Issue of March 5, 2006
Cicero-born archbishop dies
Archbishop Paul C. Marcinkus, a Chicago priest often regarded as the most powerful American in the Vatican during his 18 years as president of the Vatican bank, died Feb. 20 at his home in Sun City, Ariz., apparently of natural causes. He was 84.
His funeral Mass was celebrated March 2 at Holy Name Cathedral. Cardinal George was chief celebrant. Burial was at St. Casimir Cemetery in Chicago.
The Cicero-born archbishop, who spent 38 years in the Vatican before his retirement in 1990, headed the Vatican bank from 1971 to 1989 and was head of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State from 1981 to 1990. Under his watch the bank was involved—unwittingly, he always maintained—in a major 1980s Italian banking scandal.
He also served as advance man for the global travels of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II from 1964 to 1982. A burly 6-foot-3, he was always near the pope as a personal bodyguard during trips. In Manila in 1970 he helped save Pope Paul VI’s life when he wrestled down a knife-wielding attacker.
Marcinkus grew up in St. Anthony Lithuanian Parish, Cicero. He graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein. He was ordained by Samuel Cardinal Stritch in 1947.
Retired archdiocesan priest Father Vito Mikolaitis, a fellow Lithuanian, knew the archbishop very well from seminary days, although they were four years apart. “He was a great athlete, and spoke Lithuanian fluently. Whenever Chicago priests came to Rome, he was gracious with his hospitality.”
Marcinkus first served as assistant pastor at St. Christina Parish. From 1949-52 he served at the archdiocesan chancery, until he was appointed to a three-year term at the Vatican Secretariat of State.
In 1952 he joined the Vatican diplomatic corps and served in Bolivia and Canada. He returned to Rome in 1959 as a Secretariat of State official.
Pope Paul VI ordained him a bishop in 1969 and two years later appointed him head of the Vatican bank. Pope John Paul II named him an archbishop and Pro-President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State in 1981. He was responsible for the City State’s post office, building maintenance, police, health services, phone and railway systems and visitors’ assistance and personnel.
In 1987, he moved into the Vatican after Italian police tried to serve an arrest warrant on him on charges of complicity in the $1.2 billion fraudulent bankruptcy in 1982 of the Banco Ambrosiano, Italy’s largest independent bank. In 1988 Italy’s Constitutional Court ruled the warrant was invalid because of the Vatican’s status as an independent state, and the charges were dropped. Over the years articles have questioned the relationship between Archbishop Marcinkus and two Italian banking figures—Banco Ambrosiano president Roberto Calvi and international financier Michele Sindona.
Calvi was found hanged under a bridge in London following his bank’s collapse. Sindona was convicted of fraud in the 1970s and died in jail of cyanide poisoning, presumably suicide.
The Vatican bank said it suffered only minor losses in the collapse of Sindona’s holdings. It never admitted any fault in relation to Banco Ambrosiano’s bankruptcy, but in 1984 it made what the Vatican called a “good will” payment of $240 million to Banco Ambrosiano’s former creditors.
In 1990, Archbishop Marcinkus said, “I was always against that payment, because we didn’t do anything wrong. The Vatican didn’t have to put out a cent.”
Following his 1990 retirement, Archbishop Marcinkus moved to Sun City near Phoenix where he helped out at a parish.
In retirement, he returned to his native Cicero often, including a celebration of his 50th anniversary with a Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Parish.
Contributing: CNS
Sr. Marie Hamel
Died Dec. 13
A funeral Mass was held for Sister of St. Joseph Marie Hamel on Dec. 13 at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse Chapel, LaGrange Park. Sister Hamel celebrated 63 years of religious life. She is survived by one brother and three sisters.
Sr. Agnes Jean Groff
Educator
BVM Sister Agnes Jean Groff, 74, died Dec. 23 at Caritas Center, Dubuque, Iowa. Born in Kansas City, Mo., Sr. Groff entered the BVM congregation in 1948. She professed first vows on March 19, 1951 and final vows on Aug. 15, 1956.
Sr. Groff taught in Chicago at St. Charles, 1951; St. Jerome, 1965-70; and St. Eulalia in Maywood, 1955-61. She also taught in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas.
Sr. Mary Clare McGrath
Educator
BVM Sister Mary Clare McGrath, 99, died Jan. 5 at Marian Hall, Dubuque, Iowa. Born in St. Louis, she entered the BVM congregation in 1926. She professed her first vows on March 19, 1938 and her final vows on Aug. 15, 1934.
