Cardinal George consecrates Bishop Listecki. photo by David V. Kamba

A New Bishop
Bishop Listecki ordained in colorful ceremony at Holy Name Cathedral

By Michael D. Wamble
STAFF WRITER

Sarah McCarter’s intention upon returning to Chicago last June was to attend adult formation classes to help bring her sister into the Catholic faith. The salt-and-peppered-haired McCarter had no idea she would wind up enrolled in a weekly confirmation class at St. Ignatius Parish on the city’s North Side.

“I had never been confirmed as a Catholic,” McCarter confessed as she tucked into the warmth of the next-to-last pew of Holy Name Cathedral Jan. 8.

But it was something about her pastor—his gift of breathing life into the faith—that convinced McCarter that it was time to be confirmed.

She wasn’t the only Catholic to recognize this priest’s talents and possibilities.

Last November, Pope John Paul II appointed McCarter’s pastor, Jerome E. Listecki, auxiliary bishop of Chicago. On Jan. 8, Cardinal George ordained the Chicago Southeast Side native.

In the two months that zipped by after the announcement, McCarter and other members of St. Ignatius’ adult confirmation class, learned about the Catholic faith from a priest affirmed by the pope in the office of teacher.

“How lucky can you get?,” asked McCarter.

As her pastor entered, members of the Listecki family and hundreds of friends scanned the cathedral for him.

Eyeing the many constituencies he has served: former classmates and students of the archdiocesan seminary system, St. Ignatius parishioners, and officers and enlisted men and women in the U.S. Army, the broad-shouldered bishop confidently processed with Cardinal George, and visiting co-consecrators Archbishops John G. Vlazny of Portland and James P. Keleher of Kansas City.

Employing the imagery of gifts recipients “compare, analyze, praise and evaluate” during the Christmas season, Cardinal George described the appointment of Bishop Listecki as “a great gift” to the church.

“Today, the Chicago Church receives a priest who will become a good bishop. We know who he is, and we won’t exchange him,” said the cardinal to the congregation’s laughter and enthusiastic applause. “In his heart, I hope and pray that he [Bishop Listecki] hears the words that tell him that the Lord is pleased with him. These are the words that will sustain him in the years to come.”

Upon his entry into the episcopacy, Bishop Listecki walked each aisle of the cathedral to bless the congregation with the sign of the cross.

Among those Bishop Listecki blessed were Rudolph Harper and Chaplain (LTC) Eric Wester of the Office of the Army Chief of Chaplains.

“Bishop Listecki will be outstanding for this archdiocese,” said former Quigley South classmate and Niles College basketball teammate Harper. “Jerome brings the kind of intelligentsia and faith that we need right now in Chicago and in the world.”

Said Wester of the former Army “Homilist of the Year,” “Bishop Listecki has not only served as a U.S. Army reserve chaplain but combined his ministry in the archdiocese by serving soldiers on a part-time basis. He is a great homilist.”

Following his ordination, Bishop Listecki told family and friends, “I’m glad the cardinal’s gift didn’t come with a return slip. … “I love this church.”

(Retired) Col. Frank X. Reller of Columbia, Mo., one of a number of active and retired members of the Army present at the Mass, said he was determined to see his military buddy become a bishop.

“During my six years [stationed at Fort Sheridan], Father Jerry became a part of our family,” said Reller, recalling time spent with the bishop’s sister, Penny, and evenings dining on his mother’s kielbasa.

Said Reller, “When I asked him what he would do as bishop, he told me that for now he would still tend to leaky roofs and obligations at St. Ignatius and perform hundreds of confirmations, and retain his military duties. Though his plate is full, he is more than capable of handling it all.”

Eager candidate-in-waiting McCarter is excited by the prospect of being confirmed by her teacher.

Said McCarter, “One of the first things he said to our confirmation class after the announcement was, ‘You won’t have any problem finding a bishop.’”