Bio: Masalewicz, Rev. Edward (25 Year in Priesthood - 1966)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Masalewicz, Kiley, Treacy

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 14 Jul 1966

Masalewicz, Rev. Edward (25 Year in Priesthood - 17 JUL 1966)

Rev. Edward Masalewicz of St. Hedwig's Catholic Church, Thorp (Clark Co.), Wis. will celebrate 25 years in the priesthood with a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, July 17, 1966. A banquet will follow the Mass and then at 3:00 in the afternoon there will be a reception for the parish and friends.

Father Ed, as he is known to his many friends, attended elementary and high school in Milwaukee, Wis., and then took his seminary studies in Baltimore, Maryland, and Springfield, Mass. He was ordained a priest on July 1, 1941 by Archbishop Moses E. Kiley at St. Joseph's Basilica, Milwaukee, Wis., which was the church of his baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

After serving Milwaukee parishes and St. Mary's Hospital during 1941, he was then transferred to serve the San Diego, Calif. Diocese. In 1943 he entered the United State Air Force and served in World War II and also the Korean War as chaplain in Germany, France and the United States. Presently he holds the rank of Lt. Col. In the Air Force Reserve.

Upon his discharge from active duty in 1946 he attended Marquette University and work towards a Master's Degree in History and also studied Journalism. He was then an instructor in history, Latin and religion at St. Mary's Minor Seminary in Crystal Lake, Ill., as well as being athletic director and asst. football and basketball coach.

He came to the La Crosse Diocese in 1948, at which time the late Bishop John P. Treacy assigned him to St. Michael's Church. He then served as assistant at St. Peter and Paul Church at Independence and came to Thorp's St. Hedwig's Parish in 1954. Next he was assigned to St. Therese Parish in Schofield in 1955, and from there went to St. Peter's Church in Stevens Point, and after that was appointed administrator of St. Mary's Czestochowa at Junction, where he served the latter parish 3 1/2 years.

In June of 1961 he was then appointed pastor of St. Hedwig's by the late Bishop Treacy.

Father Masalewicz has one brother and two sisters, a sister who is a Nun serving at St. Mary's Hospital, Brooklyn, N.Y. His parents are both deceased.