lanka, France, Pakistan, Poland, and Indonesia.

Born in 1998 in the Chicago area to Polish-American parents, Mark and Barbara Garstecki, Mateusz’ family moved to San Antonio when he was in fifth grade. After high school, he entered Oblate formation in Buffalo, NY, in 2016 and completed his novitiate year in Godfrey, Illinois, in 2020. After a year at the scholasticate in San Antonio, he joined the IRS community in 2021.

The U.S. provincial, Fr. Ray Cook, OMI, was present for the vows, as well as Fr. Jim Loiacono, OMI. Before returning to the USA, Mateusz completed his Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree at the Gregorian and made a brief visit to Poland. He will then have a year of pastoral internship at Holy Rosary Parish in Fairmont City, Illinois and St. Stephen Parish in Caseyville, Illinois.

Reflecting on this important event in his Oblate life, Mateusz wrote: “I am grateful for this moment, grateful to God and to all those who have accompanied me this far in the journey! Mateusz received the Oblate Cross of the late Fr. Alex Roque, OMI (d. 2019).

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