Sister McGrath ministered in Chicago for 50 years. She taught music at St. Dorothy, 1928-30; St. Eulalia in Maywood, 1930-37; St. Odilo in Berwyn, 1949-55; St. Mary High School, 1955-58; St. Ferdinand, 1958-65; Immaculata High School, 1968-69; and was on the staff of Holy Name Cathedral High School, 1969-93. She also taught in Iowa and New York.
Sr. Mary Joanicia Smaron
Educator
Felician Sister Mary Joanicia Smaron, 89, died Dec. 24. Born in East Chicago, Ind., she entered the Felician Sisters in 1934 and professed her final vows in 1942. She ministered as a teacher in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Bronislava, 1936-39; St. Bruno, 1948-52; Sts. Peter and Paul, 1956-58; St. Joseph, 1958-60; St. Isidore in Blue Island, 1960-62; Our Lady of Ransom in Niles, 1962-64; St. Linus, 1968-78; and St. Turibius, 1978-97.
Sr. Raissa Metz
Educator
Dominican Sister Raissa Metz, 81, died Dec. 9 at the Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Wis. Born in Stetsonville, Wis., Sr. Metz made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican on Feb. 3, 1947, and her final profession on Aug. 5, 1950.
Sr. Metz was a grade school teacher for 49 years in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Giles in Oak Park, 1981-84, and St. Thomas More, 1993-97. From 1984 to 1985 she served in the Dominican Education Center Book Store at Sinsinawa.
Sr. Rosemary Donovan
Educator
Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Rosemary (St. James) Donovan, 89, died Dec. 21 at Mount Notre Dame Health Center, Reading, Ohio. Sr. Donov an was a native of Dayton, Ohio. She received her undergraduate degree from the Athenaeum of Ohio in 1947 and a masters degree in religious education from Loyola University in 1978.
Sr. Donovan was an educator for more than 55 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered for 19 years at St. John the Apostle in Villa Park.
Sr. Mary Michaeline Curran
Educator
Mercy Sister Mary Michaeline Curran, 94, died Dec. 29 at McAuley Convent, Aurora. Sr. Curran was a native of Chicago and ministered at schools in Illinois.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Cecilia, Holy Rosary, St. Catherine of Geneo, St. Joseph in Libertyville, St. Ann, All Saints, Holy Family in North Chicago, St. Gabriel, St. Rose of Lima, St. Malachy, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Ita, Little Flower, and Mother McAuley High School.
Sr. Eileen Marie Ryan
Educator, principal
Dominican Sister Eileen Marie (Susan) Ryan, 99, died at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich. Sr. Ryan was born in Ireland. She received a bachelor’s degree from Siena Heights University, Adrian, and a master’s degree in education from DePaul University.
She spent 64 years ministering in education in Michigan, Florida and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a teacher at St. Carthage, 1945-49; a principal at St. Kilian, 1949-55; a teacher at St. Nicholas of Tolentine, 1955-58; a teacher at St. Philip Neri, 1958-59; a principal at St. Denis, 1959-65; a teacher at St. Joseph in Homewood, 1965-68; and a secretary at Santa Maria Del Popolo in Mundelein, 1968-91.
Sr. Jean Smith
Educator
Dominican Sister Jean (Raphael) Smith, 79, died Dec. 12 at Mercy Medical Center, Dubuque, Iowa. Sr. Smith was born in New York. She made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican on Aug. 5, 1948, and her final profession on Aug. 5, 1951.
She was a teacher and principal for 30 years at schools in Illinois, District of Columbia, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Florida. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sr. Jean taught at St. Barnabas, 1948-55, and at St. Vincent Ferrer in River Forest, 1955-60. She also served as the education department chair at Rosary College (now Dominican University), 1984-92.
Sr. Marie Monica Heller
Educator, homemaker
School Sister of St. Francis Marie Monica (Arilda) Heller, 88, died Jan. 7 at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport, Wis. Born in Milo, Iowa, she entered into the School Sisters of St. Francis community in 1935 and made profession of vows in 1937.
Sr. Heller served as a homemaker, teacher, principal, parish minister and a volunteer in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a homemaker at St. Benedict Convent (1936-37), taught at St. Matthias School (1982-84), served as a parish minister and teacher at St. Matthias (1984-87), volunteered at Friends of Children (1987-93), and was a volunteer tutor at St. Priscilla Convent (1993-00).
