Obituaries

Chicago (March 14, 2025) – Rev. Matthias E. Lorenz, retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former chaplain of St. Anthony Hospital and university professor, passed away Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the age of 81.

Lorenz was born on Oct. 9, 1943, in Chicago. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein. He earned a master’s degree in music at the Chicago Conservatory College and a master’s in public administration at Roosevelt University. He also earned a doctorate degree in theology and human sciences with concentration on issues in medical ethics and bioethics at the University of Chicago.

Lorenz was ordained to the priesthood on May 14, 1969, by Cardinal John Cody, and celebrated his first solemn Mass at St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish on Central Park Avenue in Chicago on May 18 of the same year.

After ordination to the priesthood, Lorenz was assistant pastor at St. Gregory the Great Parish on Paulina Street and St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish, both in Chicago.

He later served at De La Salle Institute and was director of pastoral care and chaplain at St. Anthony Hospital. He also served as: a teacher and dorm counselor at Benedictine University in Lisle; adjunct professor at DePaul University; and visiting professor and Newman Center associate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He retired in 2014.

Rev. Michael Gilligan, rector of San Rocco Oratory in South Holland, remembered how his classmate tried to help out in parishes as much as he could and that “everyone knew Matthias." 

Rev. Leon Rezula, former pastor of St. Julian Eymard Parish in Elk Grove Village, remembered the child-like simplicity and profound faith of his classmate. “He had a variety of experience in his priesthood,” Rezula said. “He was very outgoing, loved people and loved to meet new people." Rezula also added that during much of the time he served weekend ministry at several local parishes in both Cook and DuPage counties.

Visitation hours will be Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m. and the funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. at Divine Providence Church of Mary, Mother of Divine Grace Parish, 2550 Mayfair Avenue in Westchester. Most Rev. Francis J. Kane, auxiliary bishop emeritus of Chicago, will celebrate the funeral Mass and Rezula will be the homilist.

Interment will take place at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.