Father Grzegorz Marek Sadowski, C.M. was born May 20, 1966 in the parish of Our Lady the Queen of Martyrs in Radule (pronounced: Rah-doo-leh), a village in the commune of Tykocin, 10 miles West from Bialystok, North East Poland. He entered Congregation of the Mission in the Province of Poland December 8, 1985 and ordained priest on May 28, 1994 in Krakow, Poland.

His first pastoral assignment was the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Ilowa, Western Poland where he was catechist for one year. In 1995 Father was moved to St. Vincent de Paul parish in Bydgoszcz, Northern Poland. He religion teacher in public schools until 2001. Next, we has assigned to newly founded and under construction the “Good News 2000″ Education Center in Piekary near Krakow. He was a Treasurer there 2002 – 2004.  In 2004 Father Marek started new stage of his pastoral journey and arrived to the United States.

At the beginning he stayed at Provincial Residence in Manchester, CT and later in 2004 he was assigned as parochial vicar in St. Peter’s parish, Concord, NH which was administered  by New England Province in that time. On October 9, 2008 Father was moved to St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr parish, New Haven, CT as vicar and also appointed Provincial Treasurer. He held this position until being installed as new Provincial. He served in other parishes in the Province, too according to pastoral needs. In November 2013, soon after the death of Fr Roman Gorowski, C.M. he was appointed superior of the house and pastor of St. Michael’s parish, Derby, CT.  During his pastorate he run complete renovation of the rectory and all necessary renovation works in the church. Additionally, Fr. Marek was elected to the Provincial Council and started his tenure September 29, 2014.

In May 2016, in direct voting by members of the Province Fr. Sadowski was elected new Provincial (Visitor in Vincentian terminology). His nomination was approved by the Superior General, Fr. G. Gregory Gay, C.M. shortly before the General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission started in Chicago, IL. Although Fr. Marek was not a delegate he was present as guest at the Assembly in the time new Superior General was elected. Recently, together with Fr. Rafal Kopystynski he participated in the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Vincentian presence in USA which took place in the Miraculous Medal Shrine in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, September 24.

Fr. Marek Sadowski, C.M. is taking over the office of Provincial from Fr. Rafal Kopystynski, C.M., who will in turn replace him as new Pastor of St. Michael’s parish in Derby. On Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, Fr. Sadowski became eighth Provincial (Visitor) of the New England Province of the Congregation of the Mission.

May God’s power help new Provincial in his service to the Church and the Congregation of the Mission in the Province of New England as well as possible.

FUNERAL DETAILS:

Memorial Mass
Monday, April 4, 2016, 11:00 AM,
St. Patrick Church, 12 Main Street, Pelham, NH

lie in state
Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 10:00 – 10:50 AM
St. Michael Church, 75 Derby Avenue, Derby, CT

Funeral Mass
Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 11:00 AM
St. Michael Church, 75 Derby Avenue, Derby, CT

Burial
St. Michael’s Cemetery, Derby, CT

Reception
St. Michael Church Hall, 75 Derby Avenue, Derby, CT

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
NEPCM Charitable Trust; 234 Keeney Street, Manchester, CT 06040

DOWNLOAD DEATH NOTICE (PDF)

From very first days of his Vincentian priesthood he dedicated his life and vocation into teaching on various levels and taking care of continuing formation of clergy – following the footsteps of St. Vincent de Paul and early Priests of the Mission – either as young priest completing his educational skill, rector of prep school, principal of high school, Provincial Superior, Vocation Director, member of various educational and religious institutions for the Congregation and the Church, devout preacher and missioner.

Fr. John Sledziona CM was born in St Michael the Archangel parish in Derby, Connecticut. on December 23, 1942 as the son of the late John and Dorothy (Smeider) Sledziona. He attended St. Michael’s parochial school in Derby, CT and graduated from St. Joseph’s Seminary High School in Princeton, NJ in 1960. On June 12, 1962, he entered Congregation of the Mission in then Polish Vice-Province in the USA starting the Internal Seminary Formation in St. Vincent Seminary, Germantown, Penn.  On June 13, 1967 he took his perpetual vows.

He did his philosophical and theological studies at  Vincentian Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, Penn and graduated with Master of Theology (M.Th.) degree. Here John Sledziona was ordained priest on May 30, 1970.

