[Maslejak Picture]

Rev. Andrzej Maslejak, S. Ch.

Pastor of Our Lady of the Bright Mount Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles

by Stanley Stankiewicz

The Polish Catholic Community in Southern California was fortunate in having spiritual leaders of the highest quality, dedication and religious fervor who provided the ground work to build and maintain Our Lady of the Bright Mount Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles.

Since the new church was built in 1956, the pastors were: Fr. Stanislaw Jureko, Fr. Zbigniew Olbrys, S.Ch., Fr. Konrad Urbanowski, S.Ch., Fr. Stanislaw Parol, S.Ch., and presently Fr. Andrzej Maslejak, S.Ch.

Through the successive years there were many changes within the interior and exterior of the Church of Our Lady of the Bright Mount. Stefan Mrozewski's folkloric fresco painting on the wall behind the main altar was repainted because the original paint was bleached and faded. The new painting, depicting the three "Gdansk Crosses" is the work of Hungarian artist Isabella Piczek of Los Angeles. Fr. Andrzej Maslejak, S.Ch., improved the interior of the Church Hall where banquets and plays are held. He purchased new tables and chairs, installed a new, improved sound system, and a new air conditioning system in the Church.

Father Masiejak, S.Ch., the present pastor, was born on December 11, 1953 in Stary Sacz, Poland. Upon completion of High School (Liceum) he entered the Society of Christ, an order that ministers to Polish Catholic immigrants throughout the world. He was consecrated as a priest on May 23, 1979, by Bishop Marian Przykucki. His first assignment after ordination was to serve at the church of St. Michael the Archangel in Dobrzany in the province of Szczecin. Later he worked for one year as Assistant Master of Novices in the Novitiate of the Society of Christ in Kiekrz near Poznan.

In 1983, Fr. Andrzej emigrated to the United States where he was assigned vicar in the following parishes: St. Stanislaus in Fall River, Massachusetts, 1983-84; Our Lady of the Bright Mount, Los Angeles, 1985 1988; Holy Trinity, Chicago, 1988-89. In 1989 he was assigned as pastor of the Polish Mission (Misja Duszpasterska) in San Francisco and San Jose, California. In 1991, Father Andrzej Maslejak assumed the functions of pastor of the church of Our Lady of the Bright Mount in Los Angeles.

Father Andrzej is held in high esteem by the parishioners and the young Polish boys and girls who attend Catechism classes in the church.

From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.