Issue of March 28, 2004

Fr. Peter Rodriguez

Pastor of St. Paul Church

Claretian Father Peter Rodriguez, 72, pastor of St. Paul’s Church on Chicago’s near West side and a prominent leader of Hispanic ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago, died in his sleep March 17.

Father Rodriguez, a Spanish-born Claretian, spent most of his priestly life in ministry to Hispanics in the Chicago area. Before being appointed pastor of St. Paul’s in 2000, he served for many years at Holy Cross/Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, where he was associate pastor from 1978 until 1991 and pastor from 1991 until 2000. Prior to that, he ministered for 15 years at St. Francis of Assisi Church.

In addition to his parish assignments, Father Rodriguez served Chicago’s Hispanic Catholic community as the Vicar for the Hispanic Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1979 until 1987. For several years he was the programming director of Chicago’s Catholic Television Network, and later he wrote columns for the Chicago Católico newspaper and other Latino publications. In the late 1950s, before his parish work, he taught theology at the Claretians’ St. Jude Seminary in Momence, Ill.

Born in 1931 in Extremadura, Spain, Father Rodriguez joined the Claretian Missionaries in 1950 in Salvatierra, Spain. He came to the United States in 1954 and three years later was ordained to the priesthood in Chicago.

Throughout his ministry, Father Rodriguez was a strong advocate for Hispanic rights. In 1972 he testified against the Rodino Bill, legislation that was pending in Congress that would have meant that anyone who looked or talked like a Hispanic could have been stopped and asked for proof of legal residency. Two years later the Immigration and Naturalization Service had him arrested when he took pictures during an INS raid on a factory.

Four years ago, Father Rodriguez became pastor of St. Paul’s, the historic, twin-spired church on West 22nd Place. The parish, which the Claretians have been serving since 1987, also runs an elementary school and, across the street from the rectory, Casa Claret, a study house for Hispanic, college-age young men who reside in community and who have shown a desire to take leadership roles in church life, either as religious or as members of the laity.

At St. Paul’s, Father Rodriguez and his staff also helped parishioners with many social services such as job referrals, assistance at income tax time, or legal help with immigration papers or real estate problems.

In 2002, Father Rodriguez received the Angelina Marques Lifetime Service Award for Hispanic Ministry from Cardinal George. He was honored for his “efforts on behalf of the most vulnerable and least protected: the refugees from poverty.” In 1975 he was named “Latin Man of the Year” by the Chicago Archdiocese Latin America Committee.

Fr. Mark Dennehy

Teacher, pastor

Servite Father Mark Dennehy, 85, died Feb. 29. A Chicago native, he entered the novitiate in 1936 and professed his final vows in 1943. He was ordained a priest in 1946. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served at St. Philip High School from 1947-66, holding the positions of teacher, assistant principal, and principal. He served as pastor at Seven Holy Founders Parish, Calumet Park, 1970-88; and associate pastor, Annunciata Parish, 1989-97. He was assigned to Annunciata Priory, Chicago, as a retired friar in 1997, where he remained until May 2003, when he moved to Holy Family Villa, Lemont.

Sr. Jacob Nehrud

Housekeeper

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jacob Nehrud, 85, died Feb. 26. Born in Dakota County, Minn., she was one of six children. She made her first religious profession in 1940 and her final profession in 1943. She served the sisters in the congregation as a housekeeper for 51 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at Trinity Convent, River Forest, 1960-62; and at Queen of Peace Ministry Center, Burbank, 1981-91.

Sr. Mary Mercier

Educator

BVM Sister of Charity Mary (Rose Cecile) Mercier, 90, died Feb. 26. Born in Sutton, Neb., she entered the BVM congregation in 1931 and made her final vows in 1939. She ministered as a teacher for nearly 50 years. In the Chicago area, she taught at St. Dorothy, 1934-38; St. Charles, 1945-47; St. Eulalia, Maywood, 1947; St. Peter, Antioch, 1949-52; and St. Gilbert, Grayslake, 1972-76.

Fr. Francis McDonnell

teacher

Augustinian Father Francis McDonnell, 90, died Feb. 23 following a brief illness. He entered the novitiate in 1935, professed simple vows in 1936, and solemn vows in 1939. He was ordained a priest in 1942. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served as teacher, assistant chaplain and vocations director at St. Rita High School from 1943-49.

He served his congregation as Mission Procurator from 1979-82. In this office, he was responsible for raising funds to support the work of the Augustinian missions in northern Peru.

Br. Leonard Bauer

fundraiser

Divine Word Missionary Brother Leonard Bauer, 87, died Jan. 20. Born in Freeburg, Mo., he entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1937 and professed his vows in 1940. His talents were in fundraising and business. He served his whole 67 years as a religious in the business and development offices at Divine Word Seminary, Techny, and at Divine Word College, Epworth, Iowa.