Right after ordinations he was assigned to St. John Kanty Prep in Erie, Penn., as religion and English teacher. Meanwhile, in 1973, he graduated from Edinboro State University (of Pennsylvania, Erie, PA) as Master of Arts in English (M.A.) and served in Campus Ministry of Alliance College, Cambridge Springs, PA. In 1976 he was appointed Superior of Erie House (St. John Kanty) and held this position until 1978. Next moved to St. Joseph’s parish, Ansonia, Conn. where Fr. John became first Vocation Director in newly erected Province of New England.

When St. John Kanty Prep was closed in June 1980, Fr. Sledziona, together with Fr.Mitchell Wanat and Brother Joseph Zurowski, were sent to Concord, New Hampshire. There, they took over management of the Bishop Brady High School while their residence was in Laboure House, Bow, NH. Earlier, in 1982 Fr. Sledziona became Principal of the Bishop Brady High School. (Fr. Mitchell was chaplain and Bro. Joseph Chairman of English Department) and left the office in 1986. In August 1983 Laboure House was suppressed and Vincentians moved to St Peter’s Rectory in Concord, NH. When Fr. Chester Mrowka CM became Visitor of the New England Province in 1987, Fr. John succeeded him as pastor and superior of St. Peter’s, Concord. In 1987, bishop of Manchester appointed him Dean of Concord Deanery (replaced in 1996). Meanwhile in 1984 – 1996 he was Board Member of Vincentians Studies Institute, DePaul University, Chicago, IL. One of the goals of V.S.I. those days was preparation of English translation of P. Coste’s work on St. Vincent de Paul, his correspondence and other documents. The other was completion of history of Congregation of the Mission in the United States.

Father John has conducted many parish retreats and days of recollection, as well as extended retreats for religious women and men. In 1979 to 1981 and again 1987 – 1995 he was Provincial Consultor.

He left both posts in Concord after being elected Provincial Superior himself on August 22, 1996, position he held for the next nine years. As fourth Visitor of New England Fr. Sledziona experienced some wins and loses of the Province. The “win-somes” were acceptance of St. Cyril & Methodius Parish in Lower-Greenpoint, Brooklyn. NY and Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Stamford, CT and office of Vicar for Clergy in Maine (Fr. Kuzia). The “lose-somes” were closing of St. Vincent Mission in Utica, NY and the three-in-one parish concept in Lisbon Falls, NY. In August 2005 Father was succeeded by Fr. Roman Gorowski CM as new elected Visitor.

As a part of reconfiguration of American Provinces (in 1975 three new provinces were erected enlarging the number to five, including the Province of New England) Superior General has constituted National Conference of Visitors of the United States (NCV) as advisory body to continue interprovincial collaboration (one of the authorities delegated to NCV is moving confreres from apostolates in one province to another). On July 1, 2002 Fr. John Sledziona was appointed first President of NCV for three years period.

In February 2006, Father John was appointed Pastor of St. Stanislaus B&M Parish in New Haven, Conn. In October that year, he was elected to the Board of Trustees for Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York and in the same time began his new assignment as Director of Clergy Formation for the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire, which he held until 2013. In April 2007, he was elected to the Editorial Board of the Vincentian Studies Institute. And in January 2008, Father John became a member of the Governing Council for NOCERCC (National Organization for the Continuing Education of the Roman Catholic Clergy.) Since 2006 until he very last moments he has resided at St. Peter’s Rectory, Concord, NH.

Fr. john Sledziona, C.M. and Fr. James Maher, C.M. (left), President of Niagara University

On September 26, 2013 Fr. John S. Sledziona, C.M. was among four individuals who were honored during Niagara University’s annual Vincentian Heritage Convocation  recognized for  the extraordinary contributions of university employees, alumni and community leaders. Fr. Sledziona, received a honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his faithful service to Niagara University, the Congregation of the Mission and the Catholic Church.

Also in the Fall of 2013 he was assigned to new responsibilities in the diocese of Manchester as cabinet secretary for Ordained Ministry and Liturgical Worship. A year later bishop Libasci of Manchester appointed Fr. Sledziona  as Director of Seminarian Formation and Co-Director of Permanent Deacon Formation effective since January 1, 2015. He was at this post until his death.

Father John is survived by his brother, Richard Sledziona and a nephew Brian Sledziona.

With Faith and Hope in Eternal Life Let us assist him with our prayers! 

Read also:

• Fr. Sledziona – 40 Years of Priesthood
• Fr. John Sledziona honored at Niagara University Heritage Convocation

A Jubilee Mass at 6:30 PM on Thursday, June 16, 2011 in St. Joseph Church, honors this special anniversary and reception prepared by parishioners will follow in the church hall.

