Issue of December 8, 2002

Fr. Edward Hughes

Founded St. Matthew Parish

Father Edward J. Hughes, the founding pastor of St. Matthew Parish in northwest suburban Schaumburg, died Dec. 1, at Resurrection Medical Center, from complications of throat cancer. He was 77 years old.

He served as an assistant pastor to several local parishes: St. Odilo in Berwyn (1953-56); St. Andrew (1956-65); St. James in Arlington Heights (1965-74); and Our Lady of Ransom in Niles (1974-76).

Father Hughes–at the request of the late John Cardinal Cody in 1974–began to plan for a new parish in the eastern section of Schaumburg.

In March of 1976, Father Hughes became the first pastor of St. Matthew’s, and began to serve 350 families. The current parish structure was completed in 1977 at the corner of Schaumburg and Plum Grove Roads.

“He did a wonderful job in starting St. Matthew Parish–and it was his heart and soul,” said Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Timothy J. Lyne, Vicar for Senior Priests. Founded 26 years ago, a total of 3,500 families are now registered as parishioners at St. Matthew Parish.

“Perhaps Father Hughes’ greatest impact was that he believed in the importance of ministry and people instead of projects or programs,” said Ms. Christine Burns, director of liturgy at St. Matthew Parish.

Father Hughes retired from his pastorate and from full-time ministry in 1994. He lived from 1999 until the time of his death at St. Benedict Home in Niles.

Msgr. Thomas J. Mohan

Retreat House director

Msgr. Thomas Joseph Mohan, a professor at Quigley Preparatory Seminary for nearly two decades and director of the retreat center on the seminary grounds in Mundelein from 1958-1966, has died at age 92.

Ordained in 1935, Father Mohan studied at the Gregorian University in Rome in 1936, and began his teaching career at Quigley Preparatory Seminary upon his return in 1937.

His tenure at the seminary ended in 1955, when he was made assistant pastor at St. Edward Parish on Chicago’s northwest side.

In 1958, he began an eight-year term as director of the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House and was named a domestic prelate in 1959.

Msgr. Mohan was made pastor of St. Genevieve Parish on the near south side in 1966, and served there until his retirement in 1973, at which time he was named pastor emeritus.

Sr. M. Doloretta Radzienda

Teacher, novice mistress

Franciscan Sister Mary Doloretta (Angela) Radzienda died Nov. 22 at age 96. She entered the novitiate in 1926 and later taught in several states, including St. Pancratius and St. Florian schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

She earned several degrees and served as novice mistress from 1946-1968. Other duties included ministry at Boys Town, Neb. and in the Motherhouse gift shop in her later years.

Fr. Oliver Jennings

Served Parishes for 30 Years

Father Oliver Jennings, a Black priest who served the African American communities of several Chicago parishes, died Nov. 25, at Advocate Trinity Hospital, where he was taken following a heart attack. He was 66 years old. At the time of his death, he was pastor of St. John de La Salle Parish on the Southeast Side.

Ordained in 1972, he served briefly as assistant pastor at Presentation Parish on the West Side.

From 1972 to 1979, he was assistant pastor at Blessed Sacrament. From 1979-1989, Father Jennings served the people of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus, a parish since closed. He was assigned as administrator and then pastor of St. John de La Salle on South King Drive.

Sr. M. de Chantal Biala

educator

Felician Sister Mary De Chantal Biala, 97, died Oct. 28. She was a Felician Sister for 78 years. She ministered as a teacher in Illinois and Wisconsin and studied in Spain and Mexico.

Fr. Stanley Limanowski

Served Polish Catholics

Father Stanley C. Limanowski, a retired priest who served both as pastor of a south suburban parish and as a chaplain to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, died Dec. 1, in Florida, from complications of cancer. He was 84 years old.

Ordained in 1942, he served as an assistant pastor to several parishes: St. Josaphat, St. Michael (South Shore); St. Joseph in Chicago Heights (now-closed); St. Florian; St. Constance; and St. Turibius.

For more than a decade, he served the armed forces as a Chicago-based chaplain to reservists in the U.S. Navy (1950-55); at a hospital for veterans in Knoxville, Iowa (1956-57); and as chaplain for U.S. Marine Corps personnel in Chicago (1959-62), while residing at St. Bruno Parish.

In his last assignment, from 1968-1975, Father Limanowski served as pastor of St. John Parish in Glenwood. Since his retirement he has lived in Florida.

Sr. Julitta Szczepanik

teacher

Franciscan Sister Mary Julitta Szczepanik died Nov. 17 at age 88. She began her ministry in elementary education and continued to teach for 64 years. She later specialized in teaching math.

She taught at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr and St. Pancratius schools and at St. Louise de Marillac School in La Grange Park.

She also served the convent community as local superior, local secretary and local treasurer.