Theodore J. Schmitt, 57

First assignment: St. James, Arlington Heights

Education: St. Genevieve School, DePaul Academy, St. Joseph College in Indiana

Parents: the late Eileen and Theodore Schmitt

First Mass: noon May 19 at St. Mary of the Woods, Chicago

Ted Schmitt believes God was calling him to the priesthood when he was a youth. He just wasn’t ready to listen at that time.

“I wasn’t ready to serve anybody other than myself,” said Schmitt, a Chicago native.

So instead, he pursued a career in education, teaching at Driscoll Catholic High School in Addison, and eventually became head football coach, too. At the same time, he was studying film at Northwestern University. At one point, he was given the opportunity to work for Universal Studios in California or move into the college athletic arena; he chose working in the movies, and stayed at Universal for 16 years before spending two years as an independent film producer. He made two films, including one that starred current Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura.

But then something happened. “I started to have the ability to pray for what God wanted instead of what I wanted,” Schmitt said. And God wanted him to be a priest.

Friends and relatives were “surprised, but not shocked,” by his decision to enter Mundelein, Schmitt said, acknowledging that they might have seen something in him all along that he didn’t see.

Schmitt said his experience in the world will help him minister to parishioners.

“I think I can relate very strongly to people, and sympathize with people,” he said. “I understand what they’re going through.”

When it comes to the scandal-charged atmosphere in which he will be ordained, Schmitt draws on his life experience.

“What I’ve learned, especially from my athletic background, is that when things are a little more challenging, there’s always a greater opportunity to do good,” he said. “I relish the opportunity to walk the walk.”

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