Sr. Marie Christine Fraley
Educator
Dominican Sister Marie Christine (Agnes Marian) Fraley died Jan. 10 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich. She was 91.
Sr. Fraley ministered in education for 39 years in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Florida. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she taught at St. Kilian (1930-31), St. Nicholas (1933-37) and St. Laurence (1945-47).
From 1971-77 she served at Weber Center in Environmental Services, and from 1977-89 she ministered in the Congregation Finance Office.
Sr. Louise Leary
Educator
Sister of Providence Louise (Jerome) Leary, 86, died Jan. 2 at Mother Theodore Hall, St. Mary of the Woods, Ind. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1939 and professed final vows in 1948. She served as an educator at schools in North Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland and New Hampshire. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mel-Holy Ghost from 1949-54.
Sr. Rose Angele Spalding
Educator
Sister of Providence Rose Angele (Monica Elizabeth) Spalding, 92, died Jan. 8. Born in Loogootee, Ind., Sr. Spalding entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1933 and professed final vows in 1941. She ministered as a teacher and an administrator in Illinois, Indiana and District of Columbia. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Angela (1936), St. Francis Xavier in Wilmette (1947-54), Our Lady of Sorrows (1936-41), and St. Alexander in Palos Heights (1960-61).
Sr. Mary Hickey
Educator
Sister of Providence Mary Hickey, 96, died Jan. 12 at St. Mary of the Woods, Ind. Born in Chicago, Sr. Hickey entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1927 and professed final vows in 1935. She was an educator at schools in Illinois, Indiana and Maryland. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she taught at St. Columbkille (1933-34), St. Sylvester (1934-35; 1938-41), St. Mel (1941-43), St. Leo (1949-54) and St. Mark (1965-67). She also served as a principal at St. Mark from 1967-68.
Sr. Margaret Mary Dunn
College professor
Sacred Heart Sister Margaret Mary “Peggy” Dunn, former English professor at Barat College, died Jan. 14, at Kenwood Convent of the Sacred Heart, Albany, N.Y. She was 83.
Sr. Dunn taught English at Barat College, Lake Forest, from 1967-82. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, she was an advocate for African-American students at Barat and helped them organize the Black Student Union. In 1970, Sister Dunn launched Barat’s Oxford Program, which made it possible for Barat students to study at Oxford University in England.
She also taught English and served as an academic dean at Manhattanville College, Purchase, N.Y., from 1958 to 1966. She taught English at the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo and at the University of San Diego.
The New York native entered the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1952.
Sr. Shirley Hellmann
Educator, secretary
Charity Sister Shirley (Shirley Mae) Hellmann, 69, died Jan. 9 at Seton Residence, Evansville, Ind. Sr. Hellmann was born in St. Louis and joined the Daughters of Charity in 1957.
She ministered as a teacher at schools in Louisiana, New York and Illinois. In 1967, she began teaching at Marillac High School, Northfield. From 1975-82, she worked in pastoral care at St. Mary’s Hospital’s in Evansville, Ind.; Milwaukee, Wis.; and Saginaw, Mich.
In 1980, Sr. Hellmann received a master’s in pastoral studies from Loyola University in Chicago. In 1982, she began serving as a secretary at St. Vincent DePaul Center in Chicago and remained there until 1993, when she came to Seton Residence because of health problems. She was able to go to St. Patrick’s School in LaSalle, Ill., in 1997 and served as a tutor/aide until 2000, when she returned to Seton Residence.
Sr. Veronica Tamm
Educator
Dominican Sister Veronica (Bernadette Ann) Tamm, 74, died Jan. 18 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich. Sr. Tamm was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She earned a Master of Arts Degree in religious education from Mundelein College in Chicago. She spent 28 years ministering in education in Illinois, Michigan, and Arizona. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Edmund, Oak Park, from 1951-60.
Sr. Stephanie Wronski
Educator
BVM Sister Stephanie Wronski, 89, died Jan. 7 at Marian Hall, Dubuque, Iowa. She was born in Chicago and attended Nash Elementary School and St. Mary High School. She entered the BVM congregation on Feb. 2, 1935. She professed first vows on Aug. 15, 1937 and final vows on Aug. 15, 1942.
Sr. Wronski taught at Mary Queen of Heaven in Cicero (1937-38), Holy Cross (1938-53, 1957-58), and St. Tarcissus (1958-93). She also taught in Davenport, Iowa.
