Reverend John S. Sledziona, CM
Vincentian Priest

The Reverend John S. Sledziona, CM, died unexpectedly on March 31, 2016.  Father John was born in Derby, CT on December 23, 1942 the son of the late John and Dorothy (Smeider) Sledziona.  

He attended St. Michael’s parochial school in Derby, CT and graduated from St. Joseph’s Seminary High School in Princeton, NJ in 1960. He did his philosophical and theological studies at Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northhampton, PA. Father John was ordained a Vincentian Priest on May 30, 1970.

From 1970 to 1978, he was a professor of English and Religious Studies, as well as an administrator at St. John Kanty Prep, in Erie, PA.  While there, he completed studies for his masters in English in 1972.  In 1978, he became Vocation Director for the New England Province of the Congregation of the Mission.  

From 1980 to 1986, Father John was instructor at Bishop Brady High School in Concord, NH, becoming principal in 1982.  In 1987, Father John became the pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in Concord, NH and remained there until he was elected Provincial of the New England Province on August 22, 1996, a position he held for the next nine years.  

In February of 2006, Father John became pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish in New Haven, CT and in the Fall of 2006 he became the Director of Ongoing Clergy Formation for the Diocese of Manchester in NH. Most recently he has been serving as Director of Seminarian Formation and Co-Director of Permanent Deacon Formation.  

During his priesthood Father John Sledziona gave generously of his time to a variety of endeavors.  For three years he was President of the National Conference of Visitors of the United States.  He served on the Editorial Board of the Vincentian Studies Institute. He became a member of the Governing Council for the National Organization for the Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy. He was a Niagara University Trustee and in 2013 received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his faithful service to Niagara University, the Congregation of the Mission and the Catholic Church. Father John also served for many years on the Vincentian Translation Project.

Father John is survived by his brother, Richard Sledziona and a nephew Brian Sledziona.

Fr. John will lie in state at St. Patrick Parish, 12 Main St. in Pelham, NH on Monday April 4, 2016 from 9:30 to 10:50 A.M. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, D.D., Bishop of Manchester at 11:00 A.M. Burial will take place in Derby, CT. E-condolences/directions at pelhamfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to NEPCM Charitable Trust; 234 Keeney Street, Manchester, CT 06040. Local arrangements by the PELHAM FUNERAL HOME – 603-635-3333.