Father Pete Zalewski - Priest and Brigadier General

By Kanobia Russell-Blackmon  | Photography by The Catholic Extension Society 
The Catholic Compass  |  March/April 2024

One of Northwest Florida’s most popular pastors was promoted to general in the United States military. With humility and a passion to serve, Father Pete Zalewski, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish and Trinity Catholic School in Tallahassee, has responded again, saying “yes,” as he did to the Lord, to serving as a priest of Jesus Christ, and is serving the nation as a United States Air Force chaplain. In December 2023, Father Zalewski was pinned brigadier general at the Florida National Guard Headquarters in St. Augustine. As a one-star general, he serves as the senior chaplain in the Air Force National Guard and is currently the only priest who is general in the Air National Guard. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities in the diocese, he serves as director of the Office of the Joint Chaplain for the National Guard Bureau in Washington, which serves members of the Air Force and Army National Guard. However, he says regardless of the new rank, providing pastoral and spiritual care for troops and his parishioners is preeminent.

Father Zalewski’s faith journey started as a child growing up in Miami. He benefited from being raised in the Faith, being nourished by the sacraments, and engaging in regular prayer. Father Zalewski shared that his mother “made sure we knew the Bible stories when we were very young.” He added, “Mom would read to us from a children’s story Bible every night.”

Born into a military family, Father Zalewski’s father served in the Marine Corps, and his mother encouraged her children to consider military service. So, following in his father’s footsteps seemed to be the right move after high school. 

With the encouragement and blessing of his parents, he joined the Air Force in 1984 as a cadet. He was subsequently commissioned as an intelligence officer in 1988 and served at Hurlburt Field. He was deployed from Hurlburt several times, including for Operation Desert Storm during the first Gulf War.

Father Zalewski continued to participate in the sacramental life of the Church through St. Mary Parish in Fort Walton Beach when he was stateside. While deployed, prayer continued to be a part of Father Zalewski’s life, and he surrendered complete trust in the Lord to watch over him and keep him safe. He took note that the military culture was supportive of religion and faith. Explaining that for many servicemen and women prayer was essential when participating in military operations, he said, “I would see the soldiers and their commanders praying.” He continued, “I remember during the Gulf War, there was a regular group that met and prayed for safety whenever our teams went over into enemy lines.”

Father Zalewski’s prayer life included praying the rosary, a devotion he has been doing since graduating from the Air Force Academy. Meditating on the life of Christ through the rosary is what drew him closer to Christ, and ultimately led him to saying “yes” to the priesthood. Father Zalewski entered the Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans in 1992. He was subsequently ordained a priest for service in Pensacola-Tallahassee in 1997 and was assigned to St. Mary Parish in Fort Walton Beach as parochial vicar. After two years, he was assigned to St. Dominic Parish in Panama City, where he served for 15 years (including 12 years as pastor). He has been serving as pastor of Blessed Sacrament and Trinity Catholic School for nearly 10 years. With the support of his parochial vicars, deacons, school administrators and Bishop William A. Wack, CSC, Father Zalewski is able to manage his pastoral duties and his new responsibilities as brigadier general efficiently and appropriately.

“I have to thank the bishop,” expressed Father Zalewski. “When he heard about the promotion, he was very excited because having Catholic representation at the general officer level is important. He wanted to make sure that I could do well in both the parish and the part-time chaplaincy position.”

In reflecting on his promotion, Father Zalewski shared that he thought about the people who put him in that role and how they had a great deal of trust in him. As a general, he wants to live up to the responsibilities entrusted to him. To put things into perspective, he thinks about the enlisted members and veterans who sacrificed a great deal to serve. He explained, “Many [veterans] gave up a lot to serve — and some gave up their lives. That makes me want to do my best to support those currently serving and support their families [by] making sure they have someone assisting them as they practice their faith.

As director of the Office of the Joint Chaplain for the National Guard Bureau, Father Zalewski’s time will be spent in Washington. He will set policy and form plans to support our National Guard members. His office is to ensure that the National Guard members are getting the spiritual support that they need whether they are performing duty in their home states or overseas on deployment.

In thinking about the soldiers and airmen who died for our country, including the three service members recently killed in Jordan, Father Zalewski says their sacrifice reminds him that our military members deserve the best spiritual care possible. “Helping them to practice their faith, during hard times and before the hard times, is essential.”

Father Zalewski admits that with the added responsibility he must prioritize and accept help when offered. He appreciates the support he receives from his parochial staff and congregation because they are not only helping the mission of the parish, but also “contributing to the soldiers and airmen” he serves in uniform. Blessed Sacrament parishioners have expressed their pride for him and his accomplishments. They have also told Father Zalewski that they appreciate all that military chaplains have done to “take care of their sons and daughters and nieces and nephews.”

“I’m thankful that the parish is letting me give some of my time back to our service members. Knowing that I have the parishioners’ support means a lot to me.”

Father Zalewski also encourages new vocations to military chaplaincy. “Encouraging our priests to serve our military members is something that’s important.” Father Zalewski recalled speaking with a young man who told him about a Mass he celebrated in 2010 at Air Force Academy basic training. In the Mass was a moment that “opened his eyes to the fact that he could be in the military and be a priest.” Today, this man serves on active duty as an Air Force priest. Father Zalewski added that there remains a large need for chaplains in the military. “We have less than half of the Catholic chaplains we currently need.”

To learn more about the Florida National Guard, visit fl.ng.mil.