Father Leo Lyons

RETIRED AIR FORCE CHAPLAIN

Father Leo Lyons, 87, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and an Air Force chaplain for nearly three decades, died Feb. 18. Father Lyons was living independently and assisting at St. Michael Parish in Orland Park.

A Chicago native born to parents of Irish decent, Father Lyons received his elementary education in four Catholic elementary schools before graduating from Quigley Preparatory Seminary in 1941. He graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in 1948 and was ordained that year by Cardinal Samuel Stritch.

Beginning in 1948, he served for eight years as assistant pastor of St. Mary Parish in Evanston before becoming a chaplain in the Air Force in 1956. His military service lasted until his retirement in 1984.

Father Lyons served as a chaplain at Brother Rice High School, and volunteered his time at St. Bernadette Parish in Evergreen Park, St. Michael Parish in Orland Park, St. Emeric Parish in Country Club Hills and St. Agnes Parish in Chicago Heights.

Father Donald Duffy

PASTOR EMERITUS ST. MARY’S, BUFFALO GROVE

Father Donald Duffy, 91, a retired priest of the archdiocese died Feb. 18. He was a resident of Resurrection Life Center in Chicago at the time of his death and was pastor emeritus of St. Mary Parish in Buffalo Grove, where he served for nearly 20 years.

Father Duffy was a Chicago native who graduated from St. Angela School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained by Cardinal Stritch in 1943.

Father Duffy’s brother, Robert, was also a priest in the archdiocese and preceded him in death.

For seven years, beginning in 1943, Father Duffy served as assistant pastor of Visitation Parish that later combined with St. Basil Parish to form St. Basil/Visitation. For the next seven years, Father Duffy was assistant pastor of St. Christina Parish and then was named assistant pastor of St. Odilo in Berwyn, where he served for nine years.

He served for three years as assistant pastor at St. Barnabas Parish, before becoming pastor of St. Mary Parish in Buffalo Grove. Father Duffy was pastor of St. Mary’s for 19 years before retiring from active ministry in 1988. At that time, he was named pastor emeritus.

He served on the Archdiocesan School Board from 1969-1972; as moderator of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women District 3 Council from 1974-1977 and as a senator of the Presbyteral Senate from 1987-1989.

Father Matthew McDonald

FIRE DEPARTMENT CHAPLAIN

Father Matthew “Scotty” Mc- Donald, 94, retired pastor of St. Malachy Parish, died Feb. 10 at Resurrection Life Center.

Father McDonald attended St. Malachy and St. Matthew schools and graduated from Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained by Cardinal Strich in 1940.

His first assignment was as assistant pastor at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish. From 1946 to 1957, he was assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Parish on 19th Street, and from 1957-1966, served at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.

In 1965 Father McDonald also served as chaplain for Knights of Columbus Council 1118. He then had 19 years of service as a chaplain for the Chicago Fire Department before retiring at age 72. His tour of duty called him to catastrophes, riots, hospitals, wakes and funerals. He made visits to the family whenever loved ones died and offered moral support to firefighters with marital issues.

Pastor of St. Malachy’s (1966- 70) he was also assistant pastor of the now closed St. Veronica Parish, (1970-87). He retired from active ministry in 1987 with residence at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Evanston.

Thomas Ongige

MUNDELEIN SEMINARIAN

Thomas Ongige, 37, a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Chicago, died Feb. 18 after collapsing during class at University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

A heart attack is suspected.

Ongige, a native of Kenya, had studied in a seminary there but transferred to the archdiocese’s Tuite Program at St. Joseph College Seminary. The Tuite Program is a transition and formation program for African and African- American men wishing to study in the seminaries of the archdiocese. He entered Mundelein Seminary in the fall of 2009.

Cardinal George, who presided at a prayer service with Mundelein's student body Feb. 18, said about Ongige, “He generously offered himself for lifelong service to the church in Chicago. His willingness to come to another country, to leave the life he knew behind, is a testimony to his faith in Christ and his generosity of spirit.” Ongige was in the second year of a four-year graduate program preparing him to be ordained in 2012.