New priests inspire parishioners with love for people, zeal for Gospel

By Priscilla Greear - Florida Catholic

Photography: Tom Tracy, Cristina Cabrera

MIAMI | Archbishop Thomas Wenski ordained Fathers Jorge Reyes and Jakub Bereza to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Miami on May 10, 2025, at St. Mary Cathedral before hundreds of supporters from Germany and Poland to Hialeah and Hollywood in Florida. They all bore witness to the men’s vocations: from Father Reyes’ pastoral care of a Catholic convert and tireless work as a deacon, to Father Bereza’s very early vocation and joy in proclaiming the Gospel.

 

A YOUNG FATHER BEREZA WALKS WITH THE FAITHFUL

Father Bereza’s older sister, Weronika Pierog, recalled walking with him and other siblings more than 185 miles over several days on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa from their hometown of Torun, Poland, during high school. Along the way, he would sing and play his guitar to uplift weary pilgrims.

“He was thinking about being a priest from the beginning, but he needed some signs to be sure, so he served in a lot of things in the church,” recalled Pierog. “When he was a little boy, he pretended to be a priest. He had an altar and took some juice and bread.”

She remembers him saying “maybe I’ll become a priest” at World Youth Day in 2011 in Madrid. “I’m really proud of him, that he made this decision to be a priest because it’s really hard work to be a good shepherd,” said Pierog at the ordination reception.

Father Bereza is the second of five children: two brothers and two sisters.

His younger brother, Franciszek Bereza, grew up sharing a room with Father Bereza and their other brother. While they had usual sibling battles, “I knew one day he might be a priest. He was the most calm and religious,” said Franciszek Bereza.

Father Bereza’s parents Krzysztof and Maria Bereza grew up in communist Poland where they found hope through Catholicism. They raised their children in the Neocatechumenal Way, a Christian initiation program, and engaged in family prayer every Sunday morning. Krzysztof Bereza said his son was a “normal boy” but added with a smile that “he didn’t know how to fight. He didn’t make jokes like his other brothers. He liked music.”

The father said he thought his son would suffer in moving to America. Yet as he persevered, embraced seminary life and learned English and Spanish his cross turned to glory. “It’s an honor for us, for our family. We’ll pray for him to be a good priest,” he said.

Father Bereza’s brother, Franciszek Bereza, remembers him as “quiet and reserved.” However, during his first Mass as a newly ordained priest, Franciszek saw a completely different Jakub: “Full of energy and passion, open and smiling like never before. For me, this transformation is a powerful sign of God's presence in his life.”

Maria Bereza is grateful for the steadfast support of the Redemptorist Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary of Miami and its rector, Father Emanuele De Nigris.  During Mass, she reflected on how she raised her son and now gives him to God and the Church. “In the end, they are children of God and they will have to do God’s will.”

Dominik Bereza, the other brother of Father Bereza, said, “It's crazy to fly to another continent, alone, at the age of 19, to help build a seminary.” But he was deeply moved when he saw his brother “lying on the floor in the shape of a cross in the middle of the cathedral. It's not every day you witness your brother dedicating his entire future to the service of the Church and God,” he added.

Pawel Gazda, who traveled with the Polish delegation of  25 members of the Neocatechumenal community, said Father Bereza was always eager to help the priests and sing at liturgies when he was younger. “It was the sign that he was really focused on God and prayer and the Holy Spirit.”

Father Jakub Kowalski, who traveled from Germany to vest Father Bereza during the ordination, recalled Father Bereza raising his hand to enter seminary on a pilgrimage. “I was expecting it because it’s the story of the Lord. He’s calling us,” said Father Kowalski. “I came last year for his deacon ordination, and I saw him so happy and I said for me it was a confirmation that it was from the Lord.”

Marcin Kurlenda of Poland finds fresh hope from Father Bereza’s openness to God and “zeal for the salvation of souls.” “What the grace of God did for him can also do for me, my family and my marriage.”

It was “fantastic” to be “consecrated to Jesus Christ," said Father Bereza after the ceremony. “The archbishop gave me this mandate to announce God, raise the dead, to be a witness of hope to this generation. Many times I find myself unfit yet God makes me worthy to go ahead and sends me the courage and confidence to go ahead.”

 

FATHER REYES SUPPORTS VISITOR ON JOURNEY TO CATHOLICISM

Giovanni Lopez was on a spiritual search when he visited Nativity Church in Hollywood, and he was welcomed by then-Deacon Reyes. Lopez, once agnostic, said the deacon walked alongside him in his conversion to Catholicism. “From the first day he has been there and been a friend and part of my family. And I wouldn’t miss this  (ordination ceremony) for the world,” said Lopez.

Father Reyes “has helped me with personal consolation. He’s given me advice and helped me with how to approach my family and the way that I live my life as a Catholic. He was there for my baptism and going into the Catholic faith,” said Lopez.

Lopez appreciates Father Reyes’ kind and constant presence. “Everywhere I turned there was Deacon George,” he said. Father Reyes “was very human in things he helped me with, trying to make sure I was good.”

The children of Father Reyes, whose marriage was annulled, also rejoiced.

“He always wanted to do this. He started off as a deacon and he lived in the church honestly. He was there 24/7 helping out with everything and he loved it,” said Father Reyes’ son, Jorge Alejandro Reyes. “Even as a kid he talked about becoming a priest. It really came to fruition when he became a deacon. Everything clicked,” he added.

People often tell the younger Reyes what a “great speaker” his dad is. “He is really, truly loved at every parish he goes to. I’m excited. I think he’s going to do a lot of good for the Catholic community. He loved being an engineer but this was his true calling.”

His twin sister, Amanda Maria Reyes, recalled the family party she threw for him before his entry to Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. “When he announced that he was going to be a deacon, we knew this was going to be his future,” she said. “His kindness and his hard work inspire me just in my personal and spiritual life, as well as his sense of humor. He loves to work and can’t sit still. His management style will be really good in building community.”

Seminarian Maximilian Muenke attended the ordination along with more than a dozen current and former classmates from Pope Saint John XXIII Seminary, which serves men with second careers pursuing priesthood. Muenke and Father Reyes often prayed and ate together. “He’s someone people like to be around. He’s someone who likes to go and initiate meals together. And that is where evangelization happens. It happens over meals, talking to someone,” he said. “He’s very social, very much a people person and that is what the Church needs.”

Father Julio De Jesus, pastor of St. John XXIII Church in Miramar, was honored to vest Father Reyes. “I saw how he loved the Eucharist and how he worked for the people and the poor,” said Father De Jesus. “What an honor that he will now be serving the Lord and bringing Jesus in the Eucharist to many people in this world who really need it. He is very, very prayerful.”

Father De Jesus added, “I thought he was going to slow down through the years, but his love and enthusiasm are still there and it is a gift to the Church of the Archdiocese of Miami.”

Father Reyes felt overwhelmed with joy during the reception after years of discernment. During the liturgy he said, he thought of his late parents. “They’re watching. They’re there. So yeah, that was very emotional, very special and just to be there with all my brother priests,” he said.

He was also overwhelmed to see so many members from Nativity, the church in which he grew up. “I’m really humbled by the great love and support they provide. I’m on cloud nine.”