Father Absalon Heading to Woodstock

WOODSTOCK—Father Burt H. Absalon becomes pastor of St. Mary Parish in Woodstock on Feb. 25.

Born in the Philippines, Father Absalon attended Zavier University there and also Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas G. Doran on May 19, 2001.

His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. John Neumann Parish in St. Charles, and he taught at St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin while there. In 2004, he was assigned as parochial administrator for St. Mary Parish in Freeport and assistant principal at Aquin Central Catholic High School.

In 2006, Father Absalon also became pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Freeport. He became pastor also at St. Mary Parish there in 2007.

In 2008, he began service as pastor of St. Bridget Parish in Loves Park, serving there until this newest assignment in Woodstock begins.

Msgr. Brodeski to be Pastor in Batavia

BATAVIA—Msgr. Aaron Brodeski becomes pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Batavia on Feb. 25.

A native of Rockford, Msgr. Brodeski was ordained to the priesthood on May 16, 1998, by Bishop Thomas G. Doran. He is a Boylan Central Catholic High School graduate, and  attended Rock Valley College in Rockford, Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.

After ordination, his first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Crystal Lake, and a religion teacher at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock. In 1999, he began to coordinate Rock 2000, a summer event for youths and young adults centered on the Eucharist and the sacraments. He was made associate diocesan director of vocations and the spiritual advisor for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in 2000. He became diocesan director of vocations in May, 2002, remaining in that position until August 2008. He again served as director of vocations from Feb. 16, 2012, to Feb. 25, 2013.

In 2003, he became pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Amboy. He served also as administrator of St. Flannen Parish in Harmon, St. Mary Parish in Walton and St. Patrick Parish in Maytown from 2005-2006.

In 2007, he became pastor of St. Mary Parish in Byron. In 2008, he was invested with the title of monsignor. On Nov. 30 that year, he became pastor of St. Mary Parish in Woodstock and St. Patrick Parish in Hartland, where he has served until the present time. He served also as spiritual director at Marian Central Catholic High School.

Msgr. Deutsch Heading to Loves Park, Rockford

LOVES PARK/ROCKFORD

—Msgr. Daniel Deutsch, pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Batavia, becomes pastor of St. Bridget Parish in Loves Park, and Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Religious and Vocations for the Diocese of Rockford on Feb. 25.

Msgr. Deutsch is a native of St. Charles and a graduate of St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin and Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. He studied for the priesthood at St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein and was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1994, by Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill.

His first assignment was as an parochial vicar at St. Bridget Parish, Loves Park, teaching also at Boylan Central Catholic High School. In 1997, he began service at Holy Angels Parish in Aurora, teaching also at Aurora Central Catholic High School.

Msgr. Deutsch became pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Dixon in November 1999. In July 2001, he became pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Batavia.

Additionally, he has served as a member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, the Clergy Relief Society Board, as diocesan chaplain for the American Heritage Girls and as Dean of the Aurora Deanery. He was invested with the title of monsignor in 2008.