New England Province » History

Happy Foundation Day Anniversary of the Congregation of the Mission.

Toma — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 22:32:11 +0000

In 1617 Madame de Gondi asked Monsieur Vincent to preach in her properties on general confession. The Feast of Conversion of Saint Paul, January 25 was the opportunity to preach such a sermon in the village of Folleville in northern France. Response was incredible. In next days Vincent de Paul and his associates preached in nearby churches and crowds of peasant parishioners lined up for confessions. They even asked Jesus from Amiens to come and help them.

This first mission sermon, as he called it, St. Vincent regarded as the beginning of the Company of the Priests of the Mission. However there was no formal institution founded until April 17, 1625 when the legal contract was signed to found the Congregation of the Mission.

These two dates, 1617 and 1625 are the principal milestones in the history of the Little Company as St. Vincent used to call it.

In 2025 we will celebrate 400 anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation of the Mission. Preparations began last year. This year we are moving to another step of the pre-celebration of the Jubilee which theme is: “Put on the Spirit of Jesu Christ”

If you want to learn more about preparations and the Jubilee itself we encourage you to visit specially dedicated website:

https://bit.ly/IUBILAEUM400CM

New England Province of the Congregation of the Mission today

Tom — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 22:56:23 +0000

On the occasion of the 43rd General Assembly a video presenting the history and ministries of the New England Province was prepared for the delegates. Now, you can watch the video, too.
However take into consideration some information in the presentation can be outdated as the retrial was produced in early 2022. To learn of current assignments and whereabouts of pour member please visit the page: “WHERE WE ARE”

Farewell to New Haven

Toma — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 18:31:20 +0000

Exactly 120 years ago, on December 28, 1901 Most Rev. Michael Tierney, the 6th Bishop of Hartford erected the parish of St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr in New Haven, Connecticut. His decision met the needs of Polish immigrants in the area organized in the Society of Saint Stanislaus. At the beginning the parish didn’t have their own place of worship.

Bishop Michael Tierney of Hartford and the beginnings

Two years later, bishop Tierney met in New York City three Vincentian missioners who have just came to Hoboken, NJ from Kraków, Poland. Those missioners were looking for new mission, ministry as their original plans to go to Milwaukee, Wisconsin failed. Meeting Bishop of Hartford was a blessing for missioners. He invited them to New Haven where the young St. Stanislaus parish needed new pastor (the first pastor, Fr. Musial was assigned to develop another parish in Connecticut).

Exactly 118 years ago, on December 29, 1903 three Polish sons of St.Vincent de Paul, Fr. George Glogowski CM, Fr. Paul Waszko CM and Fr. Francis Trawniczek CM arrived to New Haven by train welcomed by Bishop Tierney himself at the Union Station. Immediately, the bishop passed the care of Polish parish of St. Stanislaus to Vincentian Fathers and Fr. George Glogowski CM was appointed the new pastor and his associates became parochial vicars. On New Year day of 1904 he took the office. At that moment, the Vincentian mission in Connecticut and New England begun.

Their first activity was a popular mission which was not only the great success but that was a realization there were much more Poles in the area than they first expected. It turned out the temporary place of worship located in the former grocery shop on Dwight Street site was too small. In a short while, the old Swedish church on St. John Street was acquired. Bishop Tierney blessed it on Memorial Day in 1905, under the patronage of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr.

The parish continued to grow very rapidly and by 1910 it was evident that they had outgrown both the church and the parish school. Father Antoni Mazurkiewicz CM, the fourth pastor looked for a property that would be more centrally located in the city of New Haven. He found an abandoned church on the corner of State and Eld Streets. This the place were the present St. Stanislaus, the Bishop and Martyr parish is located.

By 1911, the property was cleared and the foundation for the present church was laid. On Memorial Day (then called Decoration Day, last Monday of May) in 1912, Most Reverent John Joseph Nilan, the 7th Bishop of Hartford, blessed the cornerstone of the new church. Just a year later, on April 27, 1913, the first Mass was said in the new church. A solemn Mass of dedication was celebrated by Bishop Nilan on May 30, 1913.

Archbishop Leonard Blair of Hartford and his Pastoral Plan

108 years later, on July 28, 2021 Archbishop Leonard Blair of Hartford, the Saint 8th successor of Bishop Tierney, addressed a letter to Very Rev. Marek G. Sadowski CM, the Provincial Superior of the Vincentians in New England. In Archbishop’s letter we read:

“As we explained, the present Pastoral Plan for the Archdiocese calls for the parishes of Saint Joseph and Saint Michael the Archangel to remain independent and staffed by the Vincentian Fathers as long as it is possible for your Province to do so. We hope that both in Ansonia and Derby there will be even greater cooperation among all the clergy in these two municipalities to ensure the strength of the Church and the fraternal support of one another. [...]

