Fr. Ed Howe's Biography

On July first the new Pastor of Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish will be, Fr. Ed Howe, C.R. If you would like to know a little more about our future Pastor, here is Fr. Ed's Biography

After attending Our Lady of Victory grammar school and Gordon Tech H.S in Chicago he began formation in the Congregation of the Resurrection in 1982 and professed first vows as a Brother on August 15, 1986. He graduated from St. Louis University with a bachelor and master’s degree in social work.
From 1988 to 1991 Bro. Ed was assigned to St. Hedwig Catholic Church, located in the inner-city Chicago neighborhood of BuckTown where he worked with young people, senior citizens and the homeless. During part of this time, he served as Executive Director of the Near Northwest Neighborhood Network.
In 1989 after a parishioner, on his way to Sunday mass with his family, was hit by a stray bullet from a gang fight, Bro. Ed brought BuckTown residents together to protest an area drug house and gang operation. A grassroots movement called "Drug Free BuckTown" emerged that succeeded in shutting down 22 area drug houses over several years. The effort gained local and national media attention. In 1990 the effort received the Chicago Council on Urban Affairs “Community Organization Award” and was chronicled into the film "Takin' Back BuckTown" which received the 1990 International Television Association "Philo" Award. 
From 1991 to 1992 he was assigned to Weber High School where he served as a counselor, religion teacher, student activities coordinator and soccer coach.
From 1992 to 2003 he worked at his alma mater Gordon Tech H.S. in many capacities which included licensed Social Worker, Head Varsity Soccer Coach, WKGT television studio engineer and later as Director of Technology while residing at St. Hedwig Parish. In 2002 he was inducted into the Gordon Tech Alumni Hall of Fame and in 2004 he was nominated by the late Bishop Edwin Conway and selected by the Religious Brothers Conference of Illinois as “Brother of the Year.” He received an Honorary Resolution from the Mayor and City Council of Chicago for his service to the citizens of Chicago.
From 2003 to 2005, Brother Ed served the Archdiocese of Chicago Department of Communications, Radio & Television Office while continuing to reside at St. Hedwig Parish. His responsibilities included offering multi-media production support for Cardinal Francis George’s press conferences, daily Catholic Community of Faith radio show, developing programming for the Archdiocese Instructional Television service and the television programs Sanctuary (airing on ABC 7) and The Church The Cardinal & You. One of the highlights of this ministry was the production of a documentary about Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI that aired on ABC 7 in April of 2005.
In the year 2005, he was appointed as President and CEO of Gordon Tech HS where he served until 2008.  He was invited to deliver an Invocation before Mayor Richard M. Daley and the Chicago City Council members on March 12, 2008.
In 2008, after serving the church for 22 years, Brother Ed was called to study for the priesthood. He attended Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis Missouri to complete graduate studies. He was ordained as a priest by Cardinal Francis George on August 14, 2010 and was assigned by Bishop Peter Sartain of the Diocese of Joliet a week later as the Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Morris, Illinois. Fr. Ed was asked to build a new church building and served as pastor for 10 years in Morris. 
In 2020, Fr. Ed was assigned to St. Scholastica Parish in Woodridge Illinois where he served until 2024 and was involved in many multimedia projects during the pandemic. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and enjoys photographing eagles.