Rev. John E. Flavin, 83, retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former assistant pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Oak Park, died on May 30, 2020. Born on July 17, 1936, in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein. He completed his theological studies at North American College and Gregorian University in Rome.
Ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 18, 1960 in Rome with three fellow Illinois seminarians, he celebrated his first solemn Mass in Rome shortly after and celebrated his first Mass in the U.S. at Little Flower Parish in Chicago.
After ordination, he was assistant pastor at the Our Lady of Grace Parish in Chicago and St. Catherine of Siena Parish. He then served as pastor at St. Sebastian Parish in Chicago and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Glenview.
He also served as a faculty member at Quigley Preparatory Seminary North in Chicago, staff member at both Liturgy Training Publications and Maryhaven Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, and director of the Archdiocesan Office of Goal Setting. Additionally, he served as president of the Presbyteral Senate and dean of Deaneries 3, 4, and 5 in Vicariate II as well as the cardinal’s representative on the Pastoral Guidelines for Marriage Preparation. He retired from the priesthood in 2007, then served as pastor emeritus at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish. He resided at St. Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center since 2009.
Cognizant of social-distancing guidelines, a private funeral Mass, celebrated by Bishop Mark Bartosic, was held on Wednesday, June 3 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview.
