Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Chester Tomaszewski

This page outlines the assignments, credible allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Father Chester Tomaszewski, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of survivors in Catholic clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Chester Vincent Tomaszewski
• Common Variations / Aliases: Fr. Chester Tomaszewski, Father Chester Tomaszewski, Chester V. Tomaszewski
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic Priest, Parochial Vicar, Pastor
• Current Status: Deceased

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Father Chester Tomaszewski was publicly identified by Catholic Church entities and in a Michigan Attorney General investigation report as a priest connected to a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. Public records describe a report made years after the alleged abuse, followed by a diocesan review process and a financial settlement connected to the allegation.

Entity that Listed Him:

• Diocese of Lansing
• Michigan Attorney General (Diocese of Lansing report)
• Diocese of Saginaw (as clergy of another diocese with a credible allegation outside Saginaw)

Reason for Listing: Credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, reported posthumously and addressed through diocesan review and related institutional response.

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1959

Years in Active Ministry: Public assignment listings place him in parish ministry from ordination until his leave from active service in 1987

Locations Where He Served: Michigan, including assignments in the Flint area and other communities within the Diocese of Lansing’s historical footprint

Restrictions Placed: Sick leave beginning January 15, 1987, as shown in the diocesan listings

Removal, Resignation, Reassignment: Public disclosures do not describe a formal removal process during life, and instead document sick leave shortly before death

Laicization: No public disclosure located indicating laicization

Public Disclosure/Listing Date: Diocese of Lansing’s public list release and updates in 2019, and later inclusion in the Michigan Attorney General’s 2024 report

Assignment History in Primary Diocese or Order

Primary Diocese/Archdiocese: Diocese of Lansing

Public diocesan materials identify Father Tomaszewski as ordained in 1959, later placed on sick leave in January 1987, and deceased in October 1987. Public Church disclosures also provide a list of documented ministry locations. In many cases, diocesan public lists provide assignment names and places but do not publish exact start and end dates for each placement.

Parish Assignments:

• Holy Redeemer, Flint (Burton), Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• St. Joseph, Watervliet, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• St. Mary, Paw Paw, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• St. John the Evangelist, Davison, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• Our Lady of Fatima, Michigan Center, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• St. Mary, Bronson, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• St. Ann, Cassopolis, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• St. Stanislaus, Detroit, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• St. Paul, Owosso, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• St. Stanislaus, Bay City, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• SS Charles & Helena, Clio, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• St. Anthony of Padua, Hillsdale, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• St. Dominic, Clinton, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)
• St. Joseph, Ypsilanti, Michigan (dates not publicly specified)

Non-Parish Assignments:

Public diocesan listings do not identify a distinct non-parish institutional assignment for Father Tomaszewski beyond parish-based ministry roles. 

Known Allegations

Public records describe an allegation of sexual abuse connected to Father Tomaszewski that was reported many years after the alleged misconduct and after his death. According to the Michigan Attorney General’s Diocese of Lansing report, an individual identified in the records as “John Doe 116” met with diocesan officials in July 2008. 

The individual reported that he had recalled being sexually abused by Father Tomaszewski when he was a student and altar server at St. Mary Parish in Bronson, Michigan, in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The report describes the allegation as involving abuse occurring after the priest allegedly used threats and religious shame to control and silence the minor.

The Attorney General report further states that the complainant provided a detailed written statement describing the alleged misconduct and the context in which it occurred. The same report describes a diocesan review process, including a meeting with the diocesan review board. It reflects that the board found the complainant to be a credible accuser, while noting the challenges of corroboration given the age of the allegation and the fact that Father Tomaszewski was deceased.

The public record also documents institutional actions taken in response to the report. The Attorney General’s report states that the Diocese of Lansing offered financial assistance related to healing and recovery. It also documents a monetary settlement related to the allegation, including a settlement and release executed in October 2008, and subsequent communications regarding the diocese’s position on ongoing financial requests.

The Attorney General report also notes that parish boundaries and diocesan jurisdiction shifted in 1971 with the creation of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, which is relevant because Bronson, Michigan later fell under Kalamazoo’s jurisdiction even though the alleged events were described as occurring during the period when the area was part of the Diocese of Lansing.

Summary: Public records describe an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor connected to Father Chester Tomaszewski that was reported posthumously, reviewed through diocesan processes, and reflected in the Michigan Attorney General’s Diocese of Lansing report.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Bishop Alexander M. Zaleski — Diocese of Lansing (oversaw diocesan governance during portions of the late 1960s period referenced in public records)
• Bishop Kenneth Povish — Diocese of Lansing (oversaw the diocese during later institutional handling and communications reflected in diocesan and investigative records)
• Bishop Earl Boyea — Diocese of Lansing (oversaw later communications and actions described in the investigative record regarding support and responses)

Institutional Actions and Review

Public records reflect that the Diocese of Lansing received the allegation in 2008 and that diocesan officials met with the reporting party and reviewed the matter through internal processes. 

The Michigan Attorney General’s report describes the diocesan review board’s consideration of the allegation and documents communications related to counseling support, travel assistance for healing-related services, and a monetary settlement tied to the assertion.

Public diocesan disclosures later included Father Tomaszewski on a list of Michigan accused clergy members connected to credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor, with the list also stating his ordination year, sick leave date, and date of death. 

The Michigan Attorney General’s Diocese of Lansing report provides additional context regarding the allegation, the report date, and the documented diocesan responses.

Timeline

June 6, 1959 — Ordained to the priesthood

Late 1960s to early 1970s — Alleged abuse described as occurring at St. Mary Parish in Bronson, Michigan

July 1971 — Diocese of Kalamazoo created, and Bronson later fell within its jurisdiction

January 15, 1987 — Listed as on sick leave

October 21, 1987 — Died

July 8, 2008 — Allegation reported in meeting with diocesan officials, and review process documented in public investigative materials

September to October 2008 — Settlement communications and execution of a settlement and release described in public records

2019 — Listed publicly by the Diocese of Lansing on its clergy list of credible allegations

December 16, 2024 — Included in the Michigan Attorney General’s Diocese of Lansing investigative report

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Father Chester Tomaszewski or another Catholic clergy member in Michigan, you may still have legal options. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of Michigan clergy abuse and can help you evaluate next steps through a confidential consultation. Contact us to book a free and confidential consultation with a Michigan clergy abuse attorney. 

Sources and Public Records

This page is based on public records, official Church disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports, including the following:

• The Michigan Attorney General’s Diocese of Lansing investigation report, which describes the 2008 report, the alleged location and period, diocesan review board handling, and documented settlement communications involving Father Chester Vincent Tomaszewski.
• The Diocese of Lansing’s official list of clergy with a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, which publicly lists Father Tomaszewski, his ordination year, sick leave date, death date, and documented assignments.

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in public court records or official Church reports.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.