It was the Holy
Spirit Who led Rev. Jaroslaw Zaniewski, the new rector of SS. Cyril
and Methodius Seminary, to Orchard Lake.
"He is the One who directs and guides our lives and decisions,"
says the 41-year-old native of Poland, whose appointment to the post
was announced in July by Cardinal Adam Maida, archbishop of Detroit
and chairman of the Seminary's Board of Trustees, with the consent
of Archbishop John Myers, of the Archdiocese of Newark.
"Cardinal Maida and I share the same vision that the seminary
is to be a place of a profound and deep spiritual formation, faithful
to the Holy Father and to the magisterium of the Church."
Fr. Zaniewski succeeds Chancellor Fr. Timothy Whalen, who served as
interim rector for the past year and chaired a search committee for
a replacement for Msgr. Frank Koper, who resigned in 2002 after serving
as rector since 1977.
Acknowledging that the rectorship will be a challenge, Fr. Zaniewski
says the Holy Spirit "has prepared me through my various experiences"
as teacher, youth minister, and parochial associate pastor.
"My wish is to bring my zeal, my desire for holy priests, to
foster an atmosphere thatwill create the kind of mindset conducive
to living out the Gospel according to which Jesus wants us to live
in holiness."
He added: "The basis is spiritual formation. If you deepen your
spiritual life then everything else flows so that we become the kind
of person God wants us to be."
Fr. Zaniewski is expecting an enrollment of about 35 seminarians in
the fall, including nearly a dozen new seminarians from Poland. He
said one of his primary goals in the year ahead will be to recruit
more seminarians from both the U. S. and Poland.
Ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1993, as a member of the Salesian
order, Fr. Zaniewski left the order and joined the Archdiocese of
Newark in 1998. He was formally incardinated to the archdiocese last
year. For three years, 1998-2001, he was a parochial vicar of Our
Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Bayonne, N. J., and for the past two
years, a parochial vicar of Sacred Heart parish in Bloomfield, N.
J.
REV. JAROSLAW
ZANIEWSKI
BORN May 15, 1962, in Dabrowa Bialostocka, Poland.
FAMILY: Mother, a former teacher, died in1984. His father, a retired
veterinarian, lives in Bialostocka. He has two brothers, Marek and
Adam.
EDUCATION: 1982, completed high school. 1982-1984, pre-novitiate
and novitiate program of the Salesians of Don Bosco. 1984-1986,
studied philosophy at the Salesian seminary in Kutno, Poland; graduated
with bachelor degree in philosophy. 1986-1987, assisted Salesian
brothers who completed their novitiate. 1987, came to U. S. to the
New Rochelle, N. Y., province of the Salesians. 1987-1988, helped
with youth and adult retreats in West Haverstraw, N. Y. 1988-1992,
studied theology at Pontifical Seminary, Columbus, Ohio; graduated
with Master of Divinity degree.
ORDINATION: 1991, ordained to the diaconate. May 31, 1993, ordained
to the priesthood.
MINISTRY: 1988-1997, spent summers working at summer camps. 1992-1995,
taught religion and co-directed youth ministry program at Don Bosco
Preparatory, Ramsey, N. J., and assisted at Immaculate Heart of
Mary parish, Mahwah. 1995-1998, youth minister at Corpus Christi
parish, Port Chester, N. Y., and helped weekends at Sacred Heart
parish, Port Chester. 1998, left Salesian order and joined the Archdiocese
of Newark. 1998-2001, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
parish, Bayonne, N. J. 2001-2003, parochial vicar at Sacred Heart
parish, Bloomfield, N. J. 2002, formally incardinated to the Archdiocese
of Newark.
OTHER: 1993, established the Families of Nazareth Movement in the
U. S. and Canada, dedicated to cultivating and fostering a strong
personal spiritual life. Remains as the Movement's spiritual director
and involved in promoting the growth of the Movement. Founded "In
the Arms of Mary Foundation" for the publication and distribution
of materials promoting the aims of the Families of Nazareth Movement.
Fr.
Dabrowski: The stuff of legends.
The
account of his courageous battle against overwhelming odds to establish
the Polish Seminary in America begins a special tribute.
Click here for more about
Fr.
Dabrowski.
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