TITLE: Congratulating Monsignor Leo Wleczyk on his retirement as pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Lake Jackson.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Monsignor Leo Wleczyk on his retirement as pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Lake Jackson.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Monsignor Leo Wleczyk is retiring as pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Lak eJackson on June 30, 2019, drawing to a close 54 years of service to the Catholic Church; and WHEREAS, Born in 1939 to Josie and Leo Wleczyk Sr., Leo Wleczyk graduated from Brazosport High School in Freeport in 1957, and he attended St. Mary's Seminary in Houston; he was ordained as a priest on May 27, 1965; and WHEREAS, Father Wleczyk served at St. Mary Catholic Church in Port Arthur, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Galveston, and at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Baytown before being appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Palestine in 1975; he went on to serve as pastor of Notre Dame Catholic Church in Houston from 1978 to 1984, and on September 1, 1984, he was elevated to monsignor and became the pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church; and WHEREAS, Over the course of his exemplary 34-year tenure at St. Michael's, Monsignor Wleczyk has overseen the congregation's participation in the RENEW spiritual renewal program, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program, Spiritualfest, the youth ministry, and the ENVISION program, among others; he has also supervised a number of improvements to the church campus, including the addition of a nursery and an education wing in 1985, the installation of stained glass windows in 1986, the construction of the Family Life Center in 1993 and the Spiritual Learning Center in 2000, and the completion of the church's renovation in 2012; and WHEREAS, Monsignor Wleczyk served as dean of the Southern Deanery from 1984 to 2008, and from 2008 to 2018, he was episcopal vicar for the Southern Vicariate; his honors include the Bronze Pelican award from the Boy Scouts of America, the St. George emblem from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, the Outstanding Pastor Award from the Archdiocesan Catholic Committee for Youth Organizations, and the St. Christopher Award from the Texas State Council of the Knights of Columbus; and WHEREAS, For nearly three and a half decades, Monsignor Wleczyk has tirelessly dedicated himself to the spiritual welfare of the parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, and he has earned the lasting respect and admiration of all who know him; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Monsignor Leo Wleczyk on his retirement from St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued happiness and fulfillment; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Monsignor Wleczyk as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Bonnen of Brazoria Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1645 was adopted by the House on May 24, 2019, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House