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May 11, 2008

Priesthood’s ‘possibility’ became reality for him

By Dolores Madlener

STAFF WRITER

Interviewee

Father Jason Malave, pastor at St. Bartholomewʼs on the Northwest Side, pictured here with parish school students, said he grew up in a ‘very Catholic’ neighborhood in Chicago. Catholic New World/Karen Callaway

He is: Father Jason Malave (pronounced Ma-la-VEY), pastor St. Bartholomew Parish on the Northwest Side. Has bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Louvain in Belgium, master’s degree in divinity, a degree in sacred theology and almost licentiate in the same from University of St. Mary of the Lake. Ordained in 1997.

Old neighborhood: Grew up in Nativity BVM Parish in Marquette Park. Mom is German- Irish, Dad is Puerto Rican. “We were a kind of League of Nations in a Lithuanian parish.”

Rooted in faith: “It was a quiet, peaceful neighborhood, very Catholic.” Their house was within blocks of Nativity Grade School, Maria High School, Holy Cross Hospital and the Sisters of St. Casimir Mother House.

Parents: Dad was a television repairman. “Our TV was always the worst on the block. Mom was a beautician and ward clerk at Holy Cross Hospital and a fulltime mother.”

Being an altar boy: “Nobody recruited me, but if you went to Mass on Sundays, at some point you were expected to serve. It was a real gift.”

Priesthood? “I don’t remember anyone asking ‘Do you want to be a priest?’ But there was a young priest who became our associate when I was in fourth or fifth grade who was a breath of fresh air from what we were used to.”

Quigley: “I kind of knew, I don’t know how, that Quigley would be a good place for me. We used to drive by it all the time going to my grandmother’s house. I knew St. Rita was a jock school and I wasn’t a jock. Off to Quigley I went. No one pushed me into it.”

Musical theater: “I decided to join theater in freshman year. I met lots of new people and it was an exciting way to get to know your classmates. Then they were looking for help at Maria High School so I did a couple musicals there.” He sang in Quigley’s choir and played the trumpet.

Off to Niles Seminary: His vocation “grew on me and it grew on my family and friends. I hadn’t decided that first year at Niles — wasn’t signing any documents. It was just a greater opportunity for me to think about the possibility.

New view: “Then I went to the University of Louvain in Belgium for a year. It was a spectacular experience of the church as it once was, in terms of the architecture.” Witnessing Catholicism throughout Europe and Africa and Eastern Europe spurred him on.

Role of a priest: “I’ll be finishing 11 years as a priest. My priesthood has changed from being an associate to becoming a pastor. It was a transition. People just don’t see you the same way. They feel much freer with the associate. But fundamentally priestly life is the same: service to the people and preaching the Good News.”

Lonely?: “By the grace of God we are a good-sized house, with four guys living together. We probably don’t experience loneliness on a daily basis. There are definitely moments on days off or Saturday or Sunday evenings. I challenge myself to stay connected with my family and friends. The last four years I’ve been involved in the Association of Chicago Priests with a goal to keeping priests connected with each other to avoid isolation.”

Biggest joy: “Celebrating the sacraments. It’s such a gift beyond gifts. The Eucharist, reconciliation, baptism or marriage — any time someone places themselves in my care, it’s a humbling, humbling experience.”

The challenge: “Today’s culture, because it’s not supportive of practicing our faith.” He previously worked with young adults “on fire with their faith” at St. Benedict’s on the North Side. “The last six years I’ve been engaged in keeping our teenagers and young adults connected to the church at St. Bart’s. It’s a way to openly foster religious vocations.”