November 29, 2021
Fr. Francis Rog, C.R., a graduate of St. Hedwig School and Weber High School, was ordained to the priesthood on September 24, 1955.
He earned the Bachelor of Science (1952) and the Masters of Science (1954) degrees from St. Louis University.
He became an instructor at Gordon Tech High School (Division Street) in 1956. In the following year he was appointed the Director of Vocations of the United States of America Province of the Resurrectionist Community. During these four years he assisted on parochial duties at St. Hedwig Parish and was the contributing editor of the Polish Daily News.
He received a Certificate of Spiritual Theology in 1959 from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in River Forest, Illinois. He became an instructor of Geometry at Weber High School in 1961. Two years later he was appointed Associate Pastor at the newly founded parish, Our Lady of Loretto, in St. Louis and teacher at Rosary High School in St. Louis.
In 1965 he returned to Gordon Tech with several responsibilities, including School Chaplain and Director of Admissions. He continued his educational pursuits through seminars and workshops at Notre Dame University, St. Norbert College, Georgetown University, North Central College, San Francisco University and DePaul University, before entering Graduate School at Northwestern University, where he received a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in 1973.
He served as pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish for 1.5 years before being elected to be the Provincial Supervisor of the United States Province of the Congregation of the Resurrection. He served in this capacity for the maximum of three terms (nine years).
In 1979 he assumed the responsibility to serve as an Advocate and Ecclesiastical Notary in the Archdiocesan Matrimonial Tribunal. For three years he was an associate advisor in the Archdiocesan Campaign for Human Development. He was also appointed as a member of the executive committee for Religious Men of the Archdiocese and chairman of the executive committee for Polish speaking ministry of the Archdiocese.
In 1984 he was appointed to the Presbyterian Senate and at the same time Cardinal Bernardin appointed him the Archdiocesan College of Consultors, the Cardinal’s Canonical Advisory Board. In the fall of the same year, the Senate members elected him as representative to the newly organized Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.
On January 2, 1985 he assumed the pastorate of St. Hyacinth Parish. In the same year the Senate members elected him as Chairman of the Presbyterial Senate, where the membership of over 100 priests represented the Archdiocese. While Pastor, he directed the renovation of the church towers. When the terracotta surface of one tower broke loose and fell into the street. The roofs of all the buildings were replaced and other renovations in the church, school, convent and rectory were made. He was instrumental in bringing the statue of St. Maximillian Kolbe, one of the four blessed at the canonization of St. Maximillian in Rome by His Holiness John Paul II. In the revision of the Mass Schedule, he introduced Polish masses to be celebrated on Saturday and Sunday evenings. With his leadership, a monument to Fr. Popieluszko was erected in the Memorial Garden along the church. He was contributing editor of Our Village Newspaper, a neighborhood newspaper.
Having completed the two-year term as Senate Chairman, he was appointed by Cardinal Bernardin to be Dean of the Near North City Deanery, one of the sixteen Deaneries in the Archdiocese. As Dean, he had the responsibility as liaison of 27 parishes of the Humboldt Park, Logan Square and Near West areas.
In August 1990 he assumed the principalship and presidency of Weber High School. After two (three-year) terms, he accepted the previous responsibility: Associate Pastor of St. Hyacinth Parish and Moral Theology Instructor at Weber High School.
For 10 years (1989-1999) he also served on the Board of Directors at the Notre Dame High School for Girls.
In November 1999, he was appointed to the Archdiocesan College of Consultors (five-year term) by Cardinal George. On May 1, 2000, he was appointed liaison between the Couples for Christ and the Archdiocese. The Couples for Christ received recognition as a Private International Association for the faithful by the Pontifical Council of the Laity.
In January 2003, he assumed the responsibilities of parochial administrator of St. Helen Parish in Chicago. He served in this capacity until a pastor was assigned to the parish. At this time he was greatly responsible for organizing documents and petitions necessary that finalized St. Hyacinth Church be granted the title of a Minor Basilica.
In December 2004, he was appointed to the College of Consultors by Cardinal George.
Wake Saturday, December 4, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St. Hyacinth Basilica, 3635 West George Street, Chicago, Illinois 60618. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated following the Wake at 10:30 a.m. Interment St. Adalbert Cemetery, Niles, Illinois. The Mass of Christian Burial will be live streamed at the following link: www.sthyacinthbasilica.org.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Congregation of the Resurrection Senior Religious Fund, 3601 North California Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60618.
For further information please call 312-421-0936.
