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Msgr. George S. Wierzalis, 78

Born: April 16, 1910; Ordained: May 30, 1936; Honorary Prelate: Sept. 24, 1973; Died: January 31, 1989

Founding pastor of Our Lady of Calvary Roman Catholic Church in Northeast Philadelphia

by Jim Nicholson, Daily News Staff Writer

The Rev. Msgr. George S. Wierzalis, pastor emeritus and founding pastor of Our Lady of Calvary Roman Catholic Church in Northeast Philadelphia, died Tuesday. He was 78 and lived at St. Francis Country House in Darby, Delaware County.

He served as pastor of Our Lady of Calvary from Feb. 25, 1958, until illness forced him to retire on June 5, 1985. In addition to his duties as pastor, the monsignor served on the Cardinal's Commission on Human Relations from 1967 to 1969. For a time he served on the Archdiocesan Board of Education.

From 1939 to 1942 he was chaplain at Nazareth Hospital. During the war he was a chaplain with the Army and Army Air Corps, spending 28 months in the Pacific Theater. He was head chaplain on Iwo Jima with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Born in Shenandoah, Pa., he studied for six years at St. Mary's High School and College in Orchard Lake, Mich. He then attended Ss. Cyril and Methodius Seminary. He was ordained in Philadelphia May 30, 1936. He was named a monsignor in 1973.

His first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Casimir Church in Mahanoy City, and in 1937 he became assistant pastor at St. Josaphat in Manayunk. After the war he was named chaplain of the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

In 1950 Monsignor Wierzalis was appointed pastor of St. Mary Church in Ringtown, where he served before becoming founding pastor of Our Lady of Calvary.

Survivors include two brothers, Walter and Edward, and two sisters Helen Stanaszek and Sister Aldonna, C.S.B.

A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Calvary Church, 11000 Knights Rd. The principal cele-brant will be Archbishop Anthony J. Bevilacqua. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Hulmeville Road below Bristol Road, Cornwells Heights, Bucks County.

From: Philadelphia Daily News, Feb. 2, 1989

Msgr. George S. Wierzalis, 78, pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Calvary Roman Catholic Church in Northeast Philadelphia, died Tuesday at the Francis Country House in Darby.

Shortly after being ordained in 1936, he was assigned to St. Josaphat Church in Manayunk, where he served as an assistant pastor. In 1989 he was named a chaplain of Nazareth Hospital, where he served until he became a chaplain for the Army in 1942.

While serving in the Army during World War II, he became head of military chaplains and rose to the 'rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1946 he was named chaplain of the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Later he served as pastor of St. Mary's Church in Ringtown, Pa, a position he held until 1958, when he was named by Cardinal John 0'Hara as founding pastor of Our Lady of Calvary Church in Northeast Philadelphia.

In addition to his duties as pastor, Msgr. Wierzalis served on the cardinal's Commission on Human Relations for two years, on the Pastors Committee for seven years and as a member of the Archdiocesan Board of Education from 1971 to 1977.

He was named pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Calvary Church in 1985.

He was educated at St. Casimir's School in Shenandoah, and then went to Orchard Lake, Mich., to study at St. Mary's High School and College and later at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary.

He was raised to the rank of honorary prelate by Pope Paul VI in 1973, with the title Reverend Monsignor.

Survivors: two brothers, Walter and Edward; and two sisters, Helen Stanaszek and Sr. Aldonna, C.S.B.

Services: transferral of body, 4 p.m. tomorrow, Our Lady of Calvary Church, 11000 Knights Road; Mass of Christian Burial, 11 a.m. Saturday at the church; interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem.

From: Philadelphia Inquirer, Feb. 2, 1989