Rev. Mitchell “Mitch” Wanat CM was born on August 5, 1942 in New Haven, CT. As a child he met Vincentians in St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish. Records of  The Holy Name Society of St. Stanislaus Parish (established 1951) list him among prominent members who later became priests. After pursuing normal schooling Mitch Wanat joined the Congregation of the Mission in then Polish Vice-Province in the USA on June 11, 1963. He got through seminary formation in the Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, PA staffed by Vincentian from Eastern Province. He graduated with Master’s of Divinity and on May 29, 1971 he was ordained priest in Mary Queen of All Saints Chapel there.

Known for his athletic ability, immediately after ordinations Father Mitchell was assigned to St. John Kanty Prep in Erie, PA where he proved his worth till the end of athletic activities with the closing of the school in 1980. He was idolized by the students as a teacher and last athletic director in the school’s history.

Sport was very important and significant activity at Kanty Prep. The first sport to be organized in Kanty was baseball, because there was no gym for other sports. Tha ball playing took place in the cornfield, before the baseball diamond was laid out, with donated equipment. The first basketball game in the “old” gymnasium, built over the boiler room took place on February 12, 1924.

The excellence of sports at Kanty continued until the school’s closing in 1980. Beside the regular sports of football, basketball, and baseball, there were at times, winter skiing and sledding, tennis, bowling, golf, cross country running and even horseback riding.

A hiatus occurred in Kanty athletics when Kanty ceased to be solely a boarding school and became a day school in 1967. The resumption of an athletic schedule was slow but gained strength with time until, in 1980, there were undefeated in footbal (The Eagles), 10-0. The basketball (Varsity) record was excellent as well with 16 wins and 6 losses in final year.

When the Kanty Prep was closed in June 1980 Fr. Wanat together with Father John Sledziona CM and Brother Joseph Zurowski CM moved to Concord, NH, invited by the Bishop of Manchester to take over management of the Bishop Brady High School. While Fr. John became principal of the school and Bro. Joseph headed English department, Father Mitchell was a chaplain. Assigned to teaching and chaplaincy work at Bishop Brady High School Concord, NH Vincentians lived at Laboure House, expressly formed for that purpose at Bow, NH. When the parish of  St. Peter’s in Concord, NH was acquired in 1983, Father moved into the rectory and continued his teaching and chaplaincy activities at Bishop Brady until the contract expired in 1989. Father Mitchell honed in parochial work as vicar in St. Joseph’s Ansonia, CT until 1992.

Next, Father was sent to Lisbon Falls, ME in Diocese of Portland. Vincentians took over the parish of  SS. Cyril & Methodius in Lisbon Falls in 1976. Once it was an ethnic parish community created by Slovak immigrants. During the years and due to various circumstances number of parishioners declined almost leading the parish to closure. With the arrival of Fr. Edward Gicewicz CM as pastor life retuned to the parish. Thus, the Bishop of Portland initiated the project to merge three parishes in Lisbon Falls in to one. Besides St. Cyril and Methodius (placed on National Register of Historic Places on May 20, 1977) Vincentians started to work in Holy Family parish and St. Ann’s parish. Fr. George Dabrowski CM became pastor of first two parishes in 1992 and Fr. Mitchell a pastor of St. Ann’s parish. In 1993 he was appointed pastor of all three parishes. By the bishop’s decree of January 1, 1995 the three parishes became one – Holy Trinity Parish. In 1996 Fr. Anthony Kuzia CM replaced Fr. Wanat as pastor. In 2000 Vincentians left Lisbon Falls.

In 1996 Father Mitchell returned to St. Peter’s Parish in Concord, NH as Pastor and community Superior. Also in 1996 Father was elected Provincial Councilor and continued until 1998. His pastorate in Concord finished in 2001 when he was moved to St. Michael’s Parish in Derby, CT as pastor and superior again. Finally, in 2008 Father returned to Ansonia. First as administrator and then, since September 2 as a pastor of St. Joseph Parish. Meanwhile, on September 9, 2005 he has been elected as Provincial Councilor for another time.

You can view more pictures in the Facebook gallery

On this special day we wish Fr. Mitchell
plenty of graces from Heavens.
May the Lord bless, strengthen and protect you
on your Vincentian pathway!

