Father John Starczewski was among those who were the first diocesan priests to be ordained by Bishop Peter Jugis in June 2004. (Photo provided)CHARLOTTE — A native of Utica, N.Y., Father John Starczewski is now pastor of St. John Neumann Church. He celebrated his 15th anniversary of priestly ordination on June 5.
A cradle Catholic, born to an Episcopalian mother and Catholic father, he was taught the faith at his home parish of St. Stanislaus where he also attended grade school under the instruction of the Felician Sisters.
Father Starczewski says he realized the call to the priesthood shortly after becoming an altar boy in the fourth grade, when he was 9.
“It was a simple call that the priesthood would be a good life for me,” he recalls. “I struggled with the call for 30 years, becoming a chemical engineer in the meantime. Finally after joining the Knights of Columbus and beginning to pray more, I began to understand why God was calling me.
“I was the rich young man in the Gospel walking away sad. When I realized that, I pursued my vocation.”
Father Starczewski attended Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass., from 2000 to 2004.
He was ordained a transitional deacon along with Father Robert Conway and Father Timothy Reid in December 2003 by Bishop Peter Jugis – the bishop’s first diocesan transitional deaconate Mass after becoming the fourth bishop of Charlotte. The men were also the first diocesan priests to be ordained by Bishop Jugis in June 2004.
Father Starczewski has had several assignments in the diocese over the past 15 years. He served as parochial vicar of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte from 2004 to 2006. Then he served as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro from 2006 to 2007.
In 2007, he was named pastor of St. James Church in Hamlet and Sacred Heart Mission in Wadesboro. In 2011, he served as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mocksville until 2017. He has served as pastor of St. John Neumann Parish for the past two years.
Father Starczewski has also served on the diocese’s Presbyteral Council several times and was vicar forane of the Salisbury Vicariate from 2016 to 2017.
He says, “The most enjoyable part of my priestly ministry is meeting, getting to know and working with so many good people, especially when I have been able to help them in their faith.”
He shares that some of the most meaningful lessons he has learned in the past 15 years since his ordination are that a priest has to “be willing to be with the people. Don’t have something between you and them, like the sacristy door or the pulpit. Always thank the people for what they give or do for the parish. Always try to do your best for the people and the parish.”
His advice to men discerning a vocation to the priesthood?
“Pray a lot with scripture,” he says. “I wouldn’t have found my vocation without the Gospel of Matthew. When Father Christopher Gober, diocesan director of vocations, was ordained he told me also and it helped me a lot.”
For men discerning a call to the priesthood, he advises, “Have faith and take the leap.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter