Funeral Arrangements Set For Evergreen Park's 'Father Al'

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — As local parishioners of Most Holy Redeemer Church and Chicago Catholics continue to remember a beloved priest who served the Evergreen Park parish for decades after his retirement, the church has announced that services for the Rev. Albert Adamich will be held this week.

Adamich passed away last week at the age of 101. The priest, who was affectionately known as “Father Al”, was the oldest priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago and celebrated 75 years as a priest earlier this year.

Visitation for Father Al will be between 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday at Most Holy Redeemer Church, which is located at 9525 S. Lawndale Ave in Evergreen Park. Family members, church members, and friends will meet at 11 a.m. on Thursday for Mass.

Lying in state will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced on Tuesday. The funeral Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Robert Casey. Father James Hyland, the pastor at Most Holy Redeemer, will be the homilist of the Mass.

Interment will be held at St. Joseph Cemetery in Joliet.

Father Al was born in Joliet and attended St. Joseph School before attending the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and served as the Associate Pastor of Mother of God. Ordained in 1948, he served at the church until 1966 before serving as St. Hubert (1966-1970), St. Symphorosa (1970-71), and Most Holy Redeemer Church for the final year of his ministry in 1991-92.

He was the pastor of Mother of God between 1971-91, the church said. The title of pastor emeritus was bestowed on Adamich in 1992.

“He’s such an inspiration,” Deacon Mark Phelan said in last year’s Chicago Catholic article featuring Adamich’s 100th birthday celebration. Phelan served alongside Adamich for 10 years. “He’s a man of God. He prays for everyone. He prays constantly,” Phelan said. “He’s just the most wonderful man I ever met. He really is.”

The church said he resided at Most Holy Redeemer Church since retiring in 1992. He only planned to stay for a year, but was with the church for 32 years, and celebrated his 100th birthday in 2022.

“Our parish community was so lucky to have him all that time,” the church wrote in a Facebook post. “He was such an example of service and faith to us all. May he rest and peace.”