The Catholic New World: Three new pastors named, six retire

Cardinal George has named pastors for three parishes, and six priests are retiring.

Father Lawrence McBrady has been appointed pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Orland Hills, effective July 1.

Ordained in 1971, he served as associate pastor at St. Patricia, Hickory Hills, until 1973; at St. James, Wabash Avenue, from 1973-83; and at St. Mel-Holy Ghost from 1983-87. After a sabbatical, he served as director of the Office of Conciliation and Arbitration from 1988-91.

McBrady was named pastor of St. Celestine, Elmwood Park, where he served from 1991-96. He was named co-vicar for priests in 1996 and has served St. Elizabeth as associate pastor since February. He will now be its pastor.

Father Juan Sanchez-Espinoza has been named pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish, effective July 1. Ordained in 1993, he served as associate pastor at St. Jerome from 1993-98. He then served first as administrator, then as pastor at Resurrection from 1998 until his new appointment as pastor at St. Francis de Sales.

Father Tirso Villaverde has been named pastor of St. Peter Canisius and St. Francis of Assisi/Our Lady of the Angels Parish, effective July 1. Ordained in 1996, he served as associate pastor at St. Pascal from 1996-2000, and at St. Isaac Jogues, Niles, from 2000 until the present.

Father Edwin Bohula is retiring after 48 years of service to the archdiocese, effective June 16. Ordained in 1955, he served as associate pastor of Immaculate Conception (Polish) from 1955-59 and St. Fidelis from 1959-64. He then served as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy from 1964-91. He was ad-
ministrator of St. James (Sag Bridge), Lemont, from 1994-95. He has served as pastor there since 1995. He will be its pastor emeritus.

Father John Cunningham is retiring after 46 years of service, effective June 30. Ordained in 1956, he served as associate pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle from 1956-64; St. Maria Goretti, Schiller Park, from 1964-73; and St. Hugh, Lyons, from 1973-81. He then served as chaplain of Nazareth Academy, LaGrange Park, in 1981. He was named pastor of St. Priscilla in 1982, a position he has held since that time. He will be pastor emeritus of that same parish.

Father Richard Dempsey will retire after 45 years of service to the archdiocese, effective immediately. Ordained in 1958, he served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Grace from 1958-65. He served as chaplain at Kelvyn Park High School and at Area 7 C.Y.O. from 1960-64. He served as associate pastor at St. Sebastian from 1965-66. He served as chaplain in the U.S. Navy from 1966-80. He served as associate pastor of Holy Family, North Chicago, from 1969-80. He attended Naval post-graduate school in Monterey, Calif., from 1980-89. He served as associate pastor at St. Victor, Calumet City, from 1989-91; and at Most Holy Redeemer, Evergreen Park, in 1991. He was named pastor at Most Holy Redeemer in 1991, where he served until his sabbatical in 2001. He is now pastor emeritus of the same.

Father Francis Kaucky is retiring after 44 years of service, effective July 1. Ordained in 1959, he served as associate pastor at St. Benedict from 1959-65; St. Leonard, Berwyn, from 1965-69; St. Albert the Great, Oak Lawn, from 1969-73; our Lady of Loretto, Hometown, from 1973-79; and St. Francis Xavier, LaGrange, from 1979-80. He served as pastor at St. Fabian, Bridgeview, from 1980-84. After a sabbatical, he served as chaplain at Palos Community Hospital from 1985-94. He served as associate pastor at St. Damian Oak Forest from 1994 until the present time. He will be pastor emeritus of St. Fabian, Bridgeview.

Father William O’Mara will retire after 45 years of service, effective July 1. Ordained in 1958, he served as associate pastor at Divine Infant of Prague (Flossmoor) from 1958-64. He was a professor at Quigley Seminary (South) from 1964-77. He was then active in the Diocese of Dallas, Texas, from 1977-86. He served as associate pastor at St. James (Sauk Village) from 1986-87. He was the founding pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton, a position he has held since 1987 until his retirement. He will be pastor emeritus of that same parish.

Father Thomas Purtell will retire after 43 years of service, effective July 1. Ordained in 1961, he served as associate pastor at St. Joseph, Homewood, from 1961-66; Our Lady of Lourdes (Keeler) from 1966-73; St. Benedict, Blue Island, from 1973-79; and at St. John Fisher from 1979-84. He was then named pastor of St. John Fisher in 1984, a position he has held since that time. He will be pastor emeritus of that same parish.