He benched baseball dream for priesthood

He is: Father William Malloy, pastor of St. Barnabas Parish in the Beverly area for the past two and a half years. Former pastor of St. Maurice in the McKinley Park community and at St. Germaine in Oak Lawn. Ordained in 1973.

Youth: Grew up with four younger sisters and attended St. Francis Xavier School in LaGrange, but his folks were South Siders. “They are from Columbanus and St. Dorothy’s and are Sox fans. I loved baseball as a kid. Every day, all day long, we played pick-up games until dinner time. I dreamed of being a first baseman for the White Sox like my hero in the late ’50s, Walt Dropo.”

“My dad worked for the telephone company for over 35 years before he retired. He was also a permanent deacon for 25 years. After my mother died about 12 years ago, he had to leave the permanent diaconate in order to remarry.”

Quigley South: “Father John Ring was a priest in our parish who inspired a lot of us and had time for us. There were 40 of us from St. Francis Xavier who went to Quigley South. We had our own bus.”

Wheels and jobs: “I drove a 15-year-old Rambler station wagon. It was a horrible car, but I loved it because it ran and it was my first car. One of my summer jobs was at Jamieson’s Convent Wear on South Michigan Avenue. The father of one of my Quigley classmates owned the business.”

Trips: “I’ve been to Rome a couple times to visit ‘the home office.’ Probably one of the best trips was as pastor of St. Germaine’s. We visited the saint’s hometown in Pribac, France, as well as Lourdes.”

Have a funny travel story? “Father Ron Lewinski and I were visiting some French-speaking nun friends of his in Quebec. After dinner I wanted to say, ‘Thank you very much, the meal is very good. I am full,’ so I said ‘Merci boucoup, le repas est tres bon, je suis plein.’ But the sisters laughed because what I really said was, ‘Thank you very much, the meal is very good. I am pregnant.’”

Favorite saint: “I like St. John Bosco because he was light-hearted. There are times when we need to lighten up a little bit. The Holy Spirit is in charge of his church.”

Down time: “I like spy novels and enjoy playing golf. I love photography. Before we went digital I had my own dark room. I also play guitar, but not that well.”

New additions: “My niece gave me a big cat named Phineas. She said he would improve my homilies. Phineas hasn’t helped at all by sitting on the keyboard when I try to write. He has become the minister of first impressions — the rectory greeter. I don’t like cats, but I like this cat.”

South Side Irish Parade: “I’m unhappy there won’t be a parade this year. It was a wonderful neighborhood builder and was important to the strong, close community of St. Barnabas Parish. Unfortunately, it got a little out of hand. We have a Mass the night before the parade — a 25-year tradition. A lot of St. Barnabas people will have parties and family gatherings as always. The South Side will still celebrate St. Patrick’s Day well and perhaps someday the parade will come back again.”