On June 24, 2010, Bishop R. Cote, D.D. appointed Fr. Mark Leo Curesky, OFM Conv, the 15^th pastor of St. John Church.  In addition to serving as pastor for St. John Church, Fr. Mark was appointed by Bishop Cote on August 28, 2017 to serve as the Episcopal Vicar for Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Norwich.
 
Fr. Mark was born in Danbury, Connecticut in 1947.  He entered St. Anthony of Padua Province (now Our Lady of Angels Province) of the Conventual Franciscan Friars in 1965.  In 1970, he received a B.A. degree in Philosophy from St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, MA.  In 1975, he received Master’s degrees in both Divinity and Theology from St. Anthony-on-Hudson Theological Seminary in Rensselaer, NY.  Ordained in 1975, Fr. Mark was awarded a Master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago in 1976.
 
Fr. Mark has served as a high school guidance director and administrator and as a college and seminary professor and administrator.  From 1991-2001, he served as minister provincial of the St. Anthony of Padua Province.  He also served as the secretary/treasurer of the U.S. Conference of Major Superiors of Men.
 
In 1997, at the request of Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore, Maryland, Pope John Paul II awarded Fr Mark the Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice medal - the highest papal award for outstanding service to the Church.      
 
Fr. Mark has served as the administrator/pastor for All Saints Church in Boswell, PA and for St. Hyacinth Church in Auburn, NY.   He comes to St. John’s after serving as pastor for St. Paul Church in Kensington, Connecticut.