The parish in Derby for Polish emigrants was formed after years of struggling for the church where Poles could pray and sing in their native language. The first Polish immigrations came to this important seaport in Connecticut in 1875 either from the mills and coal mines of Pennsylvania or directly from Southern Poland, because of the availability of labor. In the nearby Ansonia, Poles came mostly from Vilnius area. The Association of St. Michael the Archangel was established on New Year’s Day, 1896 for the purpose of forming the new parish. A first people attended Masses at St. Mary’s church regularly. However, after 1904, when Vincentians took over St. Stanislaus Parish in New Haven, CT they came to hear confessions in Derby on Saturdays and to have a Mass for Poles with a sermon in Polish on Sundays. On October 18, 1905 the parish of St. Michael the Archangel was incorporated. Rev. Stanislaus Konieczny CM was designated to be first pastor.

In 1938 Rev. Joseph Swaltek CM was appointed the pastor of St. Michael’s and started with beautifying the front of the church. In 1939 he went to Poland to celebrate his 25th priesthood anniversary. Unfortunately, WWII has broken up on September 1, 1939. After different complications and being denied from military service as chaplain Fr. Swaltek fled with populace and finally returned to the United States. During his absence, the parish committee looked for a cemetery site. On July 8, 1939, 65 acres were procured on “Silver Hill” for the amount of $5,250. It turned out that the property lay in a residential area but that difficulty was cleared in time. On November 24, 1939 the cemetery was blessed and the hard task of blasting and removing rocks began.

In addition to the parishioners, much physical labor was donated by the parish priests themselves. One of them was parochial vicar Rev. Julian Pustelnik CM who loved physical work in which he was very successful. Contributing in organization of the cemetery he never realized he would be one of the first to be buried there. When Fr. Casimir Kiczuk CM was vicar (during pastorate of Fr. Michael Gryglak CM and second pastorate of Fr. Swaltek) the landscaping of the necropolis was largely attributed to him. During pastorate of Fr. Henry Czekala CM (1979-1988) the roads in the cemetery were repaired.

St. Michael’s Cemetery is at Silver Hill Road, next to Osborndale State Park. It can be reached from Gen. Samuel Jasilka Hwy. Cemetery’s office is at St. Michael’s Parish. (View directions on the map). Vincentians’ Plot is in the oval at the end of entrance driveway. There two rows of graves there, with stone plaques, ca. 20″ by 8″ each.  (view it on the map)

Confreres buried in St. Michael’s Cemetery:

Bro. Francis ANDRZEJEWSKI CM (†2001)
Rev. Stanislaus BLACHUTA CM (†1976)
Bro. Stanislaus CIEPLAK CM (†1976)
Rev. Martin CYMBROWSKI CM (†2001)
Rev. Joseph CZAPLA CM (†1962)
Bro. Aurelius DOBROGOWSKI CM (†1963)
Bro. Peter DZERMEJKO CM (†1982)
Rev. Edward P. GICEWICZ CM (†2009)
Bro. Richard GLINSKI CM (†2003)
Rev. George GLOGOWSKI CM (†1920)
Rev. Wilhelm GOLLI CM (†1994)
Rev. Michael GRYGLAK CM (†1976)
Rev. John JANKOWSKI CM (†1996)
Rev. Stephen MINKIEL CM (†2007)
Rev. Gothard KRZYSTECZKO CM (†1990)
Rev. Paul KURTYKA CM (†1986)
Rev. Casimir KWIATKOWSKI CM (†1969)
Rev. Joseph LUKASZCZYK CM (†1966)
Rev. Anthony MAZURKIEWICZ CM (†1963)
Rev. James MIELECHOWSKI CM (†1996)
Rev. Peter OLSZOWKA CM (†1975)
Rev. Walenty PIECZKA CM (†2007)
Rev. Joseph PIORKOWSKI CM (†1969)
Rev. Julian PUSTELNIK CM (†1940)
Rev. Michael SADOWSKI CM (†1965)
Rev. Joseph SWALTEK CM (†1953)
Rev. Charles SZYMANSKI CM (†1992)
Rev. Eugene SZYSZKA CM (†1994)
Rev. Ronald A. WIKTOR CM (†2010)
Rev. Stanislaus WLODARCZYK CM (†1946)
Rev. Carl WOJCIECHOWSKI CM (†1972)
Rev. Henry WOJTKIEWICZ CM (†2004)
Bro. Henry ZIOLKOWSKI CM (†1997)

