Issue of September 29, 2002

Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan

Vietnamese Cardinal

Vatican City (CNS) — Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who suffered 13 years of imprisonment in communist Vietnam, died Sept. 16 in Rome after an extended battle with cancer. He was 74.

In a telegram, Pope John Paul II said Cardinal Thuan leaves the “indelible memory of a life spent in coherent and heroic adhesion to his vocation as priest” and as a “pastor full of zeal for the Gospel (who was) always faithful to the church even in the difficult time of persecution.”

He said the late cardinal accepted his “long and painful illness” with “serenity and a spirit of intense participation in the cross of Christ.”

The pope presided over the funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Sept. 20 for the cardinal, who had headed the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace since 1998 and was made a cardinal last year.

In his homily, he said Cardinal Thuan was unable to speak during his last days in the hospital but kept his gaze fixed on a crucifix, praying silently.

“His secret was an unshakable trust in God, nourished by prayer and suffering accepted with love,” the pope said.

The cardinal’s prison experiences shaped his spiritual outlook and were a constant theme in his numerous public speaking engagements around the world. Even after fleeing Vietnam more than a decade ago, he continued to wear a pectoral cross and chain he fashioned in prison out of wood and electrical wire and which he hid from guards in a bar of soap.

Cardinal Wu Cheng-chung

Hong Kong Cardinal

Vatican City (CNS) — Pope John Paul II praised the “lifelong, dedicated service” to the church of Cardinal John Baptist Wu Cheng-chung of Hong Kong, who died Sept. 23 of bone marrow cancer.

The cardinal, who was 77 years old, had been in a Hong Kong hospital since Aug. 19. In a telegram of condolence to Bishop Joseph Zen of Hong Kong, the pope expressed his “immense gratitude” for Cardinal Wu’s “fruitful and untiring cooperation with the Holy See and with me personally throughout my pontificate.” Pope John Paul wrote in the Sept. 23 telegram, “I am certain that his memory will live on in the community he so faithfully served, inspiring all to ever greater generosity in Christian living.”

Cardinal Wu’s death left the College of Cardinals with 171 members, 115 of whom were under age 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a papal conclave.

Sr. Mansuetta Waliczek

teacher

Sister of St. Joseph Mansuetta Waliczek died Sept. 19 at the Immaculata Congregational Home in Bartlett. Earlier this year she celebrated 75 years as a religious in the Sisters of St. Joseph congregation. Her last teaching assignment was at St. Mary of Czestochowa School in Cicero.



Deacon Kenneth Schoenfeld

St. Fabian

Deacon Kenneth Schoenfeld died Sept. 23. He was ordained a deacon in 1980 and ministered at St. Fabian Church, Bridgeview.



Deacon Richard Boyd

Holy Name of Mary

Deacon Richard Boyd died Sept. 13. He was ordained a deacon in 1989 and ministered at Holy Name of Mary Church, Chicago.

Sr. Loretta Gard

teacher

School Sister of St. Francis Loretta Gard died Sept. 12 at age 90. She lived her religious ministry in education, teaching in Wisconsin, Illinois, Colorado, and New York. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Blessed Agnes, Chicago; and St. James, Arlington Heights.

Fr. Thomas Duff

educator

Servite Father Thomas Duff died Sept. 13 at age 80. He was a priest for 53 years. Father Duff served the Servite Order and church in a variety of capacities in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Father Duff served as instructor at St. Philip High School; Felician College; St. Joseph High School, Westchester; and Marist High School. He also served as associate pastor at St. Domitilla Parish, Hillside.

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Teacher, pastor

Resurrectionist Father Edwin Karlowicz died Sept. 5 at age 80. Most of his priestly ministry was in Chicago. He taught and served as principal at Archbishop Weber High School He later served as pastor at St. Mary of the Angels Church and as associate pastor at St. Hyacinth Parish. Father Karlowicz also served as associate pastor at St. John Cantius Church.

In 1985, Father Karlowicz became the first director of the new Office for the Polish Apostolate in the archdiocese, which coordinated archdiocesan services and activities for Polish-speaking Catholics.

Fr. Leo Delgado

Teacher, pastor

Claretian Missionary Father Leo Delgado died Sept. 4 at age 74. Raised and educated in Chicago, Father Delgado served his ministry to predominately Hispanic parishioners in the Southwest and in Mexico. He served in various capacities, including pastor, teacher, administrator, and assistant prefect. Although his ministry was in the Southwest, Delgado returned often to Chicago to visit his family and friends.

Ruth Whealan

Editor’s mother

Ruth Whealan died on Sept. 10 at age 89. Mrs. Whealan was the mother of Mary Burd, editor of Between Friends, a national newsletter of the Society of the Little Flower, an organization of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary.



Mary Jane Grogan

Mother of Father Grogan

Mary Jane Grogan died Sept. 14 at age 86. Mother of Father William Grogan, associate pastor at St. Ignatius Parish, and four other children, she was a lifelong homemaker devoted to her family. She was buried from St. Michael Parish in Orland Park

Margaret Mary Watzke

Mother of Fr. James Watzke

Margaret Mary Murray Watzke died Aug. 25 at age 92. Mother of Holy Cross Father James Watzke and five other children, she was known for her love of her family, her faith and her Irish heritage. She was buried from St. Damian Parish in Oak Forest.

Sr. Angeline Kedzior

educator

Franciscan Sister of Chicago Mary Angeline Kedzior died Sept. 12 at age 85. She ministered as a teacher, teaching grade school children for 53 years. In the archdiocese, she taught at St. Florian School, St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr School, and St. Pancratius School.