Father Joseph Cook, pastor of St. Kieran Parish in Chicago Heights. (Karen Callaway / Catholic New World)
He is: Father Joe Cook, pastor of St. Kieran in Chicago Heights, former pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption in Riverdale. Ordained in 1986. Beginnings: “I grew up in St. Walter’s on the South Side — just an ‘average Joe.’” He jokingly calls himself a “lifer” — those men who spent eight years in their Catholic grammar school, then attended Quigley South, Niles College and Mundelein. He was an altar server with muscles, and tried out for wrestling at Quigley. “Dad worked for Illinois Bell for over 30 years. ... Mom was a nurse at Catholic hospitals but then stayed home with us as the family grew into 10 kids. I had an identical twin brother, Bob. People couldn’t tell us apart.” (Bob passed away in January 2007) Reverse psychology? “Springfield Dominican nuns taught us in school. I think in fifth grade Sister Annunciata had us write an essay on what we wanted to be. I wrote I wanted to be a priest, and when she handed it back her comment in red letters was: ‘God help us!’ The sisters were instrumental — from the strong Christian witness they gave us through their lives.” Near miss: “I helped out on the maintenance crew at St. Walter’s in sixth grade. Father Tom Brown, our pastor, liked to grow roses. One of my jobs was to spray weed killer around the patio. “One day I got too close to Father’s roses and killed them. He held his temper and said through clenched teeth, ‘You’d better go home now, Joe. That’s all for today.’ Years later I wasn’t sure he’d sign my affidavit for the seminary, but he was very kind and signed it.” First car: “I was at Mundelein, and my dad got me a late ’60s Chevy Impala junker. It amazed me through the cold winters at Mundelein, without any shelter, the motor always turned right over.” What’s best about parish life? “The faith of the people — their hungering for intimacy with the Lord. Trying to pass along that same relationship with the Lord to our school children. “Living alone in the rectory is probably the hardest adjustment for me. I miss the fraternity and that way of sharing the burdens of running a parish.” Milestones: He had open heart surgery in 2002. After a period of recuperation, he was named pastor of St. Kieran’s in 2007. “Our parish 50th anniversary year concludes in October with a Mass by Cardinal George.” Leisure: “I go to my mom’s and we visit some of the rest of my large family. We’re all within an hour of one another. I cook when I’m at Mom’s.” He enjoys reading. “I just finished ‘The Difference God Makes’ by Cardinal George. It gave me a lot of insights.” Favorite saint: “St. Joseph! He was a faithful witness … a constant person in the Lord’s life. I don’t like the limelight. It reminds me of St. Joseph who, you might say, was overshadowed by his more famous wife.” Looking back: “Next year will be my 25th anniversary. It’s all been a great grace and blessing. I’ve received much more than I’ve given. It makes me humble in a lot of ways. I’m always amazed by the good things God continues to do.”