CHICAGO (June 20, 2005) – Fr. Edward A. Slosarcik, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago whose ministry included decades of service to Slovak communities in several Chicago parishes, has died at the age of 81. At the time of his death, Friday, June 17, Fr. Slosarcik was in residence at Alvernia Manor in Lemont. He died at Holy Cross Hospital, W. 68 th St., Chicago, of a heart attack while awaiting surgery.
Ordained in 1950, Fr. Slosarcik was born on Chicago’s southwest side and graduated from St. Simon the Apostle elementary school. He graduated from Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.
During the 1970s, Fr. Slosarcik earned a Masters degree in Education from De Paul University and a Masters degree in Sociology from the University of Illinois. For nine years, 1966-1975, he taught religion at Maria High School. From 1972-1985 he served as professor of Medical Ethics at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital on West Division St. in Chicago, while he was pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish on the southeast side of the city.
Most of Fr. Slosarcik’s pastoral ministry was spent serving the Slovak community. He was assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Parish for three years from 1950-1953, Holy Rosary Parish from 1953-1959, Assumption Parish from 1959-1964 and St. Joseph Parish from 1964-1967. All were Slovak parishes at the time.
He was the assistant pastor at his home parish, St. Simon the Apostle, for six years beginning in 1967. He then served as assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish on Aberdeen St. in Chicago from 1973-1977. He became pastor of St. John the Baptist Slovak Parish in 1977 and served there for 16 years until his retirement in 1993.
Visitation for Fr. Slosarcik will be held on Tuesday, June 21, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Elmwood Chapel, 11200 S. Ewing Ave., Chicago, and Wednesday, June 22, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Alvernia Manor, 13950 Main St., Lemont.
Fr. Slosarcik’s classmate, BishoThad Jakubowski, retired auxiliary bishop of Chicago, will be the main celebrant at a funeral Mass for Fr. Slosarcik on Wednesday, June 22, at 11 a.m. at Alvervia Manor. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice.
A niece, Cecilia Gaszak, survives Fr. Slosarcik. |
