Name Alexander Zaleski Consecration May 23, 1950 Predecessor Joseph H. Albers | Successor Kenneth Joseph Povish Died 1975 Ordination July 12, 1931 | |
Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing, Michigan Other posts Auxiliary bishop Detroit, Michigan Born June 24, 1906
Laurel, New York ( 1906-06-24 ) Education Pontifical Biblical Institute | ||
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.
Biography
One of seven children, Alexander Zaleski was born in Laurel, New York, to Anthony and Bertha (née Janulewicz) Zaleski. 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. 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.
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. In 1935 he earned a Licentiate of Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. 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). He was named a Domestic Prelate in 1946.
On March 28, 1950, Zaleski was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Lyrbe by Pope Pius XII. 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. He became vicar general of the archdiocese in 1954. He was named Coadjutor Bishop of Lansing on October 7, 1964. Upon the death of Bishop Joseph H. Albers, Zaleski succeeded him as the second Bishop of Lansing on December 1, 1965. 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.
He 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.
Zaleski later died at age 68.