Father Patrick J. Lee, 74, died April 14. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish on Belmont Avenue.

Born in Evergreen Park, Father Lee attended Marist High School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College of Loyola University and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1976.

He served as associate pastor of St. Christopher, Midlothian; St. Matthias; St. Giles, Oak Park; and Immaculate Conception Parish on North Park Avenue.

Father Lee served as pastor of both Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph parishes on North Orleans Street from 1987 to 2013, laying the groundwork for the combination of the two parishes, which merged in 2016. Before retiring, he served as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for nine years.

He was a faculty member at Quigley Preparatory Seminary from 1979 to 1986.

Father John Hoffman, who met Father Lee in the seminary, remembered his friend as a deeply spiritual priest who had a clear focus on ministering to the people in the parish.

“Especially when folks were ill, he would make visits to the hospitals. He was very loyal to the Church, and was not reluctant to challenges. He prayed often for the LGBTQ community.”

Father Lee was an advocate for the Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach, or AGLO Chicago. During a Mass in 2023 that celebrated the 35th anniversary of the ministry, AGLO recognized Lee for his support since the group’s inception.