Rev. William T. O’Mara, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago who served as pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills for more than four decades, died Wednesday, May 27. He was 94.
Father O’Mara was born Feb. 7, 1932, in Chicago. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, and earned a postgraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago.
He was ordained to the priesthood on April 12, 1958, by Cardinal Samuel Stritch and celebrated his first solemn Mass on April 20 at St. Felicitas Church in Chicago.
After ordination, he served as assistant pastor at Infant Jesus of Prague Parish in Flossmoor and St. James Parish in Sauk Village. He was a faculty member at Quigley Preparatory Seminary and served as chaplain at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, where he celebrated school Masses, attended Kairos retreats with seniors and participated in sports events, concerts and plays.
Father O’Mara served as pastor at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish until 2003, when he was named pastor emeritus.
Rev. Roger Caplis, a classmate, remembered him as outgoing and athletic. “He also shared a great sense of ministry, even after retirement,” Father Caplis said.
Visitation took place Monday, June 1, from 3 to 7 p.m. at St. Kieran Church of Our Lady of the Heights Parish, 724 W. 195th Street in Chicago Heights, and Tuesday, June 2, from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, 9300 W. 167th Street in Orland Hills. The funeral Mass was celebrated June 2 at 7 p.m. by Most Rev. Gerald F. Kicanas, with Most Rev. John S. Siemianowski as homilist.