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TWO OF THREE:
Father David Szatkowski, SCJ

            Fr. Dave’s ordination to the priesthood at St. Benedict the African parish in Chicago was a reunion for the three SCJs.  Just six months earlier, the SCJs were ordained to the diaconate together at the same church.  Bishop Joseph Perry of the archdiocese of Chicago was the ordaining bishop, just as he was at the diaconate celebration.

        As was the diaconate ordination in December, the priesthood ordination took place during the regular Sunday liturgy of the parish.  Members of St. Benedict’s community joined in the celebration, and visitors were treated to the vibrant music of its full choir.  SCJs from around the country also took part.

        Fr. Dave, 28, was born in Pueblo, Colo., but as a child of a military family, he has called many places home. After studying with the order for several years, he professed his first vows and joined the Priests of the Sacred Heart in 1997.

        He did his undergraduate work at Incarnate Word University in San Antonio and earned his Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. As a student, Fr. Dave also spent a year in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where he taught ESL (English as a Second Language), confirmation and religion classes.  He also did hospice ministry, and created a social service handbook that is now used by parishes to help those in need find appropriate social service assistance in the Valley. 

        It was while he was at CTU that he became familiar with the community at St. Benedict the African (east), a central city parish on Chicago’s south side.  There, he was involved in a number of ministries, including Scripture instruction.  Most of the parish came to his diaconate ordination in December. 

        He joined the community at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton soon after his diaconate ordination and will continue ministry there as a newly ordained priest.  He had Masses of Thanksgiving both at the parishes of St. Benedict and at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. 

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