Rev. Michael J. Slattery, O.S.A. (1949-2019)

Michael James Slattery was born September 21, 1949 in Rockford, Illinois to Robert E. and Elizabeth Slattery. He was Baptized October 23, 1949 at St. Mary Church, Rockford. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation February 19, 1959 at the same church.

Following graduation from St. Mary School, Rockford, in 1963, Michael entered the Augustinian formation program at St. Augustine Seminary, Holland, Michigan. He received his high school diploma from St. Augustine in 1967.

He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate September 3, 1967. He professed temporary vows in the Order of St. Augustine September 4, 1968. He then took part in the college-level Augustinian formation program at Tolentine College, Olympia Fields, Illinois, earning a B. A. in Philosophy in 1972.

He taught at Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago, Illinois, during the 1972-73 school year. He began theological studies in 1973 at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, while residing at St. John Stone Friary, Chicago. He professed solemn (permanent) vows March 6, 1976.

After his ordination as Deacon in 1976, he did a Diaconate Internship at St. Cletus Parish, LaGrange, Illinois. He was ordained a Priest May 7, 1977.

Father Slattery served as Associate Pastor of Holy Rosary Parish, Kenosha, Wisconsin, from 1977 to 1979. In 1979 he was assigned to St. John Stone Friary, Chicago, where he was part of the Formation Team as well as Director of Vocations. He did formation studies in 1980 at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 1982 he was assigned to Bl. Stephen Bellesini Monastery (at Mendel Catholic High School), Chicago, where he continued his Vocation work and served as Director of Pre-Novitiate Formation.

He returned in 1983 to Holy Rosary Parish, Kenosha, again serving as Associate Pastor. In 1987 he became Associate Pastor of St. Clare of Montefalco Parish, Chicago. He was named Pastor there in 1991.

Father Slattery moved to St. John Stone Friary, Chicago, in 1995. While residing there, he taught at St. Rita High School, Chicago, during 1995, and then ministered as Chaplain at Little Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park, Illinois, until 1999.

In 1999 Father Slattery was named Pastor of St. Jude Parish, New Lenox, Illinois, a post he held until 2006.

Father Slattery was elected to the Augustinian Province Council, serving from 1987 to 1991 and from 1999 to 2002.

During the Ordinary Province Chapter of 2006, he was elected to another four-year term on the Province Council, and was also elected Treasurer of the Province. He was re-elected Treasurer and to another term on the Council in 2010. He resigned as Treasurer, effective July 1, 2012, but continued to serve as a member of the Council until the end of his term in June, 2014.

He resided in the Augustinian community at St. Rita Parish, Chicago, from 2006 to 2009. He lived at St. John of Sahagún Friary (at Providence Catholic High School), New Lenox, Illinois, from 2009 to 2011, when he returned to St. Rita Parish.

Father Slattery was Pastor of St. Augustine Parish, Philadelphia, from July, 2012 to August, 2014. At that time, he again returned to St. Rita Parish, Chicago.

Due to declining health in 2015, Father Slattery was assigned to Bl. Stephen Bellesini Friary, Crown Point, Indiana, where he could receive the needed health care. He served as Chaplain at Franciscan Health.

On July 17, 2019, Father Slattery entered eternal life.