New parish priest true world traveler; counts seven continents and 49 states
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
The Rev. Arthur Duchnowicz, new pastor at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, is a world traveler. Some people get that label by just traveling to one or two overseas countries. Duchnowicz counts continents. There are seven continents and he has been to them all. The final one was Antarctica where he paid for a 48-hour boat ride across the stormy Drake Passage.
“I spent five days and nights cruising around, landing numerous times on islands and the continent itself,” said Duchnowicz, with a thick Polish accent. He’s been to more states than most Americans. How about 49 of 50, with Alaska being the last.
Duchnowicz also has been to Wonders of the World and the world?s tallest buildings. He’s been to Victoria Falls, Africa; Niagara Falls, Canada; Macho Pichu, South America; as well as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France to name a few. He doesn’t want to climb the highest point on the planet, but he would like to see Mount Everest.
He?s been to the top of most of the tallest buildings on Earth, including the Sears Tower in Chicago. The exception is the Empire State Building. He didn?t bother with the landmark because the World Trade Center was still standing, was taller, and went to the top of that structure instead.
Some day in the future, Duchnowicz will grab his passport and be off to Dubai where construction continues on what will easily be the tallest skyscraper the world has ever seen. To put it in perspective, Burj Dubai in the United Arab of Emirates will be more than double the height of the Empire State Building. REGARDLESS OF where Duchnowicz may be traveling, he has a home away from home in Presque Isle County.
“In many ways it feels like that, because I already know many people and a lot of people have recognized me from back then,” he said. He became a deacon at St. Ignatius in December 2000 and a priest six months late
Nine years later, Duchnowicz is back in Rogers City with one major difference. He is entrusted with four Presque Isle County parishes, as well as St. Monica’s of Afton. Sacramental minister Don Geyman, the fulltime vocational director for the Diocese of Gaylord has been assigned to assist with the busy weekend schedule. Duchnowicz?s hometown is Szczecinek (stretch-ee-nek), Poland in the northwest portion of the country. Interestingly enough, it is north of the city of Poznan, the village of Posen?s namesake.
In 1994, the budding priest came to the United States to continue his studies in Orchard Lake, Michigan. He was at St. Ignatius for about a year before coming a priest in June 2001. “I don’t have one theme I preach about,” he said. “I always like to concentrate on the scripture and then bring it home.” Future plans include a walk in the Holy Land in Jerusalem