Valley Catholics react to grand jury report

By Kaylie Moore
kmoore@yourmvi.com
“Shocking,” “terrible,” “disgusting.”
Those are a few of the words Mid-Mon Valley parishioners used Wednesday when reacting to a grand jury report revealing more than 300 “predator priests” from across the state.
The list, released Tuesday, included 26 priests who served in the Mid-Mon Valley at some point in their careers.
Former Valley Independent Society Editor Emma Jene Lelik, a member of Our Lady of the Valley Church in Donora, said she once interviewed one of those priests, Rev. David F. Dzermejko, during his tenure.
Following his ordination in 1974, Dzermejko’s 40-year career included service at St. Jerome in Charleroi from June 10, 1991 to Oct. 26, 1992. After that, he moved to Mary, Mother of the Church in Charleroi, where he remained until June 15, 2009, when he took a leave of absence.
When asked to comment on the report Wednesday, an unidentified spokeswoman from Mary, Mother of the Church disconnected the phone call.
Dzermejko is accused of sexually assaulting several young boys during his career in various states. One victim alleged the priest assaulted him on his boat, “The Seaman,” and in a Charleroi rectory.
“I interviewed him for some story on one of the Holy Days, and he was fine, very cooperative. I thought he was a good priest,” Lelik said Wednesday. “Not long after that, I started hearing rumors about him. Well, now it’s out and I guess the rumors were true.”
Lelik, now in her 80s, still volunteers at St. Vincent DePaul Society in Monessen. She said one of her fellow volunteers was once a parishioner in Dzermejko’s church.
“She was so fond of him when he was her pastor and I believe she still communicates with him,” Lelik said. “I know one time she mailed him homemade nut rolls when he was in prison, but the prison wouldn’t accept them.”
Lelik said she’s very lucky her current priest, Rev. Bud Falkenhan, “plays no favorites” and is not at all like those implicated in the grand jury report.
“I went to Mass today and it was a lot of long faces,” she said. “It’s a very sad day and I’m really heartbroken.
“I had trouble sleeping last night because I’m just so upset by it all.”

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