On June 29th 1959 he was ordained to the Priesthood by the Most Rev. Bolesław Kominek, in Trzebnica. In 1960 Fr. Józef commenced the moral theology studies at the Catholic University of Lublin. On June 26th 1964 he was sent to the religious community in Piastów as a pastoral assistant, but he continued his academic work as well. In January 1965 he was appointed a superior of the community in Piastów. With the decision of the provincial superior, effective August 28th 1970, he was transferred to the religious house in Międzywodzie, as a parochial vicar of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Międzyzdroje. On May 22nd 1975 he was appointed superior and treasurer of the community in Międzywodzie. On January 20th 1979 he became superior and treasurer of the religious house in Wrocław. From June 30th 1984 he was a superior of the Salvatorian community in Zakopane at Bulwary Słowackiego. After three years of his ministry in Zakopane he was sent to Wszemirów as a parochial vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Parish. On June 30th 1993 he was appointed a vicar of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Krzywin Gryfiński.  From August 25th 1994 he lived in Bielsko-Biała in the religious house at ul. NMP Królowej Polski.

rn

Fr. Józef Wątroba passed away on January 19th 2013 in Bielsko-Biała. The funeral took place on January 23rd 2013 at the Blessed Virgin Mary the Queen of Poland church in Bielsko-Biała. The urn with his ashes was buried in the family tomb at the cemetery of Bielowicko.