By: By Tom Dermody

COLONA — Some people enjoy people watching. Father Duane Jack, pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish here since 2002, is a people listener.

And in his 46 years of priestly service — in six parish communities, assisting on Marriage Encounter weekends, and as spiritual director of the Northwest Area Cursillo for 37 years — God has sent countless individuals along Father Jack’s path.

As he prepares to transition to senior status on June 12, Father Jack is grateful for every opportunity he’s had to be God’s ears — as well as his hands and voice, as God initiates.

“One of the blessings of my priesthood has been in discovering how each person has an awareness of God that is unique,” he told The Catholic Post. “I find it a joy to discover this by careful listening.

“Some feel alone and abandoned by God, some are so confident in his daily care, some don’t have a clue about Jesus or his message. Over the years I’ve been enriched by seeing the variety of ways God reveals himself to each unique person.”

Raised in St. Anne’s Parish in East Moline, Father Jack sensed an inclination to the priesthood around seventh grade. Guided by Msgr. Bill Cleary at the parish and later by Father John Hunt while at Alleman High School in Rock Island, he decided to enter minor seminary at St. Bede in Peru. He continued his preparation for the priesthood during six years at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Conception, Mo.

Because those years were during and just after Vatican II, Father Jack said he got a “double education” in the church as all sides of issues were explored. He was one of nine priests ordained by Bishop John B. Franz at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on May 21, 1967.

He has served in Kewanee twice — as parochial vicar at Visitation Parish for six years after ordination, and again as pastor of St. Mary’s Parish from 1991 to 2002.

LED 230 CURSILLO WEEKENDS
Father Jack, 72, became involved with Cursillo while serving as parochial vicar of Holy Family Parish, Peoria, in the mid-1970s. It would become a major part of his priesthood, “an extraordinary experience and blessing.” Father Jack has led about 230 Cursillo weekends and formed the leadership teams that presented them.

“I am so grateful to God for this because it has given me an opportunity to meet countless people seeking a closer relationship with God,” said Father Jack. “I have gotten to know these people as individuals, not just groups. I found that people are so hungry for what only God can supply, yet many have not known where or how to find God’s love.”

Father Jack said Cursillo directs participants back to their parishes to find a sense of community and belonging.

Father Jack has been involved in two major building projects. While serving as pastor of St. Maria Goretti Parish in Coal Valley from 1981 to 1991, he guided that growing faith community’s plans for a new church and social hall, dedicated in 1984. He later worked with Father Don Levitt, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Moline, to establish the Believers Together Center at that parish in 2002.

“The cooperation between the parish, Cursillo, and TEC was remarkable,” recalled Father Jack. “We felt it had to be God’s work.”

Father Jack served as co-pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Moline from 1976 to 1981 and is a former vicar of the Kewanee vicariate.

After retirement, he plans to live in Silvis, assist at area parishes on weekends, and take a little more time for deeper reading, meditation and prayer. He has trained two permanent deacons to lead the Northwest Area Cursillo, but hopes to stay involved by offering Cursillo Masses, hearing confessions, etc.

“God has given me the opportunity to serve his people in a variety of ways, which keeps life interesting” said Father Jack. “But in doing so, God has shown me how close and personal he is and how he gives me the energy to do these things.”

“The mystery of God’s life in us seems to be an open door, beckoning,” he said.

Father Jack will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Patrick’s Church at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 9. A farewell open house will follow from 1 to 4 p.m. in the parish hall.

To send a congratulatory message to Father Jack, write him at St. Patrick’s Parish, 201 First St., Colona, IL 61241.