Alexander M. Zaleski
Alexander Mieceslaus Zaleski (24 Jun 1906 – 16 May 1975) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Lansing from 1965 until his death in 1975.
Alexander M. Zaleski | |
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![]() Alexander M. Zaleski | |
Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing, Michigan |
Predecessor | Joseph H. Albers |
Successor | Kenneth Joseph Povish |
Other posts | Auxiliary bishop Detroit, Michigan |
Orders | |
Ordination | July 12, 1931 |
Consecration | May 23, 1950 |
Personal details | |
Born | Laurel, New York | June 24, 1906
Died | May 16, 1975 68) Lansing, Michigan | (aged
Biography
One of seven children, Alexander Zaleski was born in Laurel, New York, to Anthony and Bertha (née Janulewicz) Zaleski.[1] After graduating from Don Bosco Preparatory High School at Ramsey, New Jersey, in 1924, he attended SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan.[1] He went to Belgium in 1927 and enrolled at the American College of Louvain, where he was later ordained to the priesthood on July 12, 1931.[2]
Following his return to Michigan, Zaleski served as a curate at Resurrection Church in Detroit until 1932, when he was transferred to St. Thomas the Apostle Church in the same city.[1] In 1935 he earned a Licentiate of Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.[1] He served as professor at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary (1935-1937), vice-chancellor of the Archdiocese of Detroit (1937-1949), and pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Pontiac (1949-1956) and of St. Alphonsus Church in Dearborn (1956-1964).[1] He was named a Domestic Prelate in 1946.[1]
On March 28, 1950, Zaleski was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Lyrbe by Pope Pius XII.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 23 from Cardinal Edward Mooney, with Bishops Stephen Stanislaus Woznicki and Allen James Babcock serving as co-consecrators.[2] He became vicar general of the archdiocese in 1954.[1] He was named Coadjutor Bishop of Lansing on October 7, 1964.[2] Upon the death of Bishop Joseph H. Albers, Zaleski succeeded him as the second Bishop of Lansing on December 1, 1965.[2][3][4][5] He also served as chairman of the Committee on Doctrine in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; in this capacity, he played a prominent role in the censuring of liberal theologian Charles Curran.[6]
Zaleski was present at the opening session of the Second Vatican Council. Also present were the first and fourth bishops of Lansing, namely Joseph H. Albers was there; and Carl Frederick Mengeling was a page.[4]
Zaleski later died at age 68.
References
- Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
- "Bishop Alexander Mieceslaus Zaleski". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- Archdiocese of Lansing home page and history Archived September 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- Faith Magazine, History of Lansing diocese. Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- History of the bishops of Lansing, Archdiocese of Lansing home page and history Archived September 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- Curran, Charles (2006). Loyal Dissent: Memoir of a Catholic Theologian. Washington,D.C.: Georgetown University Press. ISBN 1589010876.
Catholic Church titles | ||
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Preceded by Joseph H. Albers |
Bishop of Lansing 1965—1975 |
Succeeded by Kenneth Joseph Povish |