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Biography: Fr. Krzysztof (Kris) Maslowski  Reverend Krzysztof K. Maslowski was born September 23, 1962 in Wegorzyno, Poland, a small town in the northwest part of the country, located near the Baltic Sea. The oldest of four children, Father Kris and his family moved many times during the first years of his life, partially due to the political situation in their country at that time. When he was 8 years old, the family settled in Bialystok, a large city of more than 300-thousand people.
What actually made him change his mind about becoming a priest is a mystery. Many factors may have played a role, but Father Kris says "I didn't have too much joy in what I was doing. I was having fun, but not joy. I just wasn't satisfied." On December 14, 1981, one day after martial law Growing up, his parents shielded their children from the influences of their communist government. They would often turn to their church for literature and information about polish history and tradition. Raised in a very religious home, Father Kris became an altar server right after his first communion and continued until he entered the seminary. The summer before he entered high school, Father Kris went on a retreat based on the mysteries of the Rosary. It was then he decided he wanted to become a priest. In high school, he excelled in math and science, and became very interested in electronics. It was at that time he changed his mind about his future. He decided being a priest "is too easy, you don't have a family, you don't have responsibility, you live your own life, so I don't want it." So, after graduating from high school, he went to Gdansk, the town where the Solidarity movement was born. He enrolled in college and began studying to be an engineer. After one year he decided to return to Bialystok and enter the seminary. Father Kris entered the seminary in 1982, was ordained in 1988, and his first assignment was at St. John the Baptist Church in Choroszcz, Poland. In 1989 he went back to school at Catholic University of Lublin, Poland a school where Pope John Paul II was a professor for many years. While at the university he made the first of many visits to the United States. In 1993 he decided to move to the U.S. and was assigned to St. Adalbert Church, a Polish parish in Elizabeth. Originally here for one year on a religious visa, he kept extending it, and after 5 years, Father Kris had to make a decision. "I decided to stay. It was different and challenging, and I kind of liked it here." It was an easier choice to make since his family had left Poland a few years earlier to begin a new life in America. Over the next several years, Father Kris continued his priesthood in the United States while traveling back and forth to Poland to continue his extensive education. He received his Masters of Theology and Master of Arts degree as well as a Ph.D. and Doctorate from Catholic University in Lublin. During that time he also finished studying English as a second language at Union County College. He went on to teach several courses both in Poland and here in New Jersey. In his free time, he likes to play golf in the summer and ski in the winter, two sports he learned in just the last few years. One of his main hobbies is electronics. Whether it's computers, digital photography or stereo equipment, Father Kris says, "there is always something new to learn." Another favorite pastime is reading, and although most of it pertains to the courses he teaches, he especially enjoys polish literature. At one time he owned more than 3thousand books. He enjoys listening to all types of music, a current favorite is Andrea Bocelli. His extensive movie collection includes Star Wars, Lord ofthe Rings, Beauty and the Beast, and The Passion of the Christ. His favorite sports team is the Manchester United soccer team, but he is also a huge hockey fan. He tries to get to aNew Jersey Devils game at least once each season. Father Kris feels very blessed that he had the opportunity to meet Pope John Paul II on three different occasions. Although he views them as some of the most memorable moments of his life, he says nothing is more memorable than his ordination. He recalls the moment where he was laying down, right before his hands were anointed and before he said his final "yes." There were 5000 people in the church, all singing. "Y ou see all your life, like a slideshow, going through your mind." He says it is a day that will stay with him forever. Father Kris says receiving his doctorate degree is one of his great accomplishments, but at the same time he feels "if you are accepted by the people and loved by the people, that is an even greater accomplishment."
Now in his ninth year as Parochial Vicar at Saint Michael's, Father Kris continues to enjoy the community and the people of the parish. He recalls a few years ago when the parish was going through some changes. "I felt so much support and love from the parish that it was overwhelming. I could feel it, I could touch it; the dedication of the people...it was just wonderful."
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forced his school to close, he found himself on a very empty train returning to his family's home in Bialystok. "During that train ride, I began to think about the misery of the people and the lack of hope, and those thoughts about going to the seminary came back." When Father Kris announced his decision to his college friends, he was amazed to learn that they were not surprised. The short time he was away at college, he led the life of a typical student, living on campus, going out with his friends on the weekends and playing sports with his friends. He never spoke of his earlier desire to become a priest, but somehow they saw it in him. Looking back he admits that maybe he led his life just a little differently than they did.