Szleszinski celebrates 50 years as a priest
By Joe Winter
Catholic Herald correspondent
HUDSON -- The man known as "Fr. Peter" was remembered at the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a penny pincher with a big heart.
But perhaps it was those qualities that helped Fr. Peter Szleszinski construct a new church building in Hudson about 10 years ago. Szleszinski has spent much of the last 50 years at St. Patrick Parish in Hudson, where the celebration was held. He also served a lengthy term in Merrill, and ministered in Spooner, Rice Lake, Lake Tomahawk and Gilman.
"Appreciation was expressed for what he's done for our church," said a longtime co-worker, Sr. Bernadette Kalscheur, SSSF, in summarizing some of the remarks of the Mass and roasting, Sunday, June 18. Front-and-center, she said, was a theme that's been prominent for years, the pastor as church builder, both here and elsewhere.
Szleszinski has also been supportive of St. Patrick School, and its building project, Kalscheur said, adding that he has been a key factor in keeping the school viable. Mary Piasecki, principal, was one of the people who expressed that gratitude from the podium.
Speaker William Feyereisen, who had been an interim principal at the school, attended seminary with Szleszinski and the future Bishop Raphael M. Fliss. Feyereisen said that in his day, Szleszinski was very athletic, and also intelligent, so everyone looked up to him.
Some speakers pointed out that although it's important to be scrupulous after some of the tragedy involving St. Patrick's, it is also important not to lose a sense of humor.
Emcee John Knutson jokingly claimed that in addition to Szleszinski's other parting gifts, he received donations of wine, beer and whiskey. Knutson said all three made Szleszinski uneasy, so he directed that they be tossed in the St. Croix River. Shortly thereafter, director Sheila Pelzel urged the choir to raise their voices and sing the hymn, "Shall we gather by the river," Knutson said, bringing loud applause.
Deacon Bernie Drevnick presented Szleszinski with a wooden Communion cup, complete with inscriptions, that he had purchased for 5 cents at a garage sale. The Sunday of the party was the Feast of Corpus Christi, and Drevnick pointed out that at Mass they were using a chalice, with the presider saying "do this in remembrance of me."
"Fr. Peter has been doing this for 50 years," Drevnick said.
The parish gave Szleszinski a barbeque grill, utensils and equipment including an apron that said "burnt to perfection," and a tall chef's hat that some observers said looked like the pope's miter.
Fr. John Parr, the current pastor, gave Szleszinski a copy of The St. John's Bible, a hand-written illuminated Bible created by St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn.
Cammy Westerdahl, Szleszinski's long-time housekeeper, gave him a scrapbook of photos from back when they first met -- the days when, in service to his parish in Merrill, Szleszinski even drove the bus.
For the anniversary celebration, parishioner Rick Reams, who owns an award-winning meat shop, donated a barbecued chicken dinner for the hundreds who filled the lower level hall after the roasting of Szleszinski.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2006