"I don't know how long the Lord will send me back to you, but I will certainly try to bring you to salvation ." With these words, Father Jacek Meczel greeted the faithful of Arzachena in the ancient church of Santa Maria della Neve. They had welcomed him a few minutes earlier in the nearby Piazza Risorgimento, along with the outgoing parish priest, Father Mauro Moretti, and the longtime and emeritus parish priest, Father Francesco Cossu, "the mayor of Arzachena," as Father Jacek himself described him.
From the ancient temple, passing through several streets of the historic center, the transfer took place to the new temple, the parish church of Santa Maria della Neve, where the solemn installation took place, in the presence of Bishop Roberto Fornaciari.
Polish, born in 1966, Jacek Meczel was ordained a priest in 1991 in Poland, in the Diocese of Zielona Góra–Gorzów. Also a product of the charisma and pontificate of Saint John Paul II, the Polish Pope, Father Jacek arrived in the Diocese of Tempio Ampurias in the early 2000s along with other compatriot priests who at the time were studying and specializing in Rome at the Pontifical Universities. Some of them later remained in the diocese and were ordained here, such as Father Andrea Domanski, Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral and Evangelization and parish priest of Calangianus and Luras.
Father Jacek Meczel was assistant parish priest at Santa Maria Maddalena (La Maddalena), assistant parish priest at Calangianus, and parish administrator at Badesi. He is a member of the Presbyteral Council. diocesan and of the College of Consultors.
Particularly devoted, as Polish priests generally are (and as was Saint John Paul II), to Saint Faustina Kowalska and to Divine Mercy, he referred to them yesterday in his first meeting with the new community where he will now exercise his ministry. At the end of the Mass, the new parish priest received greetings from the mayor, Roberto Ragnedda, and representatives of the parish groups.
The new parish priest has invited the numerous faithful to Mass next Sunday to get to know each other better and begin mapping out the path he intends to pursue.
The outgoing parish priest, Father Mauro Moretti, is scheduled to transfer to Porto Cervo, the parish of Stella Maris, where he will take office on October 10th. The parish of San Pantaleo remains vacant and has been entrusted by Bishop Fornaciari, for administration, to Father Santino Cimino (parish priest of Cannigione), with the assistance of Father Carlos Alves de Resende.