Edward J. Pelrine, 42

First assignment: St. Cajetan
Education: St. Gertrude School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary North, Niles College
Parents: Aileen G. and John P. Pelrine Sr.
First Mass: 2:30 p.m. May 20 at
St. Gertrude

Edward J. Pelrine attended all of the seminaries in the Archdiocese of Chicago system, but not without a lengthy break.
His uncle, Sacred Heart Father Thomas Garvey, inspired an early call to the priesthood, but the call faded when he was in college.

“I just didn’t think it was right for me,” said Pelrine, who ran the Chicago office of an employment and vocational testing company after graduating from college.

After 10 years in that business, and a business degree earned at night, the call came back, Pelrine said. When he entered Mundelein at age 36, he knew he had made the right decision.

However, there were some extra challenges.

“At that age, you have to give up your career, your home and your lifestyle,” Pelrine said. “It was challenging, but it wasn’t as hard as I thought.”

To encourage more vocations to the priesthood, Pelrine said, pastors and priests need to make it more of a priority.

“The priests all have to be vocation directors and encourage people to get into it,” he said.

Other ordinations:
Jo-Andre Beltran
Paul Duy Duc Cao
Mark Greschel
Miguel Angel Martinez Figueroa
Michael J. Novick
Edward J. Pelrine
Kombo Livingstone Peshu
Robert William Schultz Jr.
Paul Charles Stein
Walter Antonio Yepes Galvis