He is: Father Robert Schultz, pastor of St. Beatrice Parish in Schiller Park since July 1, 2009. Grew up in Divine Providence Parish, Westchester. Ordained at Mundelein Seminary in 2001 at age 28. Life in Westchester: “Growing up I was terrible in sports. I took up the trombone in fourth grade and joined choir in fifth. I love music. In St. Joseph High School I was in plays and musicals.” He has two sisters; one his twin. Dad worked on and around cars his whole life. “My first car was a hand-me-down from Mom and I shared it with my twin. My own first car was a ’91 Chevy Camaro Z28, sporty, but it kept breaking down.” Road to priesthood: “As an altar boy I had a good relationship with the priests. Two of my lay teachers, in fourth and seventh grades in CCD, were important influences. He says when he attended Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., he started out as a journalism major, half way through switched to psychology — and then got into sociology. “I went to St. Xavier’s graduate school in counseling. But there was something missing. After one semester I finally allowed myself to start thinking about priesthood. I did the InSearch discernment program in the archdiocese and one of the weekends at Mundelein. As soon as I met the seminarians I knew this was where I was supposed to be. It was a whole different feeling.” Pro-life, pastoring, and prayer: He’s served on the Priests Advisory Board to the Respect Life Office for years. “I’m very passionate about that. The past two years I’ve gone on the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Next year I’d love to take some of the teens from St. Beatrice.” He also does post-abortion counseling with Project Rachel. He finds pastoring a challenge. “Everything falls on your desk.” He has a secretary and a bookkeeper but no deacon or resident priest. I’m learning to put prayer time earlier in the morning before the day gets away from you. I’ve joined a prayer group with about seven others.” Down time: “Thanks to a friend of mine, I got into running a few years ago and added biking and swimming. I’ve done other triathlons but last year was my first Chicago Triathlon. The swim was what I was most nervous about. I’m hoping to do a half-marathon this year. I tell our CCD kids, “God can do anything. I was the worst athlete, but look what I do now by his grace. Don’t limit yourself. Don’t say ‘I could never do that.’” He’s a movie buff. Favorite of all time: “Probably ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ I’m about to read ‘Priestblock 25487: A Memoir of Dachau,’ from a parishioner. It’s a true story about one priest’s survival story.” Attitude of gratitude: “I’m appreciative of my family. They’ve always been supportive of my vocation, especially being the only son. In some cultures, people tell me, the family wouldn’t have allowed me to be a priest. I think it’s not that vocations aren’t out there — they’re just not being encouraged by families.” Motto: “In Jn 6:68, Peter says, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’ It captures everything about why I believe what I believe.”