By: By Tom Dermody

DWIGHT — Father Jim Rickey sees the face of Christ where many might not look.

During a priestly career that has spanned 44 years and a variety of ministries, Father Rickey has witnessed Christ’s presence or brought his compassion and mercy to those on the fringes of society as well as on the geographic edges of the Diocese of Peoria.

Along with two decades serving college students as chaplain of St. Francis of Assisi Newman Center at Western Illinois University in Macomb, and the last 19 years as pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Dwight, Father Rickey has also:

— counseled drug users, a ministry he developed as a newly ordained priest working with youth in Galesburg;

— regularly visited the profoundly handicapped at the Fox Developmental Center, just across the street from St. Patrick’s Church, and

— shared faith and, in return, been inspired by the women incarcerated at the just-closed Dwight Correctional Center.

“A few never missed Mass in the 19 years we were there,” said Father Rickey of the women in prison. He recalled visits with those in “segregation” — alone in their cells 23 hours of the day — and how their “eyes lit up” when he arrived.

“That’s the power of the priesthood,” he told The Catholic Post, saying the women knew he represented Jesus and the community. They longed for both.

As he prepared to move to senior status June 12, Father Rickey marveled at the amount of trust people from all walks of life have placed in him.
“I heard secrets and stories no one had ever heard before,” he said. “It’s humbling and overwhelming.”

The faith community in Dwight and Father Rickey will exchange gratitude and farewells on Sunday, June 9. After the 8 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s, breakfast for all in the parish will be served at the nearby Country Mansion.

“It’s a wonderful, delightful parish,” said Father Rickey, filled with people who are “good and cooperative, down to earth and solid.”

CAMPUS MINISTRY “INVALUABLE”
Father Rickey, who will turn 70 on June 25, was raised in St. Bernard’s Parish in Peoria. His father owned a corner grocery store not too far from the church. One of the workers at the store, Michael Callahan, went on to St. Bede Abbey to become a Benedictine monk, and invited young Jim Rickey to come to St. Bede Academy and consider the priesthood.

He did, and while Father Rickey did not become a Benedictine — “I couldn’t sing,” he says with a smile — he did continue his preparation for the priesthood at Cardinal Glennon College in St. Louis and Kenrick Seminary. He has a double major in historical dogmatic/systematic theology in addition to his master of divinity degree.

He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria on June 7, 1969, and assigned as an assistant at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Galesburg, with teaching duties at Costa High School.

Five years later, he was named assistant at St. Paul’s Parish in Macomb and chaplain of St. Francis Newman Center. At that time the Newman community at Western Illinois University was based in a house, with a small office and eight students living upstairs. Sunday Masses were at St. Paul’s Gym, about a mile away.

“It became clear we needed to build something,” said Father Rickey, and
in 1979 he oversaw construction of the present facility near two main residence halls. Calling campus life “crazy,” he did his best to connect with the students — obtaining a cafeteria pass to eat with them and staying up late. “I work second and third shift,” he told friends. “Do not call me in the morning.”

He believes Catholic campus ministry is “invaluable.”

“They’re at a stage in their faith formation that if they don’t find somebody credible, on target, and honest with them, they go,” said Father Rickey. During the summers it was Father Rickey who would “go” — traveling to students’ hometowns to officiate as many as 15 weddings.

In the course of his priesthood also briefly served as administrator of parishes in Rushville and Campus, and for a time as pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Raritan.

One of the students who came to daily Mass while at Western was a young woman who had become estranged from her biological family. Rather than just the usual spiritual support and guidance, Father Rickey assisted her through many life challenges, and eventually legally adopted her as his daughter (J. Breezer Rickey).

He proudly speaks of his daughter, Breeze, and stated that he can better minister to his parishioners because of his lived experience and understanding of fatherhood and family life. Breeze, who has master’s degrees in social work and organizational development, teaches graduate students at Loyola University in Chicago and provides consulting to nonprofit organizations.

In retirement, Father Rickey plans to continue his skiing in the winters and traveling overseas. He also hopes to find a parish in Chicago that may welcome his pastoral guidance.

Father Rickey will reside with his daughter in Chicago when he retires. Until then, congratulatory notes may be sent in care of St. Patrick’s Parish, 126 W. Mazon, PO Box 70, Dwight, IL 60420.