.The. Rev Philip C. Cleary.
Photo courtesy of NPH Mu00e9xico.The Rev. Philip C. Cleary, retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and past associate pastor of Our Female of Great Advice Parish on Hermitage Avenue in Chicago’s McKinley Playground neighborhood, died Sunday, Nov.
3, 2024, at the age of 71, in Mexico. Cleary was born on Sept. 5, 1953, in Chicago.
He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, Niles University of Loyola Educational Institution and the College of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Academy in Mundelein. Cleary was commissioned to the priesthood on May 9, 1979, by Cardinal John Cody, and also he celebrated his 1st solemn Mass on May 13 of the exact same year at St.
Jerome Church in Chicago. He at that point acted as associate pastor at St. Boniface Parish on Noble Road in Chicago and Our Lady of Great Advise Church.Coming from 1982 to 1984, Cleary served as head of state of the Organization of Chicago Priests and also was selected to the National Alliance of Priests’ Councils Manager Panel in 1983.Nuestros Pequeu00f1os Hermanos.It was during the course of this time around that Cleary discovered Rev.
William B. Wasson and his objective at Nuestros Pequeu00f1os Hermanos (NPH), a nonprofit institution that focuses on improving the lives of orphaned and abandoned children in Latin America and also the Caribbean. Cleary’s first program was to offer for one summer months at NPH’s main orphanage in Mexico yet “he quickly experienced phoned call to remain past his three-month condition, embarking on what became a long-lasting devotion to the kids of NPH,” the NPH internet site specified.
Cleary served for several years as National Supervisor of NPH Mexico just before coming to be executive director of NPH International. He resided at NPH’s major house in Miacatlu00e1n, Morelos, Mexico, where he dedicated his life to the institution’s mission and also the kids. He at that point ended up being pastor for the Diocese of Cuernavaca in Mexico as well as retired in 2023.Life With Great Dedication.Bishop Ronald Hicks, mind of the Diocese of Joliet and also among Cleary’s closest close friends, bears in mind Cleary as an advisor, good example and friend who “resided lifestyle with excellent commitment.” Prior to getting in the University of St.
Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Academy, Hicks invested a year in Mexico volunteering for some of NPH’s orphanages in Mexico.” He (Cleary) certainly not simply provided spiritual support but likewise a true commitment to the goal of improving the little ones’s lifestyles,” Hicks claimed. Unconditional Affection as well as Service.” Due to viewing his priesthood as well as just how he lived it, he influenced me to go into the priesthood on my own.” Hicks proceeded that “for many years, plenty of little ones have benefitted from his affection and dedication he observed principles of genuine affection and also service, making sure that the children raised in the home were actually certainly not simply receivers but knew just how to give back.”.Rev. Gregory Sakowicz, remembered his friend and schoolmate as an excellent priest with a “missionary center who was quite possibly just liked and respected through his friends.” Sakowicz also recollected that “Philip certainly never tried to find the spotlight and consistently made an effort to bring others right into the limelight.”.
Services on November 21.Yet another buddy and schoolmate was actually Rev. Stanley Rataj. “He was just one of the absolute most reputable members of our course as well as a real innovator,” Rataj stated.
He remembered Cleary’s zest permanently and also his personal appeal mentioning “he was a great friend to all as well as lived a very trustworthy and also fantastic lifestyle.”.All funeral services are going to happen at St. Zachary Church, 567 W. Algonquin Street in Des Plaines.
Visitation hours will certainly be Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, from 10 to 11 a.m. The funeral Mass will observe at 11 a.m.
and will definitely be commemorated through Bishop Hicks. A personal interment is going to happen at All Saints Catholic Burial Ground in Des Plaines.