Priest embraces Gospel double duty as chancellor, pastor

By Priscilla A. Greear - Florida Catholic

FORT LAUDERDALE | Msgr. Dariusz Zielonka found a match made in heaven as the new pastor of St. Pius X Church in Fort Lauderdale. He shares the same birthday and love for church ministry as the parish patron Pope St. Pius X.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the installation Mass with nine concelebrants Sept. 7, 2025, in the seaside parish tucked off North Ocean Boulevard.

A Poland native, Msgr. Zielonka also marked his 30th anniversary of ordination as a priest on the day of spiritual renewal. For his jubilee, “We had a little thing called the pandemic, so everything was cancelled. I’m delighted today to celebrate my 30th anniversary,” he said, noting the canonizations of St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. “Our patron, St. Pius X is also a wonderful model for our community going through change and growth. I’m glad to continue the legacy of my predecessors here and to lead this parish into the future. It’s a privilege.”

Before the Mass, sacristan Joe Miele reflected, “He’s energetic, gets people involved. He’s very charismatic. It’s exciting to help set up the altar.”

Archbishop Wenski affirmed the pastor’s role to lead parishioners to pick up their cross and follow Christ through conversion of heart and mind, entrusting Msgr. Zielonka with the “care of your souls.”

“Msgr. Zielonka is to teach you — by word and example — how to figure out how to be a disciple of Jesus,” he said. “Father will serve you well. And he will do so not by calling attention to himself but by calling attention to the Lord.”

Standing before the marble wall with St. Pius’ motto, “Renew all things in Christ,” Msgr. Zielonka affirmed his commitment to care for the parish’s spiritual welfare. He told how in 1959 Archbishop Coleman Carroll founded St. Pius just after the then-Diocese of Miami was established in 1958 and St. Pius was canonized in 1954. The first Mass took place at the Marie Antoinette Dinner Club, then shifted to the Beach Club Hotel until the church was dedicated in 1960. In 1992, a niche containing relics of St. Pius and a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes with a waterfall was added. The church hosted a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for its 60th anniversary.

St. Pius was the son of a dressmaker and a mailman who became a chancellor, bishop and cardinal, bringing a love of education and worship. As pope from 1903 to 1914, he codified canon law, launched a Biblical institute, encouraged singing at Mass and lowered the Communion age to seven. He visited the sick in hospitals and welcomed earthquake refugees to the Vatican.

Msgr. Zielonka shared his vision for St. Pius’ continued growth and outreach through devotion to Mary and love for the Eucharist, which St. Pius called “a shortcut to heaven.”

The 400-member parish, a mixture of faithful members, tourists and snowbirds, hosts weekly adoration, rosary after daily Mass, and May crowing with “the Eucharist as the center of community life.” In 2025, Msgr. Zielonka hopes to build on last year’s generous support of the Archbishop’s Charity Drive and Christmas outreach of gifts for children and seniors through Catholic Charities. “We know each other and care for each other, and I want this to continue in this very unique, beautiful, growing parish.”

Msgr. Zielonka arrived in the United States from Poland in 1991 and graduated from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia to be ordained on July 1, 1995, for the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He served as parochial vicar at various parishes, including St. Aloysius Parish in New Canaan before he was appointed as priest secretary and vice chancellor. He earned a doctorate in cannon law at The Catholic University of America. During a sabbatical year in Miami in 2018, he assisted at St. Joseph Church in Miami Beach and embraced the people and climate in “paradise.”

His first assignment in the Archdiocese of Miami was as a judge for the Metropolitan Tribunal in 2019, and by 2022 he became the archdiocesan chancellor for canonical affairs. “I grew to love this place and basically decided to stay here and was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Miami,” Msgr. Zielonka said.

Jim Rigg, the archdiocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, said that Msgr. Zielonka is “smart, diligent and a faith-filled chancellor for canonical affairs.”

Founding parishioner Mark Taravella recalled attending the first CCD class at the parish as a fourth grader before heading to the kids’ movie at the nearby Gateway theater. He proposed to his wife in the parish parking lot before Christmas Eve Mass. Today, he’s happy to see Msgr. Zielonka take the pulpit. “I think he brings enthusiasm and a very welcoming spirit, like a church family. It picks up in winter,” with seasonal members, he noted.

“He is a priest of his people. He’s a very skilled communicator to transmit the faith and how to connect with people,” said Kurt Martens, Msgr. Zielonka’s professor from Catholic University of America, who also joined the celebration.

Marylee MacDougall said Msgr. Zielonka trained her sons as altar servers at St. Aloysius. Later, she worked as lay chancellor with him in the Diocese of Bridgeport. “He knew how to streamline and organize, very effective and very, very smart,” she said. He showed how “the history, the rituals, the beauty of the Church are part of helping all of us get to know God better,” MacDougall added.

Sheri Bush, who volunteers counting the offertory, said, “He has a presence and strength that’s comforting. I feel the goodness and his devotion and his intelligence with a fun personality.” She added, “I’m a goofball. You have to laugh and he’s cool and enjoys it. I see him bringing a nice brand of leadership — strong and kind.”