Thank you again for the fine work also done by the Vincentian Fathers [...] at Saint Stanislaus Parish in New Haven. However, as we explained, the Archdiocese has to press ahead with Pastoral Planning to ensure vibrant parishes in the face of the two-fold challenge of dwindling numbers of clergy — both diocesan and religious — and shrinking numbers of practicing Catholics as well.

In New Haven the “municipal model” that we are implementing for the Archdiocese will be effective January 1, 2022. As of that date a new municipal parish will be erected which will include the parishes/churches of Saint Mary (and Saint Joseph), Saint Stanislaus, Saint Michael, Saint Martin de Porres, Our Lady of Guadalupe (Saint Francis and Saint Rose of Lima), and Saint Anthony, as well as the Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale.

Perhaps the Vincentians Fathers wish to continue ministering to the Polish community at Saint Stanislaus, not as Pastors but rather as parochial vicars of the municipal parish in concert and fraternity with the other priests assigned to that municipal parish. I realize that this represents a significant change in the long history of your ministry in New Haven, but it is one that I am confident will bring all the Catholic people in the community to a stronger and more vibrant parish life. [...]

I thank you most heartily for your ministry in the Archdiocese and the wider Church and pray that the transition I have described, while perhaps unanticipated and disappointing, will nonetheless encourage you to participate as a blessing to both the Church in New Haven and your religious community.”

Once planted charism lives on against all odds

In this situation instead of thinking of parish / mission anniversary celebrations we were fostered to prepare for moving out from the place we built, brought up and cared of for almost 120 years. We are witnessing the saddest situation the Vincentians of New England Province have been in all our history. We are talking about our roots, our beginnings.

In our history we won and lost many times. Times change and we are changing with them, as the old Roman proverb says. Erie, Bow, Whitestone, Utica, Wethersfield, West Hartford, Stamford, Concord, Pelham, Naugatuck. But this time is different. This time we are almost speechless… This lost hurts…

The first Polish Vincentians in Connecticut built this place, developed, redecorated and cared for. The church and school at State Street and the rectory, religious community house at Eld Street are our origins. More then 120 confreres started their American Vincentian journey in New Haven. Almost every missioner coming in to the Polish mission in the USA first came to New Haven. It was a peaceful shelter and harbor for the Confreres, missionaries expelled from China missions after 1947 revolution. The house at Eld Street was our Mother House as we usually call the first location of the Congregation in any Province. (As Our Lady of the Barrens, Perryville, MO is for Western Province and St. Vincent Seminary in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA is for Eastern Province). From this place the Vincentians were able to expand their mission across Connecticut, New York State, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Maine and more.

Farewell

Now, we would like to give thanks to all the people of New Haven, those who joined us for prayer and worship in St. Stanislaus church and those who came for confession here or in other purposes and occasions. Thank you very, very much. You will be in our thoughts and prayers always.

At Christmas of 1903 Fr. George Glogowski CM brought the charism of Saint Vincent de Paul, our Founder, to this land. He and his companions planted this charism in. After 118 years we witness and experience how much this charism grew up and spread all around. It would not be possible without engagement, loyalty, openness and continuous support from your, our parishioners, the people of New haven and Connecticut. Thank you very much for your presence. We will never forget you. We will always miss you.

Today we are leaving this place. But we believe the charism of Saint Vincent de Paul, the legacy of all the fifteen Vincentian pastors and of St. Stanislaus parish and their associates will live on.

We are leaving New Haven, but as you know, we are not leaving you. It’s only ten miles westward to Derby or Ansonia were you can find us. Always, you are welcomed at St. Michael’s in Derby or St. Joseph’s in Ansonia. we are waiting for you there.

We are leaving New Haven, but our mission continues. The charism which brought us here 118 years ago impels us to continue preaching the Good News to the people of Connecticut and New England.

May Almighty God bless you all.

Post Scriptum
The current pastor of St. Stanislaus parish, Fr. Tadeusz Maciejewski CM, and Fr. Stanley Miekinia CM have left the parish grounds on December 28, 2021. According to Archbishop’s Blair decision, Fr. Sebastian Kos assigned as new parish administrator starting on January 1, 2022.

