Father Walter J. Ciszek, S.J.

Father Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. The Official page of the Fr. Walter Ciszek Prayer League Originally established and approved by the Most Rev. John O. Barres, D.D., S.T.D., J.C.L.

The Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League is the official organization for the promotion of the cause of canonization of Father Walter Ciszek, S.J. Michael Dudick, bishop of the Byzantine Eparchy of Passaic (now deceased), the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League works for the promotion of the cause through prayers and the living out of Father Walter's spiritual message of the acceptance of the Will of

God in vibrant faith. The process of the cause has been officially transferred to the control of the Diocese of Allentown, PA and Most Rev.

Some sad and disappointing news to share with our followers:
04/16/2026

Some sad and disappointing news to share with our followers:

11/07/2025

Friday with Father Ciszek:
Father Walter Ciszek’s humility did not mean weakness or passivity. It was the strength to accept each moment—no matter how painful—as part of God’s providence. He came to see that his value did not depend on his accomplishments or his visible success, but on his faithful trust in God’s presence. True humility, he discovered, is not thinking less of oneself but recognizing that all good comes from God. It is a constant act of surrender, a willingness to say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

This humility transformed how he viewed others. In the camps, where human dignity was so often denied, Father Ciszek treated everyone with respect and compassion. He no longer saw himself as a missionary sent to “fix” others, but as a fellow sinner and brother walking beside them. His humility made space for God’s love to work through him quietly, without pride or self-concern.

Father Ciszek’s life reminds us that humility is the foundation of holiness. It is learned not in moments of glory, but in the hidden, difficult places where we are asked to trust. Like Father Ciszek, we are called to let go of the need to control outcomes, to accept the tasks and trials of each day with patience, and to see God’s hand in everything. His example teaches us that only when we are emptied of ourselves can we be filled with God.

May Father Ciszek’s witness inspire us to seek the grace of humility—to let God lead us, as He led him, along the path that brings peace, freedom, and the quiet joy of doing God’s will.

10/31/2025

Friday with Father Ciszek:

This coming Tuesday, November 4, marks the earthly birthday of Father Walter J. Ciszek. It was the beginning of a life that would profoundly witness to faith, perseverance, and trust in God’s providence. Looking back on his birthday invites reflection not only of the man he became, but on how God’s plans can unfold in ways far beyond human imagining. From a spirited boy in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, to a Jesuit missionary enduring the hardships of Soviet prisons, Father Ciszek’s journey reveals that every life—no matter how ordinary its beginnings—can be used for EXTRAORDINARY grace. His birthday reminds us that holiness often grows quietly, shaped through daily choices of surrender and courage. Remembering Father Ciszek’s birth is a call to thank God for the gift of his witness and to renew our own trust that, like him, we too are born for a purpose greater than ourselves.

Servant of God, Father Walter Ciszek, pray for us.

10/24/2025

Friday with Father Ciszek:
With the World Series upon us here in America, I am reminded of Father Ciszek’s love for baseball. Young Walter played baseball, and in his later years, listened to the Major League games on radio. One can draw a comparison between baseball and faith. Like a good player, Father Ciszek believed each person must “stay in the game,” no matter how many strikes come their way. His years of imprisonment and hardship were like extra innings that tested his endurance and trust in God’s plan. Yet, Father Ciszek never gave up. He showed that holiness, like baseball, is found in showing up every day, doing your lousy best, learning from mistakes, and trusting the “Manager” — God — to guide the outcome. His example reminds us that faith, like baseball, is a game of perseverance, patience, and hope.

Father Ciszek Day 2025Visitors at the Father Ciszek Center are watching a video about Father Ciszek.
10/19/2025

Father Ciszek Day 2025
Visitors at the Father Ciszek Center are watching a video about Father Ciszek.

Three NEW store items which will debut and be for sale tomorrow at Father Ciszek Day:Lanyards $5Pens $2Mugs $10
10/18/2025

Three NEW store items which will debut and be for sale tomorrow at Father Ciszek Day:
Lanyards $5
Pens $2
Mugs $10

10/17/2025

The Father Ciszek Day Mass (Sunday, October 19 at 2PM) will be Livestreamed here on our page.

10/17/2025

Friday with Father Ciszek:

Father Walter Ciszek’s words, “God does not ask the impossible,” reflect the deep faith and surrender that defined his life, even amid the darkest trials. Imprisoned in Soviet labor camps and stripped of control over his own future, he learned to see every hardship as part of God’s providence. This statement reminds us that while God’s will may at times seem overwhelming, He always provides the grace needed to fulfill it. Father Ciszek’s life is proof that trust in God transforms even the most human weakness into strength. His simple yet profound assurance calls us to meet our daily challenges with courage, knowing that God’s demands are always accompanied by His help.

This coming Sunday, Oct. 19, will be the annual Father Ciszek Day Mass at 2PM in St. Casimir Church, Shenandoah, PA. Pri...
10/15/2025

This coming Sunday, Oct. 19, will be the annual Father Ciszek Day Mass at 2PM in St. Casimir Church, Shenandoah, PA. Prior to Mass from 11-1, the Father Ciszek Center will be open. The icon pictured below will be on display at the Center on Sunday.

10/10/2025

As we approach October 12, the anniversary of Father Ciszek’s return to the USA:

✨ A Homecoming of Faith and Endurance ✨

We remember the powerful homecoming of Father Walter J. Ciszek, S.J., who returned to America in 1963 after 23 years of imprisonment and hard labor in Soviet Russia.

Though he came back physically worn, his spirit was stronger than ever—refined by suffering, anchored in trust, and radiant with the peace that comes from surrendering completely to God’s will.

Father Ciszek once wrote:

“God does not ask the impossible of anyone. He asks only our faith, our trust, and our love.”

His return was not an end, but a new beginning—a chance to share the deep lessons of faith forged in darkness and to remind us that no circumstance, no hardship, can separate us from the love of God.

🇺🇸🙏 Let us reflect today on his courage, humility, and unwavering belief that every moment is an opportunity to serve God—even in the most unlikely places.

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Shenandoah, PA
17976

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+15704622270

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