Pastor Richard A. Kwiatkowski is originally from Western New York. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996 from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, majoring in German and minoring in Business. In August of 1997, Pastor Kwiatkowski began his studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. During this time, he served one year of field education at Faith Lutheran Church in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, a suburban congregation. His second year of field work was at Tabernacle Lutheran Church in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an urban congregation. His internship was served at Advent Lutheran Church in West Lawn, Pennsylvania. Pastor Kwiatkowski graduated from seminary in May 2001 with a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree.

While awaiting call, Pastor Kwiatkowski assisted with a summer inner-city day camp at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Buffalo, New York and served as Vacancy Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Elma, New York.

Pastor Kwiatkowski received a call to serve as Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in North Boston, New York in June 2002. He served this congregation until November 2014. For a couple of years, while serving as the pastor of Good Shepherd, he also served as the part-time Chaplain for the Niagara Lutheran Health System in Western New York. As Chaplain, he provided pastoral care, on two campuses, to residents of two nursing homes, two assisted living facilities, and a senior’s residence.

Pastor Kwiatkowski began his Master of Theology studies at Trinity College (University of Toronto), an affiliate of the Toronto School of Theology in 2008. He received his Master of Theology (ThM) degree in May 2015.

While in Toronto for his studies, he met his partner, Charles, in October 2010. Pastor Kwiatkowski and Charles were married in October 2015. Pastor Kwiatkowski and his husband Charles have been foster parents since December 2011. They have fostered eight children since becoming foster parents. Two of their former foster children, who are now young adults, have become their sons.

In December 2014, Pastor Kwiatkowski was appointed as Interim Pastor of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Toronto. His service to First Evangelical Lutheran Church concluded at the end of July 2016. During the summer of 2016, the congregation voted to call him to be our pastor. He began his ministry with us in September 2016.