Rev. Arthur Olsen, Former Associate Pastor At St. Emily's, Dies

MT. PROSPECT, IL - Rev. Arthur J. Olsen, who was most recently the associate pastor at St. Emily Parish in Mt. Prospect, died on Oct. 16 while recovering from surgery at a nursing home in Niles. He was 53.

Olsen, a New Jersey native who came to the Chicago-area as a young man and attended Proviso West High School in Hillside, served in numerous roles at parishes within the Archdiocese of Chicago.

After he was ordained by Francis Cardinal George in 1999, Olsen began as a deacon at St. John Brebeuf Parish in Niles, where he was later named an associate pastor. In 2004, he became associate pastor at St. Mary Parish in Lake Forest and from 2007 to 2014 held the same role at St. Hilary Parish in Chicago.

He was associate pastor at St. Emily's from 2014 until March 2017.

Prior to being ordained a priest, Olson pursued a career in journalism having graduated from Northwestern University and landing a job as a news reporter in Pennsylvania.

"But he said that he suddenly recognized his call to the priesthood while attending Christmas Midnight Mass," said Richard Nash, Chaplain at Presence Saint Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. "It was a true calling of the Holy Spirit to make a radical change in his life."

Visitation hours will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Emily Parish Catholic Church, 1400 E. Central Road, Mt. Prospect on Friday, Oct. 27 followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m.

Olsen is survived by his father, Arthur, Sr., and siblings, Lori Baker, Erik, John and Chris Olsen.

Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Chicago