Former St. Christina Priest Dies at 73

A former associate pastor at St. Christina Parish died Feb. 18 while traveling in Florida. 

Rev. Charles Balskus, 73, served at St. Christina from 2001 to 2008, according to the Chicago Archdiocese who reported his death.

Fr. Balskus was born in Chicago and graduated from Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained a priest in 1965. 

He began his career at St. William Parish in Chicago, and from 1971 to 1978,was the assistant pastor of St. Philomena Parish. He spent one year at St. John Fisher and then six years as an associate pastor at St. Benedict in Blue Island. 

Fr. Balskus eventually returned to the Southwest Side and from 1996 to 2001, was associate pastor at St. Linus in Oak Lawn and then at St. Christina until 2008. He then retired from active ministry and moved to St. Mary, Star of the Sea in Chicago, staying on as a senior priest.

Fr. Jack Dewes, a classmate of Fr. Balskus, described him in a news release as a sports fan and avid reader. 

“He talked with people about the issues of the day and about the Church, “Fr. Dewes said, “and he did his best to get people to the truth.”

He is survived by his sisters Jacqueline Mathys and Mary Therese Patras; and brothers Bill and Mike Balskus.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, February 25, at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish, 6435 South Kilbourn Avenue. A funeral Mass is set for 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 26, at St. Mary, Star of the Sea.

Interment will be at St. Casimir Cemetery in Chicago.