Priest gone after allegations
Published 10:28 pm Tuesday, December 6, 2011
A Suffolk priest has been charged with domestic assault after allegedly assaulting the mother of his child.
Piotr Bialkowski, 36, the pastor at St. Mary of the Presentation Catholic Church, was arrested Nov. 28 after the alleged incident on Nov. 25, city spokeswoman Debbie George said.
Published media reports said that Bialkowski had resigned his position after the allegations came to light. The Catholic Diocese of Richmond did not return phone calls from the Suffolk News-Herald, but the St. Mary’s website has been changed to say the priest is “to be determined.”
Before it was edited, the website said Bialkowski had been priest of the Suffolk parish since June 13, 2006. A native of Poland, he completed his seminary work and master’s degree in theology in his home country and was ordained to the priesthood in 2000.
He came to Virginia in 2004 after being stationed in Poland for four years. His first assignment was Blessed Sacrament Church in Norfolk, followed by Prince of Peace parish in Chesapeake.
“I like St. Mary’s because of the warmth of the people and their open hearts, warm and welcoming and patient,” read a quote on the St. Mary’s website before it was edited. “It’s always nice to work in a small community where everyone knows everybody.”
Bialkowski also served as priest at Church of the Good Shepherd in Smithfield. That website, too, had all mention of Bialkowski expunged by Tuesday.