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Obituario

Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. Michael A. Wulsch, Dies

Wulsch was a retired archdiocesan priest and former pastor of St. Veronica Parish on Whipple Street and St. Monica Parish on Foster Avenue both in Chicago, and of St. Peter Parish in Skokie

Chicago (May 3, 2022) – Rev. Michael A. Wulsch, former pastor of St. Monica Parish on Foster Avenue in Chicago and St. Peter Parish in Skokie, passed away Wednesday, April 27, 2022. He was 76.

Wulsch was born on Sept. 30, 1945, in Chicago. He attended St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School and De LaSalle Institute in Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 10, 1972, by Cardinal John Cody, and celebrated his first solemn Mass on May 13 of the same year at Queen of the Universe Parish in Chicago.

Wulsch began his service to the people of the archdiocese as an assistant pastor at Our Lady of the Ridge Parish in Chicago Ridge and as associate pastor at St. Frances of Rome Parish in Cicero. Later, he served as pastor at the following parishes: St. Veronica Parish on Whipple Street and St. Monica Parish on Foster Avenue, (where he served for 15 years) both in Chicago and St. Peter Parish in Skokie (where he served for 14 years). He retired in 2018.

Msgr. Patrick Pollard, retired archdiocesan priest, remembered the “incredibly engaging personality” of his classmate. “Mike was able to listen to people with patience, understanding, and a smile,” Pollard said. He added that Wulsch’s years at St. Monica and later at St. Peter Church were filled with challenges and joys. “Mike served for many years as dean, striving to help neighboring pastors shepherd their communities,” Pollard said.

Rev. Robert Tonelli, retired archdiocesan priest, had been friends with Wulsch since seminary. “He was a very generous soul, very accommodating, very gentle-minded. He always listened to people,” Tonelli said. “May 10 was a sacred day for us: He would always show up at our (ordination) anniversaries. He became pastor and people loved him.” Tonelli added: “I’m going to miss him.”

Visitation hours will be from 4 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, and from 9 – 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4, just before the funeral Mass, which will take place at 10:30 a.m. All funeral services will be held at St. Peter Church, 8116 Niles Center Road in Skokie.

Very Rev. Francis Kane will be the main celebrant, and Rev. Ed Panek will be the homilist of the funeral Mass. Interment will take place at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.