Already as the 10th and 11th grade student he considered his call to the Priesthood and religious life. On August 4th 1964 he entered the Salvatorian Novitiate in Bagno and received his religious name: Przemysław. On August 15th 1965 he took his first religious vows in Bagno. That same year he also began to study philosophy at the Salvatorian Major Seminary in Bagno. After completion of the second year he studied theology at the Institute of Theology of the Missionary Fathers in Cracow. On August 15th 1970 he made his perpetual religious profession in Bagno. He was ordained to the Deaconate on December 19th 1970, in Cracow, by the Most Reverend Albin Małysiak, who also ordained him to the Priesthood on June 19th 1971, also in Cracow.

After his Priestly Ordination he was appointed as parochial vicar and catechist at St. Bartholomew the Apostle and St. Jadwiga of Silesia Parish in Trzebnica. After one year his superiors sent him as a parochial vicar to St. Jadwiga Parish in Dobroszyce. Eager to develop his academic interests Fr. Ryszard asked his superiors for permission to begin stationary studies in History of Philosophy at the Catholic University of Lublin. On May 18th 1973 he received the positive answer of his Provincial Superior. During the years of 1973-1976 he lived and studied in Lublin.

After completion of his studies in Lublin he was sent to the religious community house in Międzywodzie, where he was a parochial vicar of St. Peter’s Parish in Międzyzdroje during the years 1976-1978. After two years Fr. Ryszard was appointed as Vicar Superior of the community in Nałęczów and catechist in local schools. On May 21st 1979 he asked his religious superior for releasing him from his pastoral duties in order to focus on academic work. He was granted his request and on June 2nd 1979 his superiors sent him to Wszemirów. He was entrusted with the duties of a lecturer of philosophy at the Salvatorian Major Seminary in Bagno and served as pastoral assistant in the local parish. During the years 1981-1982 he was a parochial vicar at the Blessed Virgin Mary the Queen of the World Parish in Mikuszowice Śląskie.

Subsequently Fr. Ryszard was sent to the community house in Wrocław in order to be able to continue his academic work and lecture philosophy at the Seminary in Bagno. At that time he also worked as a spiritual retreat giver in various religious communities in Poland and Germany. In June 1987 his superiors appointed him as Superior of the community in Wrocław. After his two terms of office, he was appointed, in 1993, as the community treasurer in Wrocław. In 1993 he also began providing lectures of theology and philosophy to the Juniorist Brothers.

On May 29th 1999 Fr. Ryszard was sent to the religious community house in Bagno 31. There he continued lecturing philosophy at the Seminary and served as pastoral assistant in the local Parish. In 2004 he was sent to the community house in Trzebnica, where he was a chaplain at the Care Home of the Borromean Sisters. On August 15th 2015 he celebrated his golden jubilee of religious profession. From September 1st 2015 Fr. Ryszard lived in Koczurki and served as a pastoral assistant at the Visitation of the BVM Parish. He lectured philosophy at the Salvatorian Major Seminary in Bagno since 1979 until 2016.

Father Ryszard Paszek passed away on January 19th 2016 at the religious community house in Koczurki. He was 69 years old and it was his 45th year as a Priest and 51st year as a religious. The funeral is planned to take place in Mikołów, on January 22nd 2016 at noon, at the Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of Our Savior Church.

Text prepared by: Fr. Ireneusz Kiełbasa SDS