A light has gone out at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights.
Br. Dale Barth, CSV
Br. Dale Barth, CSV, who lived in the retirement wing for 11 years and served as a Viatorian religious brother for 55 years, has died.
Br. Barth was 75.
“Just hearing the name, Br. Dale Barth, conjures up a smile,” said Br. Don Houde, CSV, who worked with Br. Barth at Saint Viator High School.
Fr. Mick Egan, CSV, shared those lines in his homily about his late confrere, whose friendship dated back more than 50 years.
Fr. Thomas von Behren, CSV, presents a statue of St. Viator to an emotional Br. Barth at the celebration of his 50 years of religious life.
Br. Barth grew up in Peoria and attended Spalding Institute, where he first met the Viatorians. He professed his first vows as a religious brother in 1963. His years in ministry would take him to nearly all of the places where Viatorians serve, but his longest assignment was at Saint Viator High School, where he directed the maintenance staff from 1967 to 1990.
“He was immersed in student life,” says Br. Houde, who served as principal from 1972-1979. “The many, many young men who had after-school jobs came to associate Br. Barth as an important part of their Saint Viator memories.”
Br. Barth spent the next six years in the Provincial Treasurer’s office before heading to Las Vegas, where he served as business manager at St. Viator Parish. From 2000-2003, he was asked by Fr. Charles Bolser, CSV, who was pastor of Maternity BVM Parish in Bourbonnais, to serve as a pastoral associate. His role working with parish families eventually led to Br. Barth being ordained as a permanent deacon.
His last assignments including working as assistant novice master, while based at St. Patrick’s Parish in Kankakee, and ultimately at St. Viator Parish in Chicago before his retirement in 2008.
Visitation for Br. Barth took place Feb. 26 at Lauterburg-Oehler Funeral Home, 2000 E. Northwest Highway in Arlington Heights. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at 11 a.m. Feb. 27, at Our Lady of the Wayside Parish, 434 W. Park St. in Arlington Heights. IHe was interred at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
Updated March 1, 2019