Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. Chester A. Soleta CSC
May 8, 1915 - Oct. 7, 2002

South Bend Tribune 10/10/2002

The Reverend Chester A. Soleta, CSC, 87, died at 2:10 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, in Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind. He had lived at Holy Cross House since 1993. Father Soleta was born in South Bend, Ind., to the late Walter and Martha (Franchowiak) Soleta. He attended St. Stanislaus Grade School and in 1929 entered Holy Cross Seminary for his high school education.

He entered St. Joseph Novitiate at Notre Dame in 1933 and made his first profession of vows at the new novitiate in Rolling Prairie, Ind., on Aug. 16, 1934. Three years later he made his perpetual profession of religious vows. In 1938 he graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in philosophy, and then began his theological studies at Holy Cross College in Washington, D.C. Father Soleta was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1942, in Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, by Archbishop John Noll, Bishop of Fort Wayne.

He began his long and distinguished academic career immediately after ordination by spending four years at Yale University in New Haven, earning a doctorate in English in 1946. He returned to Notre Dame in 1946 to begin teaching and living in the residence halls. He served as chairman of the English Department at Notre Dame from 1953 until 1958 when he was appointed vice president of academic affairs. He relinquished the academic affairs post in 1965 and spent a post-doctoral year at Yale University and abroad. He returned to the University of Notre Dame and resumed teaching English. At the same time he resided at Moreau Seminary and served as director of studies for the seminarians at Moreau and St. Joseph Hall until 1975.

His second career as a parish priest began with a year as an associate pastor at Christ the King Parish in 1975-76 and then, for the next 10 years, 1976-86, he was the devoted pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Notre Dame. After retiring as pastor, he served for five years at St. Patrick's Parish in Colorado Springs, Colo., as an associate pastor, assisting a diocese with few diocesan priests and keeping in close contact with his Holy Cross family at the novitiate in Cascade and Sacred Heart Parish across town in Colorado Springs. From 1991-93, he served the Sisters of Charity in Colorado Springs as their chaplain.

Declining health forced his retirement to Holy Cross House in 1993 where he lived until his death.

Father Soleta was devoted scholar and teacher, in the latter years specializing in African literature. He was renowned as a fine preacher with eloquent and insightful homilies. He was beloved as a compassionate priest and pastor at Sacred Heart. Often the aroma of baking bread wafted from the open windows of the presbytery basement when he indulged in his hobby and pastime. His family and his Polish heritage were an important part of his life, and he enjoyed the company of South Bend relatives and family friends.

Father Soleta was preceded in death by his parents, and by two brothers, John and Justin. He is survived by two sisters, Margaret (Ernest) Wynn and Henrietta Soleta, both of South Bend; and by several nieces and nephews.

A wake service for Father Soleta will be celebrated in the chapel of Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, today, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. where his body will rest after 3:30 p.m. A funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame. Burial will follow in the community cemetery at Notre Dame. The Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.