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March 30, 2008
This ‘Man in Black’ wears a Roman collar and sings
Father Chris Doering is pastor at Our Lady of Victory Parish. He will impersonate Johnny Cash, the Man in Black, at “Padres Plus on Parade” on March 30. Catholic New World/Natalie Battaglia
He is: Father Christopher (Chris) Doering, pastor, Our Lady of Victory Parish, 5212 W. Agatite St. Born Oct. 29, 1972, raised in St. Bartholomew’s; alum of Quigley (North), Niles College and Mundelein Seminary. Has bachelors in Latin and masters of divinity degree. Ordained 1998. Parents are Herb and Alice Doering. Has two sisters.
Before computers: “I was into basketball and pick-up baseball and softball in the neighborhood. I didn’t start taking school seriously until sixth grade — the first time I made honor roll. After that my goal was always to make the honor roll.”
Parents taught work ethic: “My dad worked for a meat-packing house for 30 years. From about when I was in fourth grade Mom worked full time doing book-keeping and accounting. For the past nine years she’s been a DRE at a couple parishes.”
Call to priesthood: When Father Hal Stanger, a recruiter for Quigley, asked where I was going to high school, I said I was looking at Weber or St. Pat’s. He asked if I’d consider Quigley. I gave him a typical eighth-grade answer: “Well-ll, I guess ...’ But I’d thought about priesthood a couple years prior.” Stanger invited him to Quigley’s open house. “When I got there I loved it. Call me crazy, but when I walked in there, it was like walking into another world.”
Surrounded by mentors: “I was an altar boy from fifth to eighth grade and our pastor, Father [Arthur] Krueger, was larger than life. I respected him and thought he was God’s first cousin. At Quigley there were teachers like Father Bill Sheridan, Father Dan Mayall and Father Jim Joslyn.
His wheels: “First car was a ’70 Chevy Impala, metallic gold with a black vinyl top. I got it the summer of ’94, between Niles and Mundelein. Today I drive an ’89 SUV.” He likes Harleys and wears Harley shirts. Two things keep him from getting a hog — “Cost and my mom would kill me.”
Holy Land experience: I traveled to the Holy Land with my little sister right after ordination on a tour led by Father Chuck Faso. It was an absolute thrill. I celebrated some of my first Masses there.
First confession: In fact I heard my first confession in the church of the Garden of Gethsemane. A British lady walked up and asked, “Father, can you hear my confession?” I wasn’t ‘fully aware’ yet that I was a priest, but then it hit me, ‘I can do it!’”
Instant administrator: On his first assignment at St. George Parish, Tinley Park, he became temporary administrator upon the death of the pastor. He had less than six years’ experience. “It’s the mark of a good priest-pastor, if you structure the parish to run well without you. That was how St. George parishioners were prepared for the loss of Father [Don] Cahill.”
CEO Training: “One thing we could use in the seminary is maybe a quarter course on how to do budgets and some accounting basics, so you’ll know what to expect on the business side.”
“Padres Plus on Parade”: He will perform in the archdiocese’s entertainment showcase March 30. People say he does a good Johnny Cash. He became a fan of the Man in Black at Mundelein. “I have three acoustic guitars. My favorite was given to me by a bunch of my friends for my birthday. It plays like a dream. When I hit the first chord I said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is what a really good guitar sounds like!’ Favorite Cash song is “Fulsom Prison Blues.”
Repertoire: “Mostly I play older country, songs of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, a little Hank Williams, some Willie Nelson, with some Cash.”
Dream vacation: “To plan a trip to Sun Studio in Memphis where Elvis and Cash recorded their first albums. I’d like to do an actual band thing with some pals of mine and bang out some tunes.”
Other ministries to pursue: Periodically I think about military chaplaincy. I would like to do more parish adult education. Pope JPII said it should be the norm in a parish and not the exception. Not that I have all this wisdom, but I would like to share what I have. For most Catholics, faith formation is Mass on Sunday.”
11th Commandment: “Go beyond your own needs.”
