Fr. Józef Stachoń was born on April 21, 1932 in Tychy, Upper Silesia, in the family of Wincenty and Julia nee Ryś. He had four brothers and two sisters. He was baptized on May 1, 1932 in his home Parish of St. Mary Magdalene in Tychy. On the day of his confirmation he received the name of Anthony. He began considering the vocation to the Priesthood as a student of St. Hyacinth Middle School in then Stalinogrod (today: Katowice). Since the communist authorities were unfavourable towards the School, Józef had to move, in 1950, to the Public High School in Bieruń Stary, where in 1953 he received his secondary school certificate.

After the graduation he had applied for admission to the Major Silesian Seminary in Krakow, but because of great number of candidates, he was not accepted. In such circumstances he decided to join the Salvatorian Society. On entering the Novitiate in Bagno on September 20, 1953 he received his religious name: Sarkander. One year later he took his first vows.

In 1954 he began to study philosophy at the Philosophy and Theology Institute of the Dominican Fathers in Kraków and during the years 1955-1959 he continued his education at the Savlatorian Major Seminary in Bagno. On September 21, 1957 he made his perpetual religious profession. On June 29, 1959 he was ordained to the Priesthood by Bolesław Cardinal Kominek, in Trzebnica.

The Parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Our Savior in Mikołów was the first place of pastoral ministry of Fr. Stachoń, where he was a parochial vicar since September 1, 1959. After one year he was sent to the community house in Wrocław, where during the years 1960-1961 he had his pastoral year, the so called Tirocinium. In July 1961 he participated in the course for the employees of the Ecclesiastical Archives, offered by the Catholic University of Lublin.

After completing his pastoral study Fr. Sarkander was sent to the Salvatorian Major Seminary in Bagno, to work there as the Vice Prefect of the seminarians since August 15, 1961. Because of his technical talent he was responsible for the car and electrical repairs. After two years he was sent to Trzebnica, where during the years 1963-1964 he worked in the local Parish. On July 8, 1964 he was sent to the community house at Łobzowska Street #22, in Kraków, where among numerous pastoral initiatives he was involved in the spiritual retreats.

From May 20, 1966 he was a Rector of the Good Shepherd Church in Węgorzewo and superior of the local Salvatorian community. In that time, inspired by the Vatican Council II, he ceased using his religious name and returned to his baptismal one. From July 1, 1967 he was a parochial vicar at Our Lady the Queen of the world Parish in Mikuszowice Śląskie. In 1968-1969 Fr. Józef worked in Dobroszyce, at St. Jadwiga’s Parish, also as a vicar. From 1969 until1972 he was a vicar at the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Krzyż Wielkopolski. In 1970 he began his pastoral studies at the branch of the Catholic University of Lublin in Szczecin, which he completed two years later. In his master’s thesis he focused on the conscious participation in the Holy Mass.

After two years Fr. Stachoń’s superiors sent him to Krzywin Gryfiński, where since July 5, 1972 he was a Pastor of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish. In June of the same year he was appointed as Vice Superior of the Salvatorian community of Widuchowa-Krzywin. Three years later he was chosen once more for this office.

In 1978 he was sent to the community house in Międzywodzie, where during the years 1978-1981 he was a parochial vicar at St. Catherine’s Parish in Kołczewo. On August 24, 1981 he was sent to Koczurki as a Pastor of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish. After three years Fr. Józef Stachoń was sent to the religious community in Wrocław, where he worked as a chaplain of the Franciscan Sisters in Kłodzko.

In 1990, by the decree from June 5, Fr. Stachoń was chosen as Pastor of the Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish in Użranki, as a member of the community of Węgorzewo.  After 12 years of his pastoral ministry he was released from his duties and sent to the community in Wrocław. Since June 30, 2002 he was a chaplain of the church and of the Bonifraters hospital in Ząbkowice Śląskie. In December of the same year he was sent to Krzyż Wielkopolski, where he worked at the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.
In 2006 he was sent to the community house in Zakopane, where for three years he assisted local priests in their pastoral ministry. Because of his health problems, in June 2009 Fr. Józef was sent to the community house in Międzywodzie, as a resident.

When his health worsened and he required constant professional care, he was sent in June 2013 to the Care Centre of the Borromean Sisters in Trzebnica, where he lived until his last days.

Based on: Necrology for Fr. Józef Stachoń by Fr. Ireneusz Kiełbasa SDS