Chicagoland

Father’s ‘Chicago-friendly’

By Dolores Madlener | Staff writer
Sunday, July 4, 2010

Father Charles Musula, associate pastor at St. Paul of the Cross Parish, Park Ridge. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)

He is: Father Charles Musula, 36, associate pastor at St. Paul of the Cross Parish, Park Ridge, ordained in May 2007 in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Growing up in Tanzania: “My parents are Catholic. My grandparents are converts of the Missionaries of Africa (the White Fathers) who came to our area in 1883. The Fathers are still there. The place has a lot of significance for them. There are seven children in our family. My father owns a farm with some animals.

“There are about 6,000 families in our parish [in Tanzania], with 15 priest vocations that I know of, and one bishop. The nuns are so many I can’t keep track. My older sister is a nun.”

Education: “The school I went to used to be Catholic, but after independence the schools were nationalized and became free government schools. Students were taught by lay teachers, but nuns taught us religion. So many government people had been educated in religious schools, there was a Catholic influence in the government.

“From there I went to the diocesan seminary in the Archdiocese of Mwanza. I attended for five years, taking Latin, math, chemistry, civics, history, French, English and Swahili, our national language.” He continued in Nairobi at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, in Kenya, earning his bachelor’s degree in philosophy.

A fork in the road: While studying in Kenya he learned there was a need for priests in Chicago. “I was referred to Father Tom McQuaid in the Archdiocese of Chicago.”

The young seminarian felt a call to follow this “different experience.” With his parish priest’s support he sent his application and waited. He was accepted.

In 2003 he said goodbye to Africa for the USA, spending a year at St. Columbanus and St. Bruno parishes on the South Side of Chicago. “It was a chance to see if I liked the archdiocese, the people, and to get exposed to a new culture.”

Thumbs up: “Because I was still a seminarian when I came here, I continued my studies at St. Mary of the Lake University for three years. I was ordained at Mundelein Seminary for Chicago. I consider Chicago my second home. Despite the snow, I enjoy the weather. I don’t see myself going anywhere else.”

Back in Tanzania: “My parents had mixed emotions — happy I was following my vocation, but sad I was leaving my country and family to come here. For me there is the joy of serving God as a ‘missionary.’

“Any life of service has high points and lows. But overall I am contented and happy. The people have accepted me at St. Paul of the Cross. Being here has been an enriching experience.”

Baseball and apple pie: He finds he doesn’t like cold tuna fish, or any other cold food. “I don’t even eat ice cream. I don’t eat desserts. I grew up eating fruit, so I stay with that. It’s easy for me to say no thank you.

“Since I am Chicago-friendly, I cheer for both the Cubs and the White Sox! Soccer is my favorite.

“The kids at school love when I play soccer with them during recess or when I’m invited to visit their families. I reach out to people and they respond. Some people want to know me more and we share our history and background.”

Favorite saint: “I have a couple I invoke for different reasons, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. John Vianney, the patron of priests, and St. Augustine.”

Advertising