By Hilary Anderson
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

	Bishop-designate Listecki speaks in a Mundelein classroom.

Bishop-designate Jerome E. Listecki has spent much of his life in the classroom—on both sides of the desk.

After graduation from St. Michael the Archangel School, he progressed through the archdiocesan seminary system, with additional studies at DePaul University College of Law and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome.

Not long after ordination, he was back in the classroom teaching at Quigley Preparatory Seminary North and then, for 17 years, at Mundelein Seminary. For those who went through school with him, or were taught by him, his name engenders only warm memories. The comments and anecdotes come quickly and often with a laugh or smile in the voice.

“Jerry was a South Sider and proud of it” said Father Anthony Brankin, who was a classmate of the future bishop. “He grew up in a neighborhood called ‘the Bush’ and lived across the street from the steel mill where he worked during summers while in high school and the seminary. He used to regale us with stories of what it was like working by the blast furnace.”

Brankin adds he and others loved visiting the Listecki house. “His mother would load up a sandwich for you that would choke a horse.”

According to Brankin, the bishop-designate was a great athlete and eventually became captain of any team he ever joined. “He had the most number of fouls in basketball in the seminary,” Brankin quipped.

“He has more energy than 12 people put together,” he added. “The man is tireless. He finished college in three years and then went on to DePaul to get a law degree. Jerry would finish one massive project that most would be satisfied with for life and then move on to the next. He is one of the most pastoral priests I know—constantly doing weddings, baptisms, making hospital visits. He is a strong but gentle person very much concerned about Christ and the church. He’s incredible.”

Father Timothy O’Malley also is a long-time friend who graduated from law school with Bishop-designate Listecki.

“He has always been a great friend,” said O’Malley.“Even with all the work he does, his ties to people in the southwest suburbs are still strong. He doesn’t forget people.”

Father Robert Barron, a fellow faculty member at Mundelein, agrees. “He is good at keeping contacts with people he knows. I have no idea how many miles he puts on his car each year but it must be a lot. It isn’t uncommon for Jerry to do a baptism in the southwest suburbs and then drive to a wedding up north.”

Brankin and O’Malley estimate their friend drives 50,000 to 60,000 miles each year doing pastoral duties.

“He likes driving an old Cadillac,” added O’Malley. “It’s probably because the car is made with a lot of steel, reflective of the fact he grew up in the shadow of the steel mill.”

Barron goes on to describe the future bishop as tremendously good-hearted. He recalls an incident in which Listecki learned of the death of the father of a new student while reading the newspaper.

“He barely knew the student but drove all the way from Mundelein to the South Side to attend the wake,” Barron recounted. “That’s typical of him.”

But Barron doesn’t want anyone to overlook his friend’s lighter side.

“Jerry has a great sense of humor and probably knows more jokes than any one,” he added.

The former professor is similarly admired by his students. One of the many priests he has taught is Father James Presta, who remembers his class in moral theology.

“Father Listecki was so enthusiastic about the material,” he said. “He wanted us to know that church law is good and makes a positive difference in people’s lives.”

Presta said their class had daily quizzes to make sure they were reading the assignments. “It worked! He was always very engaging and got us to think, participate and integrate the church’s teachings with our own personal consciences.”

In another memorable class, they were taught how to hear confessions. “He gave us helpful hints about what it is and what it isn’t. He played the part of the penitent. He made it funny but practical.”

Presta, who is now rector-president of St. Joseph Seminary, describes his former teacher as having the same energy and enthusiasm he had in the classroom.

“What still amazes me is how friendly and approachable he is, especially for someone who has so many degrees and is so intelligent,” said Presta. “He makes himself available to anyone who needs advice or help.”

Father Michael Boland, administrator of Catholic Charities, describes his former teacher as an example of what being a priest—a happy one at that—is all about.

“Father Listecki loves being a priest,” he said. “It’s evident in the way he lives his life. He is very pastoral, very caring. His excitement and enthusiasm are contagious.”

Boland recalls the positive feelings among St. Ignatius parishioners when Listecki became the church’s pastor.

“People were very excited about all the possibilities of his being there,” said Boland. “One Sunday Father Listecki made the announcement he was going to wash pews and invited people to come and help. Nothing was beneath him.”

Father Wayne Watts, another former student who is now on the faculty at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, refers to him as one of his favorite teachers.

“I really, really admire him,” said Watts. “He challenged us to do the best we could in class. What struck me is the number of lives he has touched from one end of the archdiocese to the other. My current assignment requires me to drive throughout the area and it isn’t uncommon for someone to say, ‘Oh, you know Father Jerry?’”

Watts says that he believes he once got a more expensive item for a fund-raising auction because he knew ‘Father Jerry.’

“I often think of him when I pray the Eucharistic prayer that says, ‘…for all those who hold and teach the Catholic faith that comes to us from the apostles…,” said Watts. “He embodies that. He lives it.”

All his friends and former students agree the future bishop’s warm personality doesn’t imply he waivers on church teaching.

“He is unbelievably sound in doctrine,” said Watts.“He doesn’t waiver, doesn’t compromise the church’s teachings.”

O’Malley describes his friend as being a tornado yet prayerful and holy, a really good homilist who loves the church. “He is so qualified to lead and teach people. He’s done so much already. I can only wonder what he’ll accomplish as a bishop.”

Barron summarizes how many of Bishop-designate Listecki’s friends view his ordination to bishop.

“He will be a very good bishop and great at confirmations. The busy life of a bishop will suit him just fine, but he might need a new car!”

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