I am the second of three sons, born on June 10, 1951 to Ann and Walter Hrydziuszko. Both of my parents are deceased – Dad in 1998 and Mom in 2001. I grew up in East Detroit (now fashionable Eastpointe!) where I lived up to 1977. My older brother Ron and his wife Pam live in Washington Township; they are retired. Their one son, Gary, his wife Ann and their son Tyler live in St. Clair Shores. My younger brother Jim died in May of 2005 at the early age of 50.
I attended St. Veronica Grade School and then St. Anthony High School (in 1969, I was part of the last graduating class before it became East Catholic High). Attending Michigan State for five and a half years, I earned a bachelor degree as well as an MBA in the area of finance (I am 2 credits short of a third degree from MSU in accounting.) After graduation, I joined Burroughs – now Unisys – Corporation, where I enjoyed a wonderful career in Finance and Accounting for almost 14 years. My last position was that of Director of U.S. Marketing Accounting Operations in Detroit. My assignments let me see many parts of both North and South America, including the chance to live in California for over two years.
However, as happy as I was, I still sensed a yearning for “something more.” That desire turned my life around back in 1988. My journey to priesthood had begun. I first entered the seminary in the fall of 1988, only to pull out after 3 months. I just wasn’t ready. So I spent the next year praying, talking with my parish priest, working with the Vocation Office, deciding what path to take. The next fall, I re-entered the seminary, and began the six-year journey to ordination in June of 1995.
My first assignment was at St. Thecla in Clinton Township for 3 years, and then just a short 20 months at St. Therese of Lisieux in Shelby Township. As my assignment here, I became the pastor of neighboring St. Isidore in Macomb Township for 12 1/2 years.
NEW
On December 27, 2012, it was announced from the Archdiocesan website, “Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron has announced that Pope Benedict XVI has conferred the title of “Monsignor” upon eight Detroit-area priests: Fathers Ronald Browne, John Hall, Timothy Hogan, Michael Hrydziuszko, Thomas Johnson, Russell Kohler, Gary Smetanka and Daniel Trapp.”
A brief biographical description followed, “Monsignor Michael G. Hrydziuszko (RA-dis-co), 61, presently serves as pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Rochester, the Archdiocese’s largest parish, and on the College of Consultors and as chair of the clergy ownership committee for Changing Lives Together. Monsignor Hrydziuszko has served on the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, the Priest Assignment Board, and the Priest Pension Board. He also was a founding member of Austin Catholic Academy in Ray Township. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit in June 1995.”
In the Parish bulletin on January 6, 2013, Monsignor Mike said this,
“By this time, many of you have heard that I have been honored with conferral of the title of “Monsignor” by Pope Benedict XVI, upon the recommendation of Archbishop Vigneron. This honorary title is given as a sign of appreciation and recognition of the service that those selected have rendered, both locally and in the Church universal. I feel blessed to have been given such an honor, and in my mind and heart, it is an honor shared with all the people I have been blessed to minister to and with, and all the parishes at which I have been assigned, for it was through all of them – and you! – that I have been able to do the ministry to which I have been called. So my thanks to everyone for all their support and help over my years of priesthood! (And don’t worry….Fr. Mike still works when calling me!)”.
