CHICAGO (February 5, 2004) - Fr. Thomas Franzman has been named director of the Department of Evangelization, Catechesis and Worship for the Archdiocese of Chicago, effective Feb. 1. He reports directly to Jimmy M. Lago, Chancellor of the Archdiocese.

As director, Fr. Franzman will oversee the Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Worship. In addition, he will be administrative head for several archdiocesan agencies, including Family Ministries, Missions Office, Peace and Justice, Respect Life, Ecumenical Affairs, Parish Pastoral Council, Prison Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Youth Ministry and the Office for Divine Worship.

Fr. Franzman succeeds Fr. Joseph Geders, C.M., who is moving to St. Louis to take up his new assignment as provincial treasurer with the Congregation of the Mission.

“Fr. Franzman will bring great gifts to the Pastoral Center staff,” said Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago. “I am grateful that he has accepted this important position.”

“I am honored to be entrusted with guiding the work of this department because it represents the central mission of all the baptized as given by Christ,” Fr. Franzman said. “The dedication and commitment of the staff of all the offices of this department is well known, and I feel privileged to be among them.”

Ordained to the priesthood in 1970, Fr. Franzman served as associate pastor at St. Bede (Fox Lake) until 1977, and then at Holy Name Cathedral from 1977-82. During his tenure at the cathedral, he also served as coordinator of the Construction Projects Office from 1979-82.

Fr. Franzman was named rector of Quigley Preparatory Seminary North in 1982, a position he held until 1990. He then served first as administrator, then as pastor at St. Michael Parish, Chicago, from 1990-2003. After leaving St. Michael he went on sabbatical. While serving at St. Michael, he held the position of dean for deanery VI-C, from 1993-2001.

A Chicago native, Fr. Franzman attended St. Margaret Mary School, Chicago, and went to high school at Quigley North, Chicago. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and then a master of divinity from St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.

As the second largest Catholic diocese in the United States, the Archdiocese of Chicago serves approximately 2.3 million Catholics who live in Cook and Lake counties in northeastern Illinois. The Archdiocese is headed by Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago. It employs approximately 18,000 people in parishes, schools, charities, seminaries, cemeteries and administrative offices.