Fr. Michael Cieslik, OFM Conv., son of Stanislaus and Catherine (Lazarczyk) Cieslik, was born on January 22, 1898, in Menominee, MI. His elementary education was in the Parish School of St. Josaphat, Milwaukee, WI. After some deliberation and consultation, he expressed his intention of entering the community of Conventual Franciscans and was sent to Syracuse, NY, where in the Novitiate of the Immaculate Conception Province, he professed his simple vows on August 16, 1914. His philosophical and theological studies were St. Anthony-on-Hudson, Rensselear, NY. He was ordained to the priesthood on March 28, 1921 at St. Josaphat Basilica, Milwaukee, WI, by the Most Reverend Archbishop Sebastian Messmer, D.D. After his ordination, Fr. Michael served in a variety of ministries. He served as an associate at St. Stanislaus, Bishop-Martyr, Parish, Trenton, NJ from April to August, 1921 and at Corpus Christi, Parish, Buffalo, NY from 1921 to 1925. He was pastor of Corpus Christi from 1925 to 1939, renovating the church and adding a new organ and stained glass windows, and erecting two club buildings. He was also pastor of St. Anthony Church, Chicopee, MA for a short time in 1939, and then first Franciscan pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in South Boston, MA until 1942. He was pastor of St. Theresa Church, Rochester, NY from 1942 to 1945, and of St. Stanislaus Kostka parish, Baltimore, MD from 1948 to 1954. He also served as Spiritual Director at St. Hyacinth Seminary, Granby, MA from 1945 to 1948 and for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Hamburg, NY from 1954 to 1963. Suffering with a heart condition, Fr. Michael died in Hamburg, NY on December 28, 1963 in the 66th year of his age, the 50th of his religious profession, and the 43rd of his priesthood. After the funeral service in the Motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, Hamburg, on December 31, 1963, the Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated at Corpus Christi Church, Buffalo, NY, by the Minister Provincial, Fr. George Roskwitalski. On January 3, 1964, another funeral Mass was celebrated in his home parish, the Basilica of St. Josaphat, Milwaukee, WI, by the Minister Provincial of St. Bonaventure Province, Fr. Anastasius Kuzdrzal. The mortal remains of Fr. Michael were laid to rest in the Parish Cemetery of St. Adalbert, Milwaukee, WI.