Sunday morning starts early for the Father Dawid Kwiatkowski.

By 5 a.m., Kwiatkowski is into the thick of his responsibilities as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Macon.

For the 29-year-old Kwiatkowski, one of the most important parts of his Sunday routine, apart from leading worship, is checking in on the children of the parish as they learn the ways of the faith.

“I, like a little elf, go from one classroom to another, one church to another in the building and just try to see and oversee what’s going on in all those classes,” Kwiatkowski said.

When he drops in, he quizzes children on a bit of church knowledge or tradition.

“What do we call the people who leave the Mass early? Who was the one who left the Last Supper early?” Kwiatkowski joked with one class.

“Judas!” the children responded.

“Right! Because they leave the Mass early. Plus, they miss most of the announcements, right?” he said.

For Kwiatkowski, simply being there is an important part of educating young Catholics.

“I just want to make sure that they see the priest, that he actually cares,” he said.

Originally from Poland, Kwiatkowski is still finding how his calling fits in with the people he serves.

“I am still trying to observe. Sometimes I know its weird, ‘cause I will just stand there and stare.”

The staring serves a higher purpose, he said.

“I’m observing people, trying to see how they think about meaning of life, about God, in the South, in Georgia.”

His day ends at 9 p.m. after finishing duties that include Sunday School, celebrating five Masses, saying his silent prayers and overseeing an evening youth group.

We want to see your Sunday routine. Share with us by calling 478 250-9629.

WHAT IS YOUR SUNDAY ROUTINE?

We want to hear about your Sunday routine as part of an ongoing series we’ve called Macon in the Mirror.

The project is being produced through a partnership involving Mercer University's Center for Collaborative Journalism, Georgia Public Broadcasting and The Telegraph. The goal is to examine the community and convey your stories, passions and concerns.

In the first phase of Macon in the Mirror, we asked about your frustrations and worries as well as why you live here, what you like about living here and what misconceptions others might have about the area where you live. We interviewed nearly 600 people, and those findings were presented in September in a series of stories, pictures, audios and videos.

This time we want to get a little more personal.

If you are interested in sharing your Sunday routine, please contact us at 478-250-9629 or email us at MaconInTheMirror@gmail.com.

Tags: Adam Ragusea, Center for Collaborative Journalism, Grant Blankenship, Macon in the Mirror, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, catholicism