Rest in Peace Father Militello

ARCHDIOCESAN PRIEST, REV. COSMO MILITELLO, DIES
Pastor for Many Years at Melrose Park Parish

Chicago, IL (July 23, 2010) – Fr. Cosmo Militello, pastor for over 20 years of Sacred Heart Parish in Melrose Park, died Thursday, July 22, at St. Benedict Home in Niles. He was 76 years old and earlier this year celebrated his 50th year of priesthood.

Fr. Militello was a first generation American and a Chicago native. He attended Our Lady of the Angels school on the city’s northwest side, and graduated from St. Angela School, Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary. Albert Cardinal Meyer ordained him in 1960.

For his first 12 years as a priest, Fr. Militello served as assistant pastor at two parishes in the western suburbs, St. Simeon in Bellwood (1960-66) and Sacred Heart in Melrose Park (1966-73). For seven years beginning in 1973, Fr. Militello was the associate pastor at St. Andrew Parish on the north side before returning to the western suburbs, where he spent the remainder of his ministry.

Fr. Militello served briefly as associate pastor of St. Priscilla Parish on Chicago’s northwest side before being named pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Melrose Park in 1981. He served there for 23 years until his retirement in 2004, when he was named pastor emeritus.

A wake for Fr. Militello will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 819 North 16th Avenue in Melrose Park, on Sunday, July 25. Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago, will be the main celebrant at a funeral Mass for Fr. Militello at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 26, at Sacred Heart. Interment will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside. Fr. Militello is survived by his brother, Joseph Militello.