ARCHDIOCESAN PRIEST, REV. PAUL B. MARSZALEK, DIES
Pastor Emeritus of St. Jane De Chantal Parish
Chicago, IL (March 13, 2014) – Rev. Paul B. Marszalek died on
Tuesday, March 11, 2014, at Holy Family Villa, a nursing home in Palos
Park. He was 87 years old.
Fr. Marszalek was born in Chicago on September 17, 1926 and attended
Five Holy Martyrs Parochial School in Chicago. He graduated from Quigley
Preparatory Seminary and from the University of St. Mary of the Lake /
Mundelein Seminary, where he received his Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of
Sacred Theology and Master of Arts degrees. Fr. Marszalek also attended
the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, for his
post-graduate studies and received a Master of Arts degree in Classics.
Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago, ordained him on May 1,
1952, alongside Bishops Raymond Geodert and John Gorman.
Fr. Marszalek’s first assignment was at Transfiguration Parish in
Chicago, where he was an Assistant Pastor from 1952
until 1960. That same year, he became Assistant Pastor of Assumption
B.V.M. Parish on 123rd Street in Chicago, which was later closed in
1990. Just one year later, in 1961, Fr. Marszalek began teaching at
Quigley Preparatory Seminary South and remained on the faculty until
1978. During his time at Quigley, he was a Resident of Immaculate
Conception Parish on 88th Street on the south side of Chicago
(1961-1965) and of SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish on Hermitage Avenue in
Chicago (1965-1978), which later closed in 1990.
Fr. Marszalek was named Pastor of St. Jane De Chantal Parish in Chicago
in 1978. He served the parish in this capacity for almost twenty years,
until 1996. Fr. Marszalek retired from active ministry in 1997 and was
named Pastor Emeritus of St. Jane De Chantal Parish.
Most Rev. Raymond Goedert, Retired Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, a
former classmate of Fr. Marszalek’s, had many kind words to say about
him, “He was our class president for a number of years and we always
looked forward to our class reunions because he would always have
something to say after dinner. Fr. Marszalek had a great sense of humor
and we all really enjoyed listening to him.” He went on to say, “He
also had a brilliant memory, for example, at one point he could name
every bishop in the United States. It was just this gift he had so he
must have been a great teacher. Fr. Marszalek was a wonderful priest, a
very hard working priest, a priest we all enjoyed very much and a priest
that we will miss very much.”
In an interview with the Catholic New World, Rev. Edward Mikolajczyk,
Pastor of Queen of Martyrs Parish in Evergreen Park, described Fr.
Marszalek as his mentor, “One of my role models while I was a student
at Quigley South was Father Paul Marszalek, a resident at our parish. I
admired him as a priest.”* Fr. Mikolajczyk met Fr. Marszalek when he
was a Resident at his home parish of Immaculate Conception. “He was
very compassionate, very dedicated and loved his priesthood. He
certainly showed that in his ministry teaching us at Quigley. Fr.
Marszalek truly loved his Polish nationality and his family. He was very
fun-loving, dedicated to his ministry and priesthood, supportive of us
students, and he impressed me because I wanted to emulate him in the
things that I did in my priesthood.”
Fr. Marszalek will lie in state from 3 to 9 p.m., on Friday, March 14,
at St. Jane De Chantal Parish, 5252 South Austin Avenue in Chicago.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 15, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Bishop Raymond Goedert will be the main celebrant of the funeral Mass
for Fr. Marszalek and Most Rev. John Gorman, Retired Auxiliary Bishop of
Chicago, will be the homilist at 11:30 a.m., on Saturday, March 15, at
St. Jane De Chantal Parish. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery
in Justice.
Fr. Marszalek is survived by his sister-in-law, Peggy Marshall, and a
niece.
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*Madlener, Dolores. “His Road to Ordination Wasn’t Paved with
Yellow Bricks”. Catholic New World. February 17-March 2, 2013
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