In Memoriam: December 23, 1942-March 31, 2016

On March 31, 2016, the Reverend John S. Sledziona, C.M. was called to his rest and to the glory of the Resurrection promised by the Lord.  He was 73 years old.

Father Sledziona was born on December 23, 1942 in Derby, Connecticut. He entered the Congregation of the Mission, better known as the Vincentian order, on June 12, 1962, at Saint Vincent Seminary in Germantown, Pennsylvania, later studying at Saint Joseph College in Princeton, New Jersey. After completing his Master of Theology degree (M.Th.) at Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, Pennsylvania, he was ordained a priest on May 30, 1970, by the Most Reverend Joseph McShea, Bishop of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Father Sledziona was assigned to Saint John Kanty Prep in Erie, Pennsylvania as a teacher of religion and English. During that time, he completed his studies for his Master of English (M.A.) at Edinboro State University, Edinboro, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1973, and served in campus ministry at Alliance College, Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania.

In June, 1980, Father Sledziona was sent to teach at Bishop Brady High School in Concord, where he was named principal two years later. In 1987, Father Sledziona was named pastor of Saint Peter Parish in Concord and Dean of the Capital Deanery. He left those posts to serve the Vincentians as their Provincial Superior in 1996.

In 2006 he returned to the Diocese of Manchester as Director of Clergy Formation; he was reappointed to that position in 2010. Father Sledziona was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Ordained Ministry and Liturgical Worship in January of 2013 and was appointed Director of the Office of Deacon Formation, Director of the Office of Seminary Formation, and Co-Director of Vocations in January of 2015, serving in those positions until his death.

Father Sledziona served as President of the Vincentians’ National Conference of Visitors of the United States from 2002 to 2005, and as a Trustee of Niagara University in Lewiston, New York, from 2006 to 2013. He also served three terms on the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Manchester and was often found serving in parish ministry on weekends wherever the need arose. He most recently resided at St. Patrick Parish, Pelham.

On Monday, April 4, 2016, Father Sledziona will lie in state from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at St. Patrick Parish, 12 Main Street, Pelham, NH  03076-3724. The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, will then preside at a Memorial Mass at 11:00 a.m. The Funeral Mass will take place Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at St. Michael Church, Derby, Connecticut.  Committal will be at St. Michael Cemetery in Derby, Connecticut. 

www.pelhamfuneralhome.com/obits/obituary.php?id=598040

Click here to read his homilies

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace. Amen.

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.