Fr. Victor Wesolowski while Parochial Vicar at the Perry County Consortium,
Ordained, May 2008,
Speaks about his Life as a Newly Ordained Priest …

“As a priest, I love the Holy Mass even more now. I get to hold Jesus in my hands. I love being with people and anointing the sick, forgiving their sins, and preparing them for eternal life.”

Fr. Victor Wesolowski serves as Parochial Vicar for the Perry County Consortium which includes: New Lexington St. Rose, Corning St. Bernard, Junction City St. Patrick, and Crooksville Church of the Atonement. It is approximately a 50 miles of county roads roundtrip between all four churches, with St. Rose as the ‘hub’ where both Fr. Jim Csaszar and Fr. Victor live.

“Fr. Jim is a good mentor. He wants me to settle in, observe, learn, take part, but not yet have to put it all together,” said Fr. Victor.

Several retired priests live in the area and are able to assist with weekend masses. Fr. Victor celebrates two to four masses on the weekends.

Fr. Victor is also involved in many different ministries, including RCIA and Youth Group. He enjoys visiting the school kids at St. Rose School at lunch time and before and after school. He teaches Religious Education classes and he is in the process of retraining altar servers to help them be better prepared to serve at funerals, weddings, and weekend masses.

Fr. Victor also attends the pastoral council meetings in each of the four parishes. In addition, he “Along with Sister Diana Durling S.C., I have probably anointed about 100 people since I started in May. I have really enjoyed this ministry. I also visit the Zainesville and Lancaster hospitals,” said Fr. Victor.

When asked about any surprises as a priest, Fr. Victor said, “You are on view to everybody and they are very interested in you and they take notice of everything you do. People listen closely to what you say and how you say it, and a priest has to be diligent about being Christ’s representative and trying to be all to all people.”

In his free time, Fr. Victor enjoys reading and movies. “Reading in seminary was different. Now I read to nurture my soul and I get more out of it.”

Fr. Victor’s advice to seminarians is this, “Don’t give up; it is all worth it to be ordained. Wherever you are, watch and learn from the priests you are with. Also, trust in Christ and in His mercy and love. Be calm and be at peace in Christ.”

His other advice relates to homilies, “Read, pray, and think. Don’t necessarily write it all down. People like it when priests don’t read their homilies. I pray before I read the Gospel and the Holy Spirit doesn’t let me down,” said Fr. Victor.

Fr. Victor feels called to share his joy in the Sacrament of Confession. “Priests will account to God for the loss of souls. We should try to bring people to God’s gift in Confession. We have a responsibility to bring all people to God.”

He sees that many people are uncomfortable with Confession so he talks about it a lot in his homilies. He also feels called to help fallen-away Catholics come back to the Church. “I try to be very honest about the Church and why it is important in their lives. I can’t give up. I want to find ways to bring them back and to help them by preaching the truth to them,” said Fr. Victor.

When asked to summarize his experience as a priest so far, Fr. Victor said, “I am so happy that I am a priest. It is a very full, busy life, but if you can say you are happy, that is all you can ask for.”

Fr. Victor is also very passionate about encouraging religious vocations. “The little things a priest or religious does make a big difference. I encourage men of all ages to think about the priesthood and to talk about it,” said Fr. Victor. “I am afraid that parents have stopped talking about it at home with their children and that is hurting religious vocations. We have to talk about it and we have to pray that more men will answer the call.”