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January 20, 2008
Priest draws on Irish heritage, love of painting
Father Marty Marren, pastor of St. Emeric’s in Country Club Hills, would like to paint each of the counties in Ireland. Catholic New World/Natalie Battaglia
He is: Father Martin T. (Marty) Marren, pastor, St. Emeric Parish, Country Club Hills. Born July 23, 1958. An alum of St. Christopher School in Midlothian, Quigley South, Niles College, and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. Has a bachelor’s degree in fine art and English literature as well as a master’s in divinity. Ordained 1984 by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin.
Grew up in south suburbs: “We were the second house [built] on the block.” St. Christopher’s had wide open spaces then. For the Marrens’ six girls and four boys, “There were always enough kids to have our own softball team, or play hockey in the driveway.” Parents celebrated 50th anniversary last summer.
How chaos was kept to a minimum: Mrs. Marren dealt with daily disciplinary situations on the spot, while her husband (now a retired brick layer) was at work. In the end, “my parents spoke with one voice.”
Parents born in Ireland: “Dad is from Dawros-Sligo and Mom [the former Eileen Caffrey] is from Charlestown in Mayo.” For the last seven years he and his father have gone back to Ireland to visit relatives. He has bragging rights to a first cousin in England, Kieran Conry, who became bishop of Arundel-Brighton in 2001; and his mother’s first cousin is Chicago-born Bishop James Keleher, now retired bishop of Kansas City.
Artistic talent encouraged: He had teachers in grade school and through the seminary system who encouraged his artistic abilities. While the family can’t pinpoint where it originated, two of his brothers (including James, who passed away) also got the artistic gene. His favorite artist is Dublin- born Harry Clarke — famous for his 1920s illustrations, mostly in stained glass.
Has begun a life’s dream: He’s set himself a goal to do a watercolor painting in each county of Ireland — either a landscape or a special holy site, “like Glendalough, the ruins of Cashel or Banada Abbey in my father’s hometown.” While he’s kissed the Blarney stone (“one time only, in 1989”), he still would like to climb Crough Patrick, Ireland’s highest point.
Pen and ink: This is his medium of choice at the moment. He sketches his bulletin covers and is proud of the work he’s done since ordination for “Upturn,” the magazine published by the Association of Chicago Priests. His art is understandable and authentic. Once upon a time at Quigley he submitted a drawing to Ma Bell for a U.S. sesquicentennial art contest. His drawing landed on everyone’s Chicago phone book in 1976. He’s proud his sketch of the chapels of Archbishop Quigley and Quigley South seminaries, drawn at the time of their merger in 1990, has become part of the yearly Quigley Alumni Award.
Good honest work: During his last two summers before the dioconate years at Mundelein Seminary, he worked at G&W Electric, a manufacturing company in Blue Island. “Most of my family worked there at one time or another.” This was about when he got his first car: “A 1976 lime yellow Ford Pinto. I was lucky it didn’t explode.”
Devotional life: Daily Mass, celebrated with the faithful each day is a high point. “We’re also using a little six-minutes-a-day meditation book out of Saginaw, Mich.”
Preparing his homily: Since he works on the bulletin cover a few weeks in advance, he reads ahead in the Sunday Scriptures. The homily meditation unconsciously begins as he moves toward the completion of each drawing.
Favorite Scripture verse: Palm Sunday’s epistle to the Philippians, that includes: “In the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth and under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.”
On his day off: He doesn’t enjoy going to diocesan meetings (but it happens). He prefers catching up on reading or maybe a movie. He’s been “hooked on mysteries since ‘The Hardy Boys’ in grade school.” All-time favorite is Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.
Pet peeve: “A lack of common politeness,” i.e., when you let someone pull in front of you, and they don’t give that obligatory wave. That’s probably why he thinks the 11th Commandment should be: “Remember to say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you.’”
