Father Marian was born into a large family on December 18, 1935 on the Feast of Our Lady of Expectation, in a little village Wola Wrzeszczowska. Since the newly born boy was quite weak and there was fear that he would die, he was baptized the very next day at Saint Mary Magdalene Parish. On the Baptism he was named Marian after Mary because he came into this world on her Feast. He finished elementary school in 1951. In the years 1951-1953 he attended the public school gymnasium in Nowe Miasto at the Pilica river. After graduation from the Gymnasium Marian wrote a letter to the Czestochowa Shrine and asked for admission. He joined the Pauline Order in 1953 at the age of 17. After one year of Novitiate in Le¶niów, Brother Marian made his temporary profession of chastity, poverty and obedience on September 14, 1954 on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. The same year Brother Marian started his philosophical and theological studies in the Seminary of the Pauline Father in Cracow. On August 15, 1960 on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother, Brother Marian made his final, solemn profession at the Shrine of Our Lady of Podlasie at the hands of the Father General Louis Novak. He was ordained a Deacon on December 8, 1961 on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. He was ordained a Priest of Christ on June 29, 1962 on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Apostles in the Miraculous Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa. In 1965 the passport was offered to Marian to go to the U.S.A. to help the Pauline Fathers to serve at the newly built Shrine in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Father Marian arrived to this Shrine on December 8, 1965. Father Marian got involved in Shrine activities, especially taking care of the visiting pilgrims of various ethnic backgrounds and tongues. This service to the pilgrims became the main mission of Father Marian at the Shrine for many years. He welcomed the pilgrims, gave them guided tours and explained the history and spirituality of the Holy Image of Our Lady of Czestochowa, the history of the Shrine. In 1975 he received a doctoral degree in Theology with a specialization in Mariology. His doctoral work was translated into Italian and French languages. He was also the chaplain for the Polish Scouts and Magnificat Group. During the Marian Year 1987-1988 Father Marian introduced the daily Rosary prayer at the Shrine and after the beatification of Sister Faustyna Kowalska the Secretary of Divine Mercy, introduced the daily recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. On June 29, 2002 Marian joined his classmates and offered a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Miraculous Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa, where he was ordained a Priest of Christ 40 years ago. Father Marian Zalecki passed away on September 18, 2006.