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Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. Donald J. Lund, Dies

Rev. Lund was Pastor Emeritus of Good Shepherd Parish on Kolin Avenue

Chicago, IL (November 3, 2017) – Rev. Donald J. Lund passed away on October 29, 2017 at Woods Crossing in Brodhead, Wis., Rev. Lund had lived near his family in Davis, Wis., since his retirement in 2010. He was 74 years old.

Rev. Lund was born in Chicago on September 21, 1943. He attended Our Lady of Grace School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. Rev. Lund went on to the University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary earning a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1965 and a Bachelor’s degree in Theology in 1969. He was ordained into the priesthood on May 14, 1969 by John Cardinal Cody, Archbishop of Chicago, and celebrated his first Solemn Mass at Our Lady of Grace in Chicago on May 18, 1969.

After priesthood ordination, Rev. Lund served the Archdiocese in a number of parishes. He started as assistant pastor at St. Mark Parish (1969-76) and St. John the Evangelist Parish in Streamwood (1976-82). Rev. Lund continued his ministry as associate pastor at St. Philomena Parish on Cortland Avenue (1982-83) and served at Good Shepherd Parish on Kolin Avenue as pastor for 20 years (1983-2003). Later, Rev. Lund served as associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Round Lake (2003-10) and was named Pastor Emeritus of Good Shepherd Parish on Kolin Avenue in 2010.

Most Reverend Francis J. Kane, auxiliary bishop of Vicariate II, had known Rev. Lund for almost sixty years. “He was a very dedicated priest who realized early on the need for priests who spoke Spanish,” said Most Rev. Kane. “He spent his life serving parishes that were often very poor.” Most Rev. Kane described Rev. Lund as a quiet man who later on developed a very serious hearing loss which affected his ministry and prompted him to retire in 2010, at the age of 67.

“He always cared for the marginalized,” said Rev. Michael Ahlstrom, vicar emeritus for deacons and administrator of Divine Infant Jesus in Westchester, who was a classmate of Rev. Lund through 12 years of seminary. “He was a quiet individual, but one thing that angered him was hypocrisy and those who lorded it over others.” Eventually, Rev. Lund inspired Rev. Ahlstrom to learn the Spanish language and culture, which led Rev. Ahlstrom to begin a ministry to Spanish-speaking faithful when he became a pastor of St. Colette in Rolling Meadows in 1989. “What I will always remember about Father Don is his love for ordinary people and his humble demeanor. May he rest in peace.”

Rev. Edward Gleeson, pastor emeritus of St. James at Sag Bridge Church in Lemont, had known Rev. Lund since 1959. Rev. Gleeson and Rev. Ahlstrom came to know Rev. Lund better when 16 of their classmates bought a cottage in Michigan City, Ind., as a getaway for physical and spiritual renewal for themselves and their guests. Rev. Ahlstrom vividly remembered the lake house was named “Pinion” from Psalm 91.

“We would go every week during the summertime and spend a day at the cottage to swim, have lunch, sit around and talk,” said Rev. Gleeson. He described Rev. Lund as a happy, soft-spoken priest who spoke Spanish fluently after enhancing his language skills in Mexico.

Visitation hours will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Mary Parish in the Diocese of Rockford at 602 W. Main Street in Durand, Ill., on Friday, November 3 followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m.

Father William Schuessler, STD, of the Diocese of Rockford, will be the main celebrant of the Funeral Mass and interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Monroe, Wis.   

Rev. Lund is survived by his brothers John (Nancy), Dr. Robert (Joan), James, Kenneth and Joseph (Fran) Lund; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.