To read more about other graveyards of the Vincentian community in New England go to these stories:
« They Rest In Peace… Calvary Cemetery »
« Where Our Departed Confreres Rest In Peace »
« Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord… »

St. Michael’s Cemetery, Derby, Connecticut

Read the story: “They Rest in peace… St. Michael’s Cemetery”
to learn more about Our Confreres there

Calvary Cemetery,  Queens, New York

Read the story: “They Rest in peace… Calvary Cemetery”
to learn more about Our Confreres there

Other cemeteries in the United States

Rev. Henry CZEKALA CM (†2005) – St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven, Connecticut
Bro. George FELIX CM (†1905) – New Haven, Connecticut
Rev. Joseph JANOWSKI CM (†1936) – Mount St.Peter’s Cemetery, Derby, Connecticut
Rev. Francis HAMERSKI CM (†1969) – St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven, Connecticut
Rev. Casimir KICZUK CM (†2003) – St. Mary’s & St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Norwich, Connecticut
Rev. Charles PACHERSKI CM (†1977) – St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven, Connecticut
Rev. Joseph PACIOREK CM (†2004) – St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery, Adams, Massachusetts
Rev. Paul DYLLA CM (†1976) – Swansea, Massachusetts

Cemeteries or death places in Poland
(CM Province of Poland)

Confreres, who retired or reassigned to other ministry returned to Poland
(locations in Ukraine, Belarus and Ukraine belonged to Poland before WWII)

Rev. Francis ARCISZEWSKI CM (†2000) – Powazki Cemetery, Warsaw
Rev. Francis BUCHHORN CM (†1935) – Tarnow
Rev. John CEPURSKI CM (†1942) – Milatyn Nowy, Ukraine
Rev. Waclaw CZAPLA CM (†1971) – died in car accident, Oviedo, Spain
Rev. John GANCARZ CM (†1940) – Rakowice Cemetery, Krakow
Rev. Sylvester GRACZYK CM (†1940) – Powazki Cemetery, Warsaw
Rev. Joseph GRZELINSKI CM (†1977) – Krzeszowice
Rev. Francis KELLNER CM (†1992) – Rakowice Cemetery, Krakow
Rev. Eugene KOLODZIEJ CM (†1952) – Rakowice Cemetery, Krakow
Rev. Hugo KROL CM (†1945) – Rakowice Cemetery, Krakow
Bro. Martin KUDLEK CM (†1942) – Rakowice Cemetery, Krakow
Rev. Michael PAJAK CM (†1981) – Zmigrod
Rev. Adam PIASECKI CM (†1946) – Rakowice Cemetery, Krakow
Rev. John PIENIAZEK CM (†1936) – Olcza, Zakopane
Rev. Joseph PIEPRZYCA CM (†1976) – Tarnow
Rev. John ROSSMAN CM (†1926) – Lviv, Ukraine
Servant of God, Rev. Joseph SLUPINA CM (†1940) – KL Auschwitz
Rev. John SOBOTKA CM (†2005) – Powazki Cemetery, Warsaw
Rev. Joseph SOWINSKI CM (†1945) – Vilnius, Lithuania
Rev. Francis TRAWNICZEK CM (†1926) – Rakowice Cemetery. Krakow
Rev. Constantine WITASZEK CM (†1960) – Chelmno
Rev. Francis WOJCIAK CM (†1938) – Olcza, Zakopane
Rev. Joseph ZAJAC CM (†1941) – Lviv, Ukraine
Rev. Aloysius ZELEZNIK CM (†1945) – Lyskov, Belarus

Confreries buried in the state of Parana, Brazil
(CM Province of Curitiba)

Confreres, who after returning from China mission
temporarily worked in New England before moving
to then Vice-Province of Poland in Brazil
(presently Province of Curitiba)

Msgr Ignatius KRAUZE CM, Bishop of Shuntehfu (†1984) – Araucaria
Rev. Sigismund PIOTROWSKI CM (†1978) – Curitiba
Rev. Waclaw SZUNIEWICZ CM (†1963) – Irati
Rev. John WISLINSKI CM (†1961) – Araucaria

Diocese of Shuntehfu, China

Rev. Waclaw JECZMIONKA CM (†1943) – one of  the three priests who went to foreign missions in China from Vice-Province of Poland in Utica

Rev. Joseph Jankowski CM monument dedicated by parishioners from Ansonia, CT