Community Corner
St. Catherine's Stunned at Sudden Death of Priest
Rev. Patrick Henry, pastor of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Oak Lawn, died after a brief illness. Parishioners recall him as a holy priest who touched the lives of many. Wake and funeral are set for Friday and Saturday.
Parishioners of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Oak Lawn expressed sorrow and shock after learning of the sudden death of their beloved pastor, Rev. Patrick Henry.
Sign up for Oak Lawn Patch breaking news alerts and follow us on Facebook.
Affectionately known to his flock as “Fr. Pat,” the St. Catherine’s priest died suddenly on Monday evening after a short illness. He was in his early 60s.
Find out what's happening in Oak Lawnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“He was very down to earth and a wonderful human being,” St. Catherine's parishioner and close friend Dan Omiecinski said. “He was very spiritual and always had a big smile on his face. There wasn’t a mean bone in his body. He touched and helped many, many people.”
Fr. Pat came to St. Catherine’s from St. Christina in Mt. Greenwood. Prior to that he served at St. Symphrosa in Garfield Ridge. Parishioners said that Fr. Pat had served as pastor of St. Catherine’s for about 10 years.
Find out what's happening in Oak Lawnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Oak Lawn Village Clerk Jane Quinlan, one of parish’s original families, said she received a text from a fellow parishioner around 6 a.m. Tuesday, informing her of Fr. Pat’s passing.
“He always took time out for the kids [at St. Catherine’s school],” Quinlan said. “He never missed a DARE and EDGE program at the village. He always did what was right for St. Catherine’s.”
Parishioners paid their respects to Fr. Pat on Oak Lawn Patch’s Facebook page:
Sandra Mendoza Leahy: “I am in shock! I had no idea! He will definitely be missed. “
Irene Ahern Smith: “Great loss to the whole Church. Fr. Pat Henry was a very holy priest.”
Brennan Leahy: “Speechless he was a good guy.”
Omiecinski said that Fr. Pat was preparing to lead a pilgrimage to Ireland where his family is from in November, and had invited parishioners to join him.
“He was close to many people at St. Catherine’s,” Omiecinski said. “The parish is just devastated.”
The church will be open for private prayer from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Fr. Pat will be waked this Friday, March 15, from 3 to 9 p.m.
The funeral mass is set for 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16. The wake and funeral will both happen at St. Catherine of Alexandria, at 10621 S. Kedvale Ave., in Oak Lawn.
Share your memories of Fr. Pat Henry in the comments.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
