The General Chapter of the Society of Christ has concluded: Fr. Olejnik re-elected Superior

On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at the General House of the Society of Christ for Polish Emigrants in Poznań, Poland, the sessions of the 14th General Chapter came to a close.

The Chapter was a time of deep reflection on the charism and identity of the Society, as well as a time for concrete decisions and inspiring initiatives. In a spirit of profound communion and prayer, the delegates elected the new General Council and approved a series of decisions that set the course for the years ahead.
Fr. Krzysztof Olejnik SChr was re-elected Superior General.

Also elected were:

• Fr. Paweł Jasina SChr as Vicar General,

• and four General Councillors:

  • Fr. Bogusław Kozioł SChr,

  • Fr. Marek Grygiel SChr,

  • Fr. Matthew John Gardzinski SChr,

  • Fr. Andrei Lysy SChr.

The Chapter Fathers emphasized the need for inner renewal and a stronger community life. A central focus was the care for vocations—fostered both through concrete pastoral initiatives and through the daily witness of a priestly and religious life lived with commitment, joy, and fraternal spirit.

The Chapter also addressed the protection of minors and vulnerable persons, updating the Congregation's internal regulations with new guidelines.

The Congregation plans to continue work on a new Economic Directory which, following the directives of the Holy See in recent decades, will help the Institute develop a renewed approach to material matters, asset management, and financial transparency—signs of a Gospel-centered way of life.

One of the main themes of the Chapter was the role of the laity in the Society's mission. The Fathers highlighted the importance of organized volunteerism as a valuable form of lay participation—an engagement that not only supports pastoral activity but also offers opportunities for spiritual and apostolic growth.
In this same spirit, the Chapter revived the proposal to reactivate the Apostolate of Emigration Movement, which for many years provided spiritual and organizational support to the Society's work among Polish communities around the world.

In preparation for the centenary of the Society's foundation, to be celebrated in 2032, the creation of a Museum of the Society of Christ was also proposed. This museum will present, in a modern and accessible way, the spiritual heritage and missionary work of the Congregation.

In the context of formation quality, the Chapter emphasized the need to develop a Directory for Ongoing Formation, improve language skills, and establish interpersonal communication workshops—essential tools for both community life and pastoral work.

The Chapter concluded with a solemn Holy Mass at the Religious House in Puszczykowo, home to the elder members of the Congregation. This was a meaningful gesture, reminding all that our senior confreres—who for decades served Polish emigrants abroad—continue to carry on the mission of the Society through their prayer and suffering, and, as Pope Francis often reminds us, by sharing their life experience and wisdom.
In this way, the Chapter sought to underline the value of the older generation in the life of the Church and religious communities.

Fr. Krzysztof Olejnik SChr was born on January 5, 1973, in Września, Poland. He joined the Society of Christ for Polish Emigrants in 1994 and was ordained a priest in May 2001 in the Cathedral Basilica of Poznań. After ordination, he served in Poland and later pursued theological studies at the Catholic University of Lublin, also taking courses in counseling and psychotherapy for clergy. From 2004 to 2007, he was assistant to the Novice Master in Mórkowo, Poland.

Starting in 2007, he served in the Sacred Heart Province (United Kingdom and Ireland), ministering in several Polish communities: Moyraverty, Belfast, London (Putney), Hampton Hill, and Glasgow, while collaborating with local ecclesial communities. He was appointed Vice-Provincial in 2012 and Provincial Superior in 2018. From 2013 to 2018, he also served as a General Councillor of the Congregation.

On July 11, 2019, during the 13th General Chapter, he was elected Superior General of the Society of Christ. On July 3, 2025, during the 14th Chapter, he was re-elected for a second term.