Issue of May 11, 2003

Served under five cardinals

Msgr. James Hardiman, 87, whose service to the Archdiocese of Chicago spanned the terms of all five archbishops of the 20th century, died April 30.

Ordained by Cardinal Mundelein in 1939, Msgr. Hardiman received BA, MA and S.T.B. degrees from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary.

“He was a great priest who always supported other priests,” said Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Timothy J. Lyne, Vicar for Senior Priests. “One remarkable thing about him is that he went to the funeral of every priest. He had a good sense of humor and had a wonderful way of looking at things.”

Msgr. Hardiman was associate pastor at Holy Name Cathedral from 1939-51. He served as secretary and master of ceremonies to both Cardinal Samuel Stritch (1941-1958) and Cardinal Albert Meyer (1958-1959). He was vice chancellor for eight years.

Msgr. Hardiman was named pastor of St. Nicholas of Tolentine in 1959, a position he held until 1972. He then served as associate pastor at Saint Raphael (1972-77); St. Catherine of Alexandria, Oak Lawn (1977-1981); and at St. Terrence, Alsip (1981-85).

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 6 at St. Terrence Church with Cardinal George officiating.

Fr. John Ahern

Educator, author

Father John Joseph Ahern, 80, died April 25, at Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines following a heart attack. Father Ahern would have been ordained 55 years next week. He was ordained in 1948 by Cardinal Stritch.

Father Ahern’s varied ministries included service as an associate pastor, chaplain, educator, newspaper columnist and author. In addition to degrees in theology, he held a bachelor’s degree in education, a master’s degree in religious education and a doctorate in educational psychology from Loyola University.

During the 1960s he published three books and his column for young people called, “Sincerely Youth,” appeared in the archdiocesan newspaper, which was then known as The New World.

Father Ahern began his pastoral ministry in 1949, serving briefly as associate pastor at St. Clement and then for three years at St. Gertrude on the North Side.

He was associate pastor at St. Anne, Barrington, in 1953 before moving to St. Angela in Chicago, where he served for nine years. He was assigned to St. Monica, and then became associate pastor at St. Pascal, and St. Bernadette in Evergreen Park from 1985-87.

For 18 years, beginning in 1966, he served as chaplain for the Sisters of the Holy Family in Des Plaines, and was chaplain for three years (1963-1966) for the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy School in Palos Park. He retired in 1987.

Sr. Mary Louise Callahan

Teacher

BVM Sister Mary Louise Callahan, 87, died April 27. A native of St. Louis, Mo., she entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1934 and was professed in 1942. She taught in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady Help of Christians School from 1958-68 and 1969-70.

Sr. Agnes Connerton

Teacher

Adrian Dominican Sister Agnes Joseph Connerton died April 26 at age 96. A native of Chester, Ill., she spent 60 years ministering in education in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she taught at Aquinas High School, Chicago; St. Edmund, Oak Park; and Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette.

Sr. Frances Ann Rees

Teacher

Sister of Providence Frances Ann Rees, 67, died April 24. Born in Jasper, Ind., she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1953 and professed her final vows in 1960. She taught in schools staffed by the Sisters of Providence in several states. She then ministered in therapeutic massage. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mel-Holy Ghost, Chicago, from 1955-58; and at St. David, Chicago, in 1958.

Sr. Marie Rose Augustyn

Teacher

School Sister of Notre Dame Marie Rose Augustyn, 83, died April 24. A Chicago native, she professed her final vows with the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1948 and spent her ministry in education, teaching in several states.

Sr. Marie Matthew Devine

Teacher

Adrian Dominican Sister Marie Matthew Devine, 94, died April 23. Born in Lincoln, Ill., she spent 56 years ministering in education in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Columbanus from 1946-48.

Fr. Marko Kozina

Croatian-born friar

Franciscan Friar Marko Kozina, 70, died April 21. He was born in Croatia and came to the United States in 1951 to serve in the Chicago-based Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family.

He fled his homeland at the age of 12 after his father was killed. Separated by war from his mother and sisters, he finished high school and joined the Franciscan Order in Cingoli, Italy, in 1950. He came to the United States after novitiate to continue his studies.

Following his ordination as a priest, he served for more than 30 years in two Chicago parishes: Sacred Heart and St. Jerome. In the Croatian Franciscan Custody he served on the Custodial Board and then as Custos-Superior.

Sr. Carmelia Hanses

educator

BVM Sister Carmelia Hanses, 92, died April 21. A Chicago native, she professed her final vows in 1938. For 51 years, she was on the faculty of Mundelein College.

She inaugurated its speech correction major, established and directed the speech clinic, and chaired the Department of Communicative Disorders. She earlier taught at St. Dorothy School and Immaculata High School.

Sr. Camille Buchele

teacher

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Camille Buchele, 92, died March 24. She made her final profession of vows in 1933. She served as a teacher for 45 years, ministering in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Sabina School from 1938-45 and at St. Vincent Ferrer School, River Forest, from 1948-55.