- Date Of Birth: December 24, 1958
- Date Of Death: July 15, 2017
- State: Illinois
Monsignor J. Brian Rejsek J.C.L., 58, pastor of St. Valentine’s Church and St. Mary’s Church in Peru, passed away Saturday morning, July 15, 2017.
Monsignor was born December 24, 1958 in Evergreen Park to Joseph C. and Eileen G. (Pembroke) Rejsek. He attended seminary at Kendrick Seminary in St. Louis, receiving his degree in theology in 1986.
He was ordained a priest on May 24, 1986. After ordination, he went to Rome to study Canon Law, receiving his Canon Law degree in 1990. Returning to the Diocese of Peoria, Monsignor began service with the marriage tribunal, and has continued to do so for nearly three decades.
His first assignment as pastor was at St. Mary’s Church in Princeville in 1991. Through the years, he served as pastor for numerous parishes in the diocese and was currently pastor of St. Valentine’s Church and St. Mary’s Church in Peru. He also served as vicar of the LaSalle vicariate, on the diocesan personnel board and on the parish and institution committee and was very active in Hispanic ministry. He received the title of Monsignor in 2003.
Monsignor was a smart, active, intelligent, energetic, social, friendly, and above all, a spiritual Catholic priest. He liked to associate with ethnic communities, visit ethnic towns and eat ethnic foods. He organized numerous bus trips to various ethnic communities in Chicago and the suburbs.
He spoke eight different foreign languages, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Russian, Latin and French.
Monsignor Rejsek was truly an inspiration to many people and a great friend to many parishioners throughout the years.
Survivors include his mother, Eileen of Western Springs; four sisters, Nancy (Martin) Gardner of LaGrange Park, Joleen (Jon) Tschaikovsky of LaGrange, Denise (Corey) Gritsch of Palos Hills and Monica (William) Koder of Las Vegas, NV; seven nieces and nephews, Eric Gardner, Megan (Justin) Miskawitz, Janell Tschaikovsky, Jenna Tschaikovsky, Jocelyn (Marc) Nettleton, Dylan Gritsch and Samantha Koder; one great niece and two great nephews, Eli, Emma and Wyatt Miskawitz. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph; one sister, Kathleen Kapelanski and one niece, Shannon Gardner
.
