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July 6, 2008

This fire-fighting fan works at igniting the faith

By Dolores Madlener

STAFF WRITER

Interviewee

On a day off, Father Tom Franzman maintains his collection of antique fire trucks. He brought this 1929 Pirsch to Sheil Fest recently. “We have some fun with them, including parades.”Catholic New World/Karen Callaway

He is: Father Tom Franzman. An alum of St. Margaret Mary School in West Rogers Park, Quigley, Niles Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake. Ordained 1970. Received prestigious Joseph Cardinal Bernardin “As Those Who Serve Award” from Mundelein Seminary in 2008.

Assignments include: St. Clotilde Parish; St. Bede, Ingleside; Carmel High School for Girls, Mundelein; and administrator for Catholic Charities Youth Camp, McHenry County. Became associate pastor at Holy Name Cathedral while working as coordinator of archdiocesan construction. Was rector of Quigley North Seminary 1982-90; made pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish on the East Side in 1990. He’s past director of the Department of Evangelization and currently director pro-tem/chaplain Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern University in Evanston.

Growing up: His German and Irish parents were school teachers, so “My older sister and I kind of knew what was expected. I was a tinker-er, trying to build and repair stuff.” The only trouble he got into was “taking something apart I couldn’t put back together.” During high school years he built an early jet-ski and, using an old Montgomery Ward 8-hp outboard on the transom, drove it on Lake Elizabeth in Wisconsin.

Job-hunter: “Growing up I delivered the Herald-American, cut lawns and was a soda jerk at Sanders Pharmacy.” He filled in as organist in summer at seven churches and the cathedral. “In those days before Vatican II, weekday Mass was a sung high Mass. I’d be done by 9 a.m., so I’d work in a hardware store or caddy at Edgewater Golf Course.”

Path to priesthood: “I saw the example of very good priests at St. Margaret Mary. I thought I’d like to be like Father George McKenna, Tom Maher and others — they stood out, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of LaGrange encouraged us.”

Adapting to assignments: “I enjoy meeting people and making connections. You find ways. My knowledge of the city and bluecollar life helps me break the ice with men coming to the rectory for one thing or another. An electrician? Are you from Local 134?”

Students have surprised him: “I thought college kids would be combative, no one wanting to go to church — a tough group. I found them creative, respectful, delightful. We have 800-1,000 Northwestern students coming to our four Sunday Masses.”

Working vacation: Just returned from a week’s Habitat for Humanity experience in Tutweiler, Miss. with 21 associates from Sheil Center.

Hobbies and avocation: He’s a certified scuba diver, ham radio operator and plays the piano. He’s also a fire-fighting fan. “We had a little fire department when I was at the seminary, with an old truck, mainly for grass fires.” He’s assistant fire chaplain with the Chicago Fire Dept. Was just asked by the fire chief in Evanston to help there.

One small obsession: “Sadly I’ve acquired five antique fire trucks.” Their vintages are 1929, ’30, ’54, ’56 and ’61. “I brought the ’29 Pirsch to Sheil Fest a few weeks ago and gave rides.”

Priest’s prayer life: “For me, it’s the morning or evening. Here [at Newman Center] we have morning prayer at 8:15 and Mass at 4:30 p.m. I go on a yearly retreat at Mundelein or one of several monasteries. Or direct my own retreat with a bunch of books at a cottage in Door County.”

Staying contented: “The secret I’ve used is, invest in where you’re at. Know the people in the neighborhood, as well as in your parish, or assignment, so when you walk around, people know you and it becomes your home. At St. Michael’s, I’d be on Commercial Avenue and people would wave and say, ‘Hello, Father,’ or ‘Hola, Padre.’” (His mom and sister now live near Atlanta, Ga.)

What is today’s challenge? “Time. Having enough time to do the things expected of us. As the number of priests has declined, the work has expanded.”

Typical day off: He likes to get away from phones. “I go to the South Side where I keep my fire engines and work there physically. I like to work outside. The place used to be a coal business. I have 600 feet of grass to cut.”

Motto: “It’s from Will Rogers, ‘Everybody is ignorant, just in different subjects.’ It keeps me humble. Have a healthy respect for what people know, humility so we aren’t pretentious and keep humor handy.”