Father Matthias E. Lorenz, 81, died March 5. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former chaplain of St. Anthony Hospital and university professor.

Born in Chicago, Father Lorenz attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1969. He also earned a master’s degree in music at the Chicago Conservatory College, a master’s degree in public administration at Roosevelt University and a doctorate in theology and human sciences with concentration on issues in medical ethics and bioethics at the University of Chicago.

Father Lorenz was assistant pastor of St. Gregory the Great and St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish. He later served at De La Salle Institute and was director of pastoral care and chaplain at St. Anthony Hospital. He also