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Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. Joseph Chen-Sheng Lee (Ly), Dies

Rev. Lee was a Former Associate Pastor of St. Ferdinand Parish in Chicago

Chicago, IL (August 24, 2017) – Rev. Joseph Chen-Sheng Lee (Ly), 89, passed away at Presence Saint Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Niles on Sunday August 20, 2017. Rev. Lee was most recently Associate Pastor at St. Ferdinand Parish on Barry Avenue until 1992, and then was a resident at St. James Parish on Fullerton Avenue until he retired in 1998.

Rev. Lee was born in China, specifically in Chuk-Tao Village located in the Anguo District about 140 miles south of Beijing, on January 5, 1928.

Rev. Lee attended the Chuk-Tao Public School, went on to study at Minor Seminary in Anguo and attended Kung-Sheng College in Beijing. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the Grand Seminary of Aberdeen in Hong-Kong in 1952. Rev. Lee graduated with a Bachelor of Sacred Theology at the Grand Seminary of Montreal, Canada and was ordained for the Diocese of Anguo, China at St. James Cathedral in Montreal in 1955 where Rev. Lee celebrated his first Solemn Mass on June 4, 1955.

Unable to return to his home country after ordination due to the suppression of the Roman Catholic Church in China, Rev. Lee spent two years in Ottawa, Canada while earning a bachelor's degree in Canon Law (J.C.B.) from Ottawa University in 1957. Before his incardination in the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1985, Rev. Lee undertook post-graduate studies at Loyola University and DePaul University, and was a resident in three Chicago parishes: St. Dionysius Parish in Cicero (1957-58), St. Edward Parish on Sunnyside Avenue (1958-74) and St. Rosalie Parish in Harwood Heights (1974-79). After his incardination, Rev. Lee served as Associate Pastor at St. Ferdinand Parish on Barry Avenue (1979-92) and was a resident at St. James Parish on Fullerton Avenue until he retired in 1998.

“I can easily say he was the epitome of gentleness and humility and generosity with his time,” said Rev. John Hergenrother who in 1985 signed the decree of incardination that permitted Rev. Lee to become a diocesan priest in Chicago.

“Fr. Lee was a very devout and prayerful man,” said Rick Nash, Chaplain at Presence Saint Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where Rev. Lee lived for three years. Rev. Lee used to attend Mass every day at St. Benedict, and he would often throughout the day push himself in his wheelchair to the Chapel to pray. Nash remembers him as a “quiet man who demonstrated his love and concern for others always with a big smile on his face.”

The youngest son in his family, Rev. Lee previously described himself as coming from a very long line of Chinese Catholics whose members included priests, a Christian brother and an uncle who died as a martyr. Chicago became his new home and the community of priests became his family since he was prevented from visiting his homeland and family. He was able to return to China to visit in 1980. 

Visitation hours will be 9 to 10 a.m. on Friday, August 25 at the chapel at Presence St. Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at 6930 West Touhy Avenue in Niles followed by the Funeral Mass. Bishop Francis Kane will preside at the Funeral Mass, and Rev. Valerian Laini will be the homilist.

Interment will take place at Maryhill Cemetery in Niles.