] Father Raphael of Saint Joseph Kalinowski, was born at Vilna,
] 1st September 1835, and at baptism received the name Joseph.
] Under the teaching of his father Andrew, at the Institute for
] Nobles at Vilna, he progressed so well that he received the
] maximum distinction in his studies. He then went for two years
] (1851-1852) to the school of Agriculture at Hory-Horky. During
] the years 1853-1857, he continued his studies at the Academy of
] Military Engineering at St Petersburg, obtaining his degree in
] Engineering, and the rank of Lieutenant. Immediately afterwards
] he was named Lecturer in Mathematics at the same Academy. In
] 1859, he took part in the designing of the Kursk-Kiev-Odessa
] railway.
  . . .
] In the Consistory of 26th November 1990, Pope John Paul
] together with the Cardinals, decided to canonize Blessed Raphael
] Kalinowski.

I'm currently attending a massive family reunion in Florida, with relatives attending from multiple continents.

We've got the family tree traced back about a thousand years, and I'm learning about all kinds of interesting little stories here and there. For example, one of my great-great-great-uncles (my great-great-grandfather's brother) was evidently sainted a few years ago by Pope John Paul II.

For those that like tracing such things, here's the family chain: My father's mother's mother's father's brother. Stanley Dunin - Sophie Werner - Zofia Kalinowska - Gabriel Kalinowski - Saint Raphael.

Odd feeling, being related to a Saint!

- Elonka