One of the parishioners, Agnieszka Anioł, published a public post on her profile listing the qualities of a good shepherd. The kind of priest Wilk should be, but in the parishioner’s view is not.
(...) The priest we need today (...) should be a sign of goodness, love and forgiveness. The priest should therefore be the “Good Shepherd,” always available, always ready to listen and accompany others. Without taking on the role of a judging companion, let him be the face of Christ—quiet and humble of heart. Let him nourish people with the Eucharist, the Word of Truth and Reconciliation. (...)
The post has almost 100 reactions. Other parishioners confirmed in the comments that they need a “Good Shepherd.”
The parishioner wrote the post after one of the faithful voiced all the accusations people have against Father Janusz Wilk. He did so after Sunday Mass, while the parish announcements were being read.
In her post, the woman herself lists several serious grievances she experienced: negative judgment, threats of excommunication, a lack of willingness to understand the problem and a complete lack of dialogue with the priest’s superior.
Another parishioner added:
(...) The priest did not want to baptize my son because he decided that he would not want to deal with him later. I was called a non-Christian and impure, and he asked what color dress I would wear to the wedding. (...).
Barbara wrote:
(...) Father Wilk has clearly missed his calling; for him, only money matters (...). I also had unpleasant conversations with him a year ago, when I went to arrange matters related to my mother’s funeral. And my father’s, two months later. In such situations, a person needs support and a kind word from a clergyman, not arguments about money. No matter how much money you give him, it is still not enough. It would be different if the results were visible in the church. It is a disgrace and a shame to have brought such a beautiful historic building to this state.
The widely reported refusal to conduct a funeral was also recalled. We wrote about it in 2021 in the article What really happened with the refusal of a Catholic funeral in Gościszów? At the time, we also heard from the priest, who explained the matter in a coherent way. It should be added that Father Wilk also has the support of some parishioners, who defend the priest just as vehemently. This is why the conflict is so serious and has spilled beyond Gościszów.
People are divided because some criticize the priest while others defend him. Meanwhile, the bishop is pursuing a policy of evasion and manipulation. He tells the parishioners criticizing the priest one thing, and the priest and his supporters another. This is not how care for parishioners who need reconciliation and peace should look.
A parishioner provides the best summary of the whole matter:
I also learned the hard way that seeking help from higher authorities in the church hierarchy is pointless. There are truly many stories about how various people from our parish were treated by the priest. Nevertheless, we are the ones who form the community, and we do not need a priest who chooses the submissive people for his community and does not even try to listen to other opinions because he always has his own.