A Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, July 24, at 11 a.m. at St. John the Beloved Catholic Church in Summerville, S.C., for Msgr. Chester “Chet” Moczydlowski. He died at his home in Summerville on July 17. He was 78 years old.
Msgr. Moczydlowski was a priest of the Paterson Diocese from 1973 until he was excardinated to the Diocese of Charleston, S.C. in 1994. He retired from active ministry in 2016.
Born in 1946 in Elizabeth, N.J., Msgr. Moczydlowski attended Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., and St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md.
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Bishop Lawrence B. Casey ordained Msgr. Moczydlowski as a Paterson priest on May 5, 1973.
Between 1973 and 1991, Msgr. Moczydlowski served the Paterson Diocese at St. Christopher Parish in Parsippany, Bayley-Ellard High School in Madison, St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Wayne, St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, and the College of St. Elizabeth (now St. Elizabeth University) in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township.
Also, for the Paterson Diocese, Msgr. Moczydlowski served in diocesan leadership roles, including the Priests’ Senate, Liturgical Commission, Vocations Board, and Youth Council.
Msgr. Moczydlowski was incardinated into the Charleston Diocese in September 1994.
From 1991 to 2016, Msgr. Moczydlowski served in the following South Carolina parishes: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, St. James the Younger in Conway, the Church of the Resurrection in Loris, Prince of Peace in Taylors, St. Andrew in Myrtle Beach, St. Benedict in Mount Pleasant, and St. John the Beloved in Summerville.
For the Diocese of Charleston, Msgr. Moczydlowski served as dean of both the Pee Dee and Piedmont Deaneries, a member of the Diocesan Personnel Committee, president of the Priests’ Association, and a member of and at-large representative for the Presbyteral Council. From 2010 to 2018, he was the diocesan representative to the National Federation of Priests’ Councils.
Msgr. Moczydlowski spearheaded many projects, including the school, rectory, parish center and church at St. James in Conway; the parish and parish center at Church of the Resurrection in Loris; the activities center/gymnasium and church renovation at Prince of Peace in Taylors; the Family Life Center at St. Andrew in Myrtle Beach; and a new church for St. Benedict in Mount Pleasant.
Msgr. Moczydlowski is survived by his sister, Susan Hanson; her son, Mark; his wife; and his daughter.
Condolences may be sent to Susan Hanson, 122 Hoven Dr., Cicero, Ind. 46034.
Memorial donations can be made in Msgr. Moczydlowski’s name to the Summerville Orchestra, 100 S. Main St., Ste K, Summerville, S.C. 29483; Charleston Symphony, 480 East Bay St., Ste F, Charleston, S.C. 29403; or St. Mary’s Seminary & University, 5400 Roland Ave, Baltimore, Md. 21210.
