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Fr. Arnold E. Perham
Viatorian Father Arnold E. Perham, 95, died June 21 at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights.
Born in Chicago, Father Perham grew up in St. Viator Parish and graduated from St. Mel High School. He pronounced his first vows in 1948 and was ordained in 1956.
Father Perham earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Loyola University Chicago; a master’s degree in mathematics from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.; and a master’s degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
After teaching in Springfield, he taught at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1962-1968). He then taught at Loyola University Chicago (1968-1973) while serving as director of scholastics. He returned to St. Viator High School in 1973 and taught there until 2010. From 2011 to 2019, he volunteered in the Math Lab at the school, and from 2020 to 2025 he volunteered remotely by sending practice tests and study guides to members of the Math Club at St. Viator High School.
He is survived by his sister, Faustine Perham.
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Fr. Richard Young
Augustinian Father Richard Allen Young, 61, was born in Oak Lawn.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Quincy College, a master of divinity degree from St. Thomas Theological Seminary in Denver, and a doctorate in ministry from Catholic Theological Union.
Father Young was received into the Franciscan novitiate in 1989, professed simple vows the following year and professed solemn vows in 1993 before being ordained a priest in 1995. He served as a Franciscan in Roswell, New Mexico.
He was separated from the Franciscans in 2002 and began the process for incardination into the Archdiocese of Chicago. As a priest with the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served as associate pastor of St. Ita Parish (2005-2009).
He was admitted to Augustinian initial formation in 2009. He began his Augustinian novitiate in 2010, professing temporary vows in 2011 and solemn vows in 2014.
During his time in the Augustinian pre-novitiate, he taught at St. Rita of Cascia High School and continued teaching as an adjunct faculty member in the religious studies department of DePaul University (2001-2009).
He was assigned to St. Rita of Cascia High School Monastery from 2011 to 2013, teaching, serving St. Rita’s campus ministry and serving as director of Augustinian mission at the school.
In 2013, Father Young moved to Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, where he was a member of the faculty and campus ministry. He served as administrator of St. Rita Parish in Racine, Wisconsin (2015-2016), and then returned to Providence Catholic, eventually becoming theology department chair.
He also assisted at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orland Park (2016-2025), served as the Midwest Augustinian province liturgical director from January 2013 through June 2022 and served as province director of Augustinian mission and ministry from July 2018 through June 2024.
He is survived by his father, Richard Young, and his brother, Steven Young.
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Archbishop John Vlazny
Archbishop John Vlazny, 88, died May 23 in Beaverton, Oregon.
Born in Chicago, he attended St. Gall School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1961. He also studied at the North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, earning a baccalaureate in sacred theology in 1960 and a licentiate of sacred theology in 1962.
He served as associate pastor of St. Paul of the Cross, Park Ridge; St. Clement; and St. Aloysius, where he was also pastor.
He was also on the faculty and dean of students at Quigley North, and earned master’s degrees in classics from the University of Michigan and school administration from Loyola University Chicago. In 1981, he was appointed rector of Niles College Seminary.
In 1983, Archbishop Vlazny was named an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago and served as episcopal vicar of Vicariate I. Four years later, he was named bishop of Winona, Minnesota.
In 1997, he was named archbishop of Portland, Oregon, where he succeeded Cardinal Francis George. He served as archbishop of Portland until his retirement in 2013.
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Fr. Harold B. Murphy
Father Harold B. Murphy, 88, died May 13. He was pastor emeritus of the former St. Timothy Parish.
Born in Chicago, Father Murphy attended St. George High School in Evanston, Loyola University Chicago and Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, and he earned a master’s degree in English at Northwestern University.
He was ordained in 1968, and he served as assistant pastor of St. Catherine of Siena, Oak Park; St. James, Arlington Heights; and St. Monica. He became pastor of St. Timothy in 1986 and served there for 20 years. He also taught part-time at Loyola University and other institutions.
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Deacon Dennis Renk
Deacon Dennis Renk, 83, died May 4 in Florida. He was ordained in 1976.
Born in Chicago, he attended St. Augustine School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He entered a Franciscan community before leaving to marry and have a family.
He worked as a hospital chef and food distributor on the South Side of Chicago before he retired.
He was predeceased by his wife, Kathleen. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Beach, 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
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