Press release
Notre Dame High School would like to extend a warm welcome to Deacon Walter Szczesny as Campus Minister. Deacon Szczesny’s first day will be this coming Monday, January 29th.
Walter T. Szczesny is a lifelong resident of Batavia. He has been married to his wonderful wife Gina for over 20 years. He is a Master Plumber and owner of WTS Plumbing since 1993, and has been involved in the plumbing industry since 1981. Walter is a 1976 graduate of Notre Dame High School.
Walter’s Life took a turn when he met Gina in 1989. As their relationship became more serious, Gina decided to enter the Right of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program to convert to Catholicism with Walter as her sponsor.
As they completed the program together, this rekindled in Walter a new zeal for his faith. Acting on this Walter continued to participate regularly at daily mass, teach religious education for confirmation students and to be available in all avenues of faith for the parishes of Batavia.
In 2006, with the guidance and encouragement of his Pastor, Fr. Eugene Slomba, Walter and Gina attended an informational meeting for the Permanent Deaconate of the Diocese of Buffalo.
After a period of discernment, and full support from Gina, Walter applied and was accepted in the Diaconate program. Upon completing the five year educational and formational program for Permanent Deacons at Christ the King Seminary, in East Aurora, NY. Walter was ordained a Permanent Deacon on May 28th, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Buffalo, NY.
Walter’s first assignment was Ascension Parish in Batavia, where he served under Fr. Eugene Slomba and then Fr. David Glassmire, helping the parish in all aspects of liturgy and ministry. Then at the request of the diocese, Walter became a temporary Parish Administrator at Mary Immaculate Parish in East Bethany, NY, where he continues to serve under Pastor Fr. Innocent Diala.
Walter’s passion has always been working with young adults, helping to educate them in their faith, providing them with a foundation of morals, values, and principles on which they can grow and flourish throughout their lives. He looks forward to building on the outstanding work Alana Schrader completed in her six years as Campus Minister through serving the students, parents, faculty and administration of Notre Dame High School for year to come.