James Cajetan Chereso, on leave of absence from the priesthood and the Dominican Order for over a year, was killed by an unknown assailant, probably on Friday evening, November 21, 1980. His body was found in his near southside Chicago fifth-floor apartment in the then new Dearborn Park housing complex across the street from Central Police Headquarters on November 24. Following private funeral services at St. Dominic-St. Thomas Priory in River Forest, he was buried in the Dominican plot at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois, on November 26.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 15, 1924, James Charles Chereso attended Sheridan Grade School and Bowen High School in Chicago before beginning college studies at the University of Chicago. After serving for three years in the United States Army Signal Corps in North Africa and Southern Europe, he returned to the University of Chicago to complete his studies with a bachelor of philosophy degree in 1948. On September 12, 1948, he entered the Dominican Order at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois, and on September 19, of the following year, he made first profession at the newly completed novitiate at St. Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota.
Philosophical studies followed in River Forest, Illinois, and theological courses in Dubuque, Iowa, until September 1953, when Brother Cajetan and three other student brothers were sent to Rome to complete their theological training at the Angelicum. On June 29, 1954, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Dominican Church of Madonna dell'Arco in Naples and then celebrated his first Mass in the nearby village of Altomonte, where his mother and father were born and baptized.
When he completed his studies for a doctorate in theology at the Angelicum and returned to the States in 1957, Father Chereso was first assigned to teach theology at Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois. Subsequent teaching assignments took him to the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota; the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.; Aquinas Institute of Philosophy in River Forest, Illinois; and Loyola University in Chicago. From 1971 until 1975, he pursued special pastoral studies at McCormick Theological Seminary and George Williams College to win Master's Degrees in Pastoral Counselling and in Social Work. In 1975, he obtained employment as a psychiatric social worker at the Mile Square Center in Chicago's inner city.
To resolve questions and issues about his future life and work as a Dominican priest, Father Chereso sought and was granted a leave of absence from religious duties in the fall of 1979, while continuing to serve as a layman those who were deeply troubled and in need of psychological aid. At the time of his death, he was preparing to take a new position with Homes For Children, an agency that provides special support services for families with children in the public school system.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 15, 1924, James Charles Chereso attended Sheridan Grade School and Bowen High School in Chicago before beginning college studies at the University of Chicago. After serving for three years in the United States Army Signal Corps in North Africa and Southern Europe, he returned to the University of Chicago to complete his studies with a bachelor of philosophy degree in 1948. On September 12, 1948, he entered the Dominican Order at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois, and on September 19, of the following year, he made first profession at the newly completed novitiate at St. Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota.
Philosophical studies followed in River Forest, Illinois, and theological courses in Dubuque, Iowa, until September 1953, when Brother Cajetan and three other student brothers were sent to Rome to complete their theological training at the Angelicum. On June 29, 1954, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Dominican Church of Madonna dell'Arco in Naples and then celebrated his first Mass in the nearby village of Altomonte, where his mother and father were born and baptized.
When he completed his studies for a doctorate in theology at the Angelicum and returned to the States in 1957, Father Chereso was first assigned to teach theology at Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois. Subsequent teaching assignments took him to the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota; the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.; Aquinas Institute of Philosophy in River Forest, Illinois; and Loyola University in Chicago. From 1971 until 1975, he pursued special pastoral studies at McCormick Theological Seminary and George Williams College to win Master's Degrees in Pastoral Counselling and in Social Work. In 1975, he obtained employment as a psychiatric social worker at the Mile Square Center in Chicago's inner city.
To resolve questions and issues about his future life and work as a Dominican priest, Father Chereso sought and was granted a leave of absence from religious duties in the fall of 1979, while continuing to serve as a layman those who were deeply troubled and in need of psychological aid. At the time of his death, he was preparing to take a new position with Homes For Children, an agency that provides special support services for families with children in the public school system.
James Cajetan Chereso, on leave of absence from the priesthood and the Dominican Order for over a year, was killed by an unknown assailant, probably on Friday evening, November 21, 1980. His body was found in his near southside Chicago fifth-floor apartment in the then new Dearborn Park housing complex across the street from Central Police Headquarters on November 24. Following private funeral services at St. Dominic-St. Thomas Priory in River Forest, he was buried in the Dominican plot at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois, on November 26.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 15, 1924, James Charles Chereso attended Sheridan Grade School and Bowen High School in Chicago before beginning college studies at the University of Chicago. After serving for three years in the United States Army Signal Corps in North Africa and Southern Europe, he returned to the University of Chicago to complete his studies with a bachelor of philosophy degree in 1948. On September 12, 1948, he entered the Dominican Order at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois, and on September 19, of the following year, he made first profession at the newly completed novitiate at St. Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota.
Philosophical studies followed in River Forest, Illinois, and theological courses in Dubuque, Iowa, until September 1953, when Brother Cajetan and three other student brothers were sent to Rome to complete their theological training at the Angelicum. On June 29, 1954, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Dominican Church of Madonna dell'Arco in Naples and then celebrated his first Mass in the nearby village of Altomonte, where his mother and father were born and baptized.
When he completed his studies for a doctorate in theology at the Angelicum and returned to the States in 1957, Father Chereso was first assigned to teach theology at Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois. Subsequent teaching assignments took him to the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota; the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.; Aquinas Institute of Philosophy in River Forest, Illinois; and Loyola University in Chicago. From 1971 until 1975, he pursued special pastoral studies at McCormick Theological Seminary and George Williams College to win Master's Degrees in Pastoral Counselling and in Social Work. In 1975, he obtained employment as a psychiatric social worker at the Mile Square Center in Chicago's inner city.
To resolve questions and issues about his future life and work as a Dominican priest, Father Chereso sought and was granted a leave of absence from religious duties in the fall of 1979, while continuing to serve as a layman those who were deeply troubled and in need of psychological aid. At the time of his death, he was preparing to take a new position with Homes For Children, an agency that provides special support services for families with children in the public school system.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 15, 1924, James Charles Chereso attended Sheridan Grade School and Bowen High School in Chicago before beginning college studies at the University of Chicago. After serving for three years in the United States Army Signal Corps in North Africa and Southern Europe, he returned to the University of Chicago to complete his studies with a bachelor of philosophy degree in 1948. On September 12, 1948, he entered the Dominican Order at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois, and on September 19, of the following year, he made first profession at the newly completed novitiate at St. Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota.
Philosophical studies followed in River Forest, Illinois, and theological courses in Dubuque, Iowa, until September 1953, when Brother Cajetan and three other student brothers were sent to Rome to complete their theological training at the Angelicum. On June 29, 1954, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Dominican Church of Madonna dell'Arco in Naples and then celebrated his first Mass in the nearby village of Altomonte, where his mother and father were born and baptized.
When he completed his studies for a doctorate in theology at the Angelicum and returned to the States in 1957, Father Chereso was first assigned to teach theology at Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois. Subsequent teaching assignments took him to the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota; the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.; Aquinas Institute of Philosophy in River Forest, Illinois; and Loyola University in Chicago. From 1971 until 1975, he pursued special pastoral studies at McCormick Theological Seminary and George Williams College to win Master's Degrees in Pastoral Counselling and in Social Work. In 1975, he obtained employment as a psychiatric social worker at the Mile Square Center in Chicago's inner city.
To resolve questions and issues about his future life and work as a Dominican priest, Father Chereso sought and was granted a leave of absence from religious duties in the fall of 1979, while continuing to serve as a layman those who were deeply troubled and in need of psychological aid. At the time of his death, he was preparing to take a new position with Homes For Children, an agency that provides special support services for families with children in the public school system.
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