Father Krzysztof Bugno ministers to 230 families in the serene town of Rockne.
Known simply as Father Kris, this priest finds Texas, and the 130-year-old Sacred Heart Catholic Church, quite different from his homeland of Poland.
He grew up and attended seminary in the same part of communist Poland as Pope John Paul II, known then as Bishop and Cardinal Karol Wojtyla.
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Polish priest
Father Krzysztof Bugno met Pope John Paul 11 times.
 
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When Pope John Paul I died just 32 days after taking over the papacy following the death of Paul VI, Father Kris, as well as the world, was shocked.
Father Kris met with the pontiff 11 times over the years. He mused that perhaps the reason the pope allowed his visits was because they both came from the same homeland. Whatever the reason, Father Kris says their talks were on another plane.
His last visit was in 2003 as the pope’s health began to fail.
