Meet Monsignor Chet

Monsignor Chet Moczydlowski was born and raised in Linden, New Jersey. He attended parochial grammar school and public high school. Interested in learning more about the priesthood, Father Chet transferred from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., to St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Divinity degree. On May 5, 1973, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Paterson, N.J.

In the mid 1980s, Father Chet participated in a sabbatical program at the University of Notre Dame and successfully pursued advanced studies, which led to a Doctor of Ministry degree with concentrations in Liturgy and Pastoral Administration.

Father Chet spent the next 17 years serving in various parochial and educational ministries at several large parishes in northern New Jersey. He then requested a temporary assignment to a diocese that was experiencing a critical clergy shortage. A variety of circumstances led him to the Diocese of Charleston, which at the time was under the leadership of Bishop David B. Thompson. Four years later, Father Chet asked to join the Diocese permanently.

On November 21, 1998, “Father” Chet was named a Domestic Prelate by the late Pope John Paul II, with the title of Reverend Monsignor. Since April 1, 1991, Msgr. Chet has served several parishes in South Carolina, including St. James in Conway, Prince of Peace in Taylors, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, and St. Andrew in Myrtle Beach. In January 2008, he became pastor of St. Benedict Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant.