Fr. Rudolph Nowakowski OMI (1965 ~ 1967)

Fr. Rudy Nowakowski was born in Rama, Saskatchewan – a region of semi-arable land and farm settlements. During his teen years his family moved to Kuroki, SK. He attended high school from 1949 -1954 in Toronto and lived in the Oblate House of Studies while attending classes at St. Michael’s College School. He entered the novitiate at St. Norbert, Manitoba. In 1955, he made his fi rst vows. Afterwards, he began studies in philosophy and theology at St. Charles Scholasticate in Battleford, Saskatchewan and, in 1960, was ordained to the priesthood. After completing the requirements of the theology program, Fr. Rudy was sent to Ottawa to gain pastoral experience at what was then called the Sedes Saptientiae – currently known as St. Paul University. He also attended Ottawa University and studied pedagogy. Fr. Rudy’s first pastoral assignment was to Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in St. Catharines, where he served as pastoral assistant from 1962-1965. Afterwards, he served at Holy Rosary parish from 1965-1967. From 1967-1982, Fr. Rudy taught at Michael Power/St. Joseph high school in Toronto, and continued studies in pedagogy in Toronto and Ottawa. In 1 82, Fr. Rudy became pastor of St. Henry’s parish in Melville, Saskatchewan (1982-1997) and ministered at the local Catholic school and St. Peter’s Hospital. While there, Fr. Rudy belonged to the Pastoral Committee and the Catholic Homecare Health Services Committee of Saskatchewan. Fr. Rudy spent his sabbatical year (1997-1998) at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute and at the Vatican II Institute in Menlo Park, California. Some of Fr. Rudy’s other ministries included his position as assistant at the Oblate novitiate in Godfrey Illinois, USA, (1998-1999 , 2000-2003), his service as pastoral assistant at Holy Ghost parish in Winnipeg (1999-2000) and his service to the Oblate Provincial Council (1977-1980, 1990-2005). Presently, Fr. Rudy is director of the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga. Fr. Rudy has three siblings: Michael, Larry, and Beata, who is a Benedictine Sister. Their father died in 1982 and their mother died in 1992. Fr. Rudy’s hobbies include golf, going on walks, skiing, reading and traveling.