Congratulations Fr. Waclaw Hlond: you are a priest for 65 years… and counting

Toma — Fri, 15 May 2020 20:22:10 +0000

What did happen on May 15, 1955 in history? Vienna Treaty: Britain, France, US & USSR restored Austria’s independence. US performed nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. Makalu, the world’s fifth highest mountain was ascented for the first time. A month earlier scientist Jonas Salk announced the first successful polio vaccine, which was rapidly adopted around the world. In Kraków, Poland, deacons Wacław A. Hłond, Leon Jezierski and Henryk Krzysteczko were ordianed priest in the Province of Poland of the Congregation of the Mission.

Times were hard those days in the country. Eastern Europe behind Iron Curtain looked much different than the Western part of the continent under Marshal Plan. Church was persecuted. To become a priest in those days was bigger challenge than before.

Fr. Wacław Hłond (pronounced: Va-tz-wa-v) was born on July 12, 1929 in Blachownia, a town near Czestochowa, Poland. He entered the Congregation of the Mission on October 7, 1951. He pronounce his Good Purpose (a Vincentian form of temporary vows) on Ocotber 11, 1953 and was took his final vows on April 24, 1955 and three weeks later , May 15, 1955, he was ordained a priest. His first and only assignment in Poland was in the Our Lady of Rosary Parish in Pabianice, in the heart of Poland. He was a vicar and catechist there for three years.

In the late 1958 Fr. “Wacek” (pronounced Va-tz-ek) has arrived to the United States. And as most other Missioners who came to then Vice-Province of Poland in the USA he started his American experience at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1959 he was apppointed parish vicar at St. Stanislaus and held this position until he was moved (1961) to new post in St. Joseph Parish, Ansonia, Connecticut, as vicar too. In 1964 Father was assigned to popular missions team in Whitestone, New York , and at the same time continued his education at Central Michigan University campus in Metro Washington.D.C. In 1967 he returned to Mission House in Utica, NY where he served as second superior (succeeding Fr. Arciszewski) until end of 1973.

On February 1, 1974 he took position of pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish in New Haven being welcomed as an “old friend” by the parishioners. During his pastorate the happy occasion took place at 9 Eld Street. On April 23, 1975 Polish mission in Connecticut separated from the Province of Poland and was erected as independent New England Province of the Congregation of the Mission. The parish of St. Stanislaus in New Haven was established the firts, temorary Provincial Residence.

As a pastor. Fr. Hlond’s first major activity in New Haven was to supervise the actual construction of new four-car garage (blueprints were prepared by previous pastor Fr. Julian Szumilo). Another accomplishment was the continuation of repainting of the church by Anthony Amato in 1974, furnishing the sanctuary with new chair of celebrant, concelebrants and new lectern. In 1975 he supervised redecoration and renovation of the auditorium and repainting of convent chapel. In the year of Diamond Jubilee of the parish (1975) Fr. Hlond additionally became superior of the community.

From 1973 to 1975 Father was member of Vice-Provincial Council. Again in 1979 – 1981 was Provincial Councilor. On September 8, 1981 he was elected the third Visitor (Provincial Superior) of the New England Province succeeding Fr. Julian Szumilo. In 1984 re-elected for second term. He stayed in then Provincial House in West Hartford, Conn. for another year and in 1988 he came to St. Joseph Parish in Ansonia, CT for the seocnd time. He served as superior (until 1994) and pastor (till 1996). In 1996 returned to New Haven for the third time, again as superior and pastor. In 2006 he retired and moved agaian to Ansonia where he has been resident until now.

On this very special jubilee celebration day so rarely experienced we send Fr. Waclaw our hearfelt greetings and wishes of abundant graces from Jesus Christ, the Eternal Priest, in his life, health and in living on the Vincentian charism. May the Lord bless and protect you Father!

Fr. G. Marek Sadowski, C.M. – new Provincial of the New England Province

Toma — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:39:29 +0000

In the New England Province, Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, September 27, 2016 was marked by the installation of new Provincial Superior, Fr. Grzegorz Marek Sadowski, C.M.. All members of the Province gathered at DePaul Residence in Manchester, CT for the celebration. In fact, the elections took place in May, but taking over the office was set for the September feast.

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.

† Father John S. Sledziona, C.M.

Toma — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 19:39:31 +0000

At night, March 31, 2016 Father JOHN S. SLEDZIONA, C.M. unexpectedly died at the age of 73 in St. Patrick’s Church Rectory, Pelham, NH. He was a Vincentian for 54 years and priest for 45 years. Recently he was Director of Seminarian Formation and Co-Director of Permanent Deacon Formation for the diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire.

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