Father Philip S. Majka, longtime pastor, chaplain and community leader, died June 24 aged 85.
He was born April 22, 1938, in New Britain, Conn., to Stanley and Helen Majka. After high school, he attended Saint Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Conn.; Queen of Apostles Seminary in Madison, Wis.; and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Mich.
Father Majka was ordained May 1, 1965, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Richmond by Bishop John J. Russell. He celebrated his first Mass at Holy Cross Church in New Britain. He served as an associate pastor across the Arlington diocese: Blessed Sacrament in Alexandria (1965-67), St. Mark in Vienna (1967-70), Good Shepherd in Alexandria (1970-72), St. Michael in Annandale (1972-75), and St. Mary in Alexandria (1975-76). He was named founding pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Lake Ridge in October 1976. He also served as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Warrenton and St. Patrick Church in Fredericksburg, before being assigned as parochial vicar of St. James Church in Falls Church.
Father Majka was very active in the Polish American community and was known as “Dusz Pasterz Polski”— the Polish Shepherd of Souls. He was a member of various Polish American organizations and served as chaplain to the Polish Community of the Metropolitan Washington area. In 1969 and 1976, he hosted then-Cardinal Karol Wojtyla during the Cardinal’s visits to Washington.
Due to his service to the Polish American Community, Father Majka was the recipient of numerous awards. He received an award from the Friends of John Paul II Foundation in 1996. He was awarded the Cavaliers Cross of Merit from the Polish Government and installed as Canon of the Archdiocese of Wroclaw, Poland in 1999. He received a national award from the Polish American Priest Association.
Father Majka served as the Catholic chaplain at Dulles International Airport beginning in June 2006 and was elected vice president of the National Conference of Catholic Airport Chaplains in 2010.
Father Majka served as chaplain to Knights of Columbus Councils throughout Northern Virginia, the Serra Club, the Alhambra Club, and the Fairfax County Fire Department.
Father Majka resided at the St. Rose of Lima Priests’ Retirement Villa in Annandale until the time of his death. A viewing will be held June 30 at St. Mark Church in Vienna at 4 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be offered July 1 at St. Mark Church in Vienna at 1:30 p.m.
