See Our Celebration of Msgr. Leo's Retirement

Biographical Summary

Born:       June 21, 1939 to Josie & Leo Wleczyk, Sr.
Graduated from Brazosport High School in Freeport, TX – May 1957
As a Youth, he attended church at St. Mary, Star of the Sea in Freeport, TX
After HS graduation, he enrolled in St. Mary’s Seminary, Houston, TX

Ordained as Catholic Priest:  May 27, 1965

Parish Service History:
1965 – 1966            St. Mary Catholic Church, Port Arthur, TX
1966 – 1971            St. Patrick Catholic Church, Galveston, TX
1971 – 1975            St. Joseph Catholic Church, Baytown, TX
1975 – 1978            Sacred Heart Catholic Church – named as Pastor, Palestine, TX
1978 – 1984            Notre Dame Catholic Church – Pastor, Houston, TX
1982 - 1984             Named Dean of the Southwest Deanery
Sept 1, 1984            Became Monsignor and the fifth Pastor of
                                  St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Lake Jackson, TX
1984 - 2008             Named Dean of the Southern Deanery
2008 - 2019             Named Episcopal Vicar of the Southern Vicariate
June 30, 2019          Retired as Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish
                              Priest in Residence at St. Jerome Parish, Clute TX

St. Michael Parish Highlights During Msgr. Leo Pastorship

Msgr. Leo Wleczyk made many improvements to the facilities and the spiritual programs at St. Michael’s in his 35 year tenure. 

• A new Education Wing and Nursery was built and dedicated by Msgr. Wleczyk at St. Michael’s in August 1985.
• From 1985 – 1987, the St. Michael’s parishioners participated in a process of spiritual renewal called RENEW.  Renew bound us together and made us a more vibrant parish.
• In 1986 Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program was founded at St. Michael’s. 
• The stained-glass windows were added to the church in 1986, with the back window showing Michael the Archangel in his scriptural and traditional pose. 
• In 1987, the parish held the first Spiritualfest for the spiritual growth of the parishioners. 
• The Youth Ministry program was begun by Msgr. Wleczyk in 1989, which blended religious education with social and service activities for Junior High and High School Youth. 
• In 1993, the Family Life Center and the enlarged maintenance building (with areas for Boy Scouts, Knights of Columbus, and St. Vincent de Paul) were completed.
• In 1998 the Christ Renews His Parish retreat program for men and women was founded at St. Michael’s. 
• January 2000 saw the completion and dedication of the new two-story Spiritual Learning Center.
• In the summer of 2005, the decision was made to begin the process of ENVISION at St. Michael’s.  Envision is a program intended to help parishes focus on developing a strategic plan to enhance parish life and keep Christ alive and real in the families that worship in our parish community.  The strategic plan for St. Michael’s was developed by the parishioners using the Envision process and implementation followed.
• Fr. Leo was appointed Dean of the Southwest Deanery by Bishop Morkovsky while serving as Pastor at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Houston in 1982. 
• Msgr. Leo was later named Dean of the Southern Deanery upon moving to St. Michael’s in 1984, and he served in that capacity until November 2008.
• In November 2008, Msgr. Leo was named Episcopal Vicar for the Southern Vicariate by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo.  In this role, Msgr. Leo served as the Cardinal’s representative for approximately 30 Catholic parishes in the Southern Vicariate. 
• Msgr. Leo was and is an active member of the Brazosport Ministerial Alliance, serving along with clergy from various denominations in the Lake Jackson / Clute area. 
• Msgr. Leo is a passionate supporter of religious vocations and Pro-Life ministry. 
• He is a native of the Brazosport area, and routinely enjoys every available opportunity for hunting, fishing, and walking on the beaches at Surfside.