Martin Zielinski

On Sunday, June 25, 2023, Father Martin Zielinski died after a long battle with cancer. He was born on April 4, 1952 in Denver, Colorado to Raymond and Mildred (nee Witowski) Zielinski. He is survived by his sisters Katherine (late John) Noreiko and Christine (Stephen) Moleski and nieces and nephews: Jennifer (Christopher) Perez-Cano and John Martin Noreiko; and the late Richard Moleski, Karen (Philip) Kempf, Robert Moleski, Cheryl (Kris) Criado and LeeAnne (Brady) Ostendorf.

Father Zielinski studied at Niles College of Loyola University and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1978. His first pastoral assignment was at St. Margaret of Scotland, Chicago. Following his pastoral assignment, he was sent to the Catholic University of America, where he was awarded his doctoral degree in American Catholic Church History in 1989. Following graduate studies, he was assigned to Mundelein Seminary as an associate Professor of Church History. Father Zielinski spent the next 32 years at Mundelein Seminary where he took on spiritual direction, teaching and administrative responsibilities, including a term as academic dean. He also served as Vice-President for Ongoing Formation for the Archdiocese. Throughout his tenure at Mundelein, he was the assisting priest at St. Patrick's Parish in Wadsworth,IL. He maintained membership in several professional societies, including the American Catholic Historical Association. His scholarly articles were published in the US Catholic Historian, the Encyclopedia of American Catholic History, and Chicago Studies (where he was Managing Editor for a term). Fr. Martin also contributed to the collection Black and Catholic published by Marquette University Press. In the past three years, he accomplished a special contribution to American Church history: a transcription and annotation of the diary of Bishop William Quarter, the first bishop of Chicago. He also wrote a liturgical Litany of American Saints , Blesseds and Venerables, for which he secured the composition of a musical setting reflective of American themes.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 28, 2023, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, Mundelein Seminary, 1000 E. Maple Avenue, Mundelein, Illinois. Thursday, June 29, 2023 there will be a visitation from 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM in the Chapel of Immaculate Conception. Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 AM. Interment Immediately following at Saint Mary of the Lake Cemetery.

in lieu of flowers, donation to University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary are appreciated.