Bob Scanlan

Called to Priestly Ministry

Bob Scanlan

I knew in grade school God had called me to be a priest---it seems I have always known that and to this day minister in that capacity in a variety of ways. I attended our city Catholic High School; participating in the sports programs and the prom as did everyone else. I then entered the college seminary program and was ordained a priest on May 31, 1969—being assigned to the Cathedral after ordination. This was the era of the implementation of the sweeping changes of Vatican II—the ecclesiastical air was electric with the pending changes. However like many areas of change some are for the change and others fought it greatly.

There was a sister in the neighboring parish who was responsible for coordinating adult education for the entire deanery. She was planning a day long workshop on the pending changes and was having a hard time finding priests to assist her. One of her friends mentioned to her that there was a new associate at the Cathedral and he seems like a nice guy—call him to see if he is interested in helping you. The rest is history.

Jean was dispensed from her solemn vows in 1971 and was hired as a teacher in a Catholic School in a city about 60 miles away. I left active ministry in 1972; after receiving laicization in 1973; we married in the Catholic Church where Jean was teaching. We had 4 concelebrants and Jean and I shared in giving the homily and were Eucharistic ministers. We received a 30 second standing ovation after the homily. And so it was in 1973---seems like a century ago!! That was long ago—before the current “reform of the reform” movement.

We were active in our local parish for 27 years. Jean held the positions of Youth Minister; DRE; Coordinator of RCIA; and was the Principal of an inner city Catholic Grade School for 9 years—the last position she held. It was upon her retirement—disability leave-- that I became much more active in ministry. Jean and I both served on the National Board for CITI until we retired from that position due to Jean’s health.

For the last 32 years I have been one of the chaplains at a large local hospital in Aurora. Those serving in this capacity realize you meet many people at very defining moments in their life---whether it be in the labor/delivery area with the trauma of a still born child or the death of an elderly person who has struggled for years. The Emergency Department is always filled with trauma from car accidents; fires; shootings and sudden cardiac arrests. I have been humble to be in this ministry for the last 32 years and plan on continuing with this for the long term. During this time I have anointed a countless number of people. There are stories of people and their association with the Catholic Church that could be used for a short book. I am sure many of us have heard and experienced many situations where “the system” just could not handle the ministerial needs and the ministry of the married priest who is not shackled by restrictive laws is able to properly minister to the needs as presented. Whenever I am “on-call” I turn my pager on and say a simple prayer that I may be the instrument of Jesus—that Jesus may use me in whatever situation is presented.

Jean and I are blessed with 2 wonderful adult children. Our son lives in Alaska and daughter lives in Southern Florida. Living in northern Illinois I am able to visit my son and daughter-in-law perhaps once a year. I try to make the Florida trip a few times a year.

Jean and I shared in the most wonderful marriage that any 2 people could possibly experience. We lived every facet of marital love to the fullest. However that being said….!! In 1993 Jean had breast cancer; in 1998 endometrial cancer; in 2008 lymphoangiosarcoma—we had that surgically removed in May of 2008; that cancer all came back in the spring of 2009. We were told there was no treatment and Jean was terminal. After the final diagnosis Jean died 8 days later at home. We were at the University of Chicago Hospital on a Sunday morning when we were told. We had a few days to process before coming home with hospice. We laughed and we cried; we told stories that only we would understand. “Bob, we have been so blessed in our marriage and children” Jean would say. The last few days Jean was too weak to speak—but when she could talk at the end she would say 2 sentences which we turned into our prayer mantra. “It is time.” “Take me quickly”. God did answer our prayers as Jean died in 8 days. It is a strange sensation to be holding Jean’s hand after 36 years of marriage and pray for a peaceful death!

At Jean’s funeral Eucharist I gave part of the homily. I began my section with the comment, “Many of us have read the book on the lives of the saints—perhaps St. Francis of Assisi or St Theresa of Avila. For the last 36 years I have been honored to live with St. Jean of Aurora”. And so it went.

After the liturgy the pastor was very nervous as the funeral went a long time—he had to go to Chicago for a medical appointment. The bottom line is I conducted the rite of “final commendation” for Jean at the cemetery—how fitting a priest having the final prayers for his wife at the cemetery!

About 6 months after Jean died, I met with a local Bishop to discuss my reinstatement to full diocesan ministry. The parish where we were attending had one full time priest and a weekend priest to help---the parish has 3500 families!! I thought I could be reinstated and help out for a few years. I compiled a packet of information including a letter from a currently active bishop; a letter form the Abbot of a Trappist Monastery; a letter from a Deacon in the parish and his wife; 3 letters from currently active priests within the diocese. The bishop with whom I was speaking treated me respectfully; did not use old language such as “former priest” or “ex-priest”. He was interested in my ministry: The number of weddings I officiate annually; how I deal with the concept of “faculties”; the number of people I have anointed in 24 years at the hospital—(hundreds); how many people in the parish know I am a priest. After an hour one on one with the bishop he said, “Based on the ministry you are doing, I would have a hard time bringing you back as an active priest of the diocese”.

In 2003 Jean and I were invited to be co-pastors at a parish in Wisconsin---Jesus Our Shepherd in Nenno Wisconsin. We would drive up once a month to celebrate Eucharist with and for the people. Jean would preach once a quarter and I would handle the other 2 Sunday’s. It was a 325 mile round trip day. I stopped doing that in October of 2011—with the winter approaching and Jean being deceased it was just too much.

Jesus called me to priestly ministry and I said yes to the call to that sacrament. Jesus called me to receive the sacrament of marriage and I said yes to that sacrament and lived it faithfully for 36 years. One sacrament does not negate the other. I believe Jesus does not care which sacrament one receives first or second---ordination or marriage----marriage or ordination. What is important to me is that I am faithful to what Jesus has called me to do in my life on this earth. When my ministry here is complete Jesus will call me home so that where he is I may also be (Jn—14: 1-6). After Jesus greets me first, Jean will embrace me once again and life will be complete. I am not sure how the dynamics of all this works but I KNOW it works. It is amazing how regularly Jean communicates with me in very powerful ways—ways only known to us and that is the way it is.

So I continue in priestly ministry with weddings, and the hospital and plan on doing this until I am unable to continue.

I retired from the hospital chaplaincy work September 30, 2020. It was a full 32 years and I was involved in almost every conceivable situation that a hospital provides. Still born babies to the death of the very elderly after having lived a full life. Gang shootings and drug over-dose deaths of the young. Anointing for the covid-19 patients in isolation----I wear the full PPE---Personal Protective Equipment.

May of 2016 I met a wonderful woman who attends the same parish I attend. She had been married for 33 years. She was a widow as her husband died in January 2015. We had an immediate connection with much to share. We married May 17, 2017. We then sold both of our homes and built a new home---a nice ranch with no stairs. We rejoice every day that God had shown us the way to new life and love. Anne is the elder of 9 children in her family. We try to visit with her family as much as we can---as well as seeing our son and his wife in Alaska and our daughter and her family in Southern Florida

Fr. Bob Scanlan

Reverend Robert B. Scanlan

Email: bob.scanlan@comcast.net

Phone: 630-951-2476