.The. Rev Philip C. Cleary.
Photo courtesy of NPH Mu00e9xico.The Rev. Philip C. Cleary, retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago as well as former associate pastor of Our Woman of Excellent Advice Church on Hermitage Pathway in Chicago’s McKinley Playground area, died Sunday, Nov.
3, 2024, at the age of 71, in Mexico. Cleary was born upon Sept. 5, 1953, in Chicago.
He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, Niles University of Loyola Educational Institution and also the Educational Institution of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Academy in Mundelein. Cleary was actually ordained to the priesthood on May 9, 1979, through Cardinal John Cody, as well as he celebrated his first solemn Mass on May thirteen of the exact same year at St.
Jerome Parish in Chicago. He then acted as associate minister at St. Boniface Parish on Noble Road in Chicago and Our Gal of Excellent Advice Church.From 1982 to 1984, Cleary acted as head of state of the Association of Chicago Priests and was actually elected to the National Federation of Priests’ Councils Executive Board in 1983.Nuestros Pequeu00f1os Hermanos.It was throughout this moment that Cleary found out about Rev.
William B. Wasson and his purpose at Nuestros Pequeu00f1os Hermanos (NPH), a nonprofit company that targets at improving the lifestyles of orphaned and deserted children in Latin United States and the Caribbean. Cleary’s preliminary planning was actually to volunteer for one summer season at NPH’s principal orphanage in Mexico but “he promptly really felt called to keep past his three-month phrase, plunging into what ended up being a long term commitment to the little ones of NPH,” the NPH website said.
Cleary provided for years as National Director of NPH Mexico just before becoming executive director of NPH International. He stayed at NPH’s major home in Miacatlu00e1n, Morelos, Mexico, where he devoted his life to the institution’s purpose and also the children. He at that point became pastor for the Diocese of Cuernavaca in Mexico and retired in 2023.Life With Great Commitment.Bishop Ronald Hicks, head of the Diocese of Joliet and also some of Cleary’s closest friends, remembers Cleary as a mentor, role model and close friend who “resided life with great commitment.” Prior to going into the University of St.
Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, Hicks spent a year in Mexico volunteering for some of NPH’s orphanages in Mexico.” He (Cleary) certainly not merely given religious support yet also a genuine commitment to the goal of improving the little ones’s lives,” Hicks stated. Unconditional Love as well as Solution.” Due to enjoying his priesthood as well as just how he stayed it, he influenced me to get into the priesthood myself.” Hicks continued that “over times, a great number of youngsters have actually gained from his love and devotion he observed principles of genuine love and solution, making certain that the children raised in the home were actually not only receivers yet discovered exactly how to repay.”.Rev. Gregory Sakowicz, remembered his pal and also schoolmate as a terrific clergyman with a “missionary center who was very well suched as as well as valued by his classmates.” Sakowicz additionally recalled that “Philip never sought the spotlight and also constantly made an effort to deliver others right into the spotlight.”.
Solutions on November 21.Yet another close friend and also classmate was actually Rev. Stanley Rataj. “He was just one of the best respected members of our class and also a correct forerunner,” Rataj mentioned.
He remembered Cleary’s enthusiasm permanently as well as his charm saying “he was actually a great friend to all as well as lived an extremely loyal as well as excellent lifestyle.”.All lasts rites will definitely take place at St. Zachary Church, 567 W. Algonquin Street in Des Plaines.
Visiting hrs will be actually Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, from 10 to 11 a.m. The funeral Mass will certainly observe at 11 a.m.
and also will be actually celebrated through Diocesan Hicks. An exclusive interment will definitely take place whatsoever Saints Catholic Burial Site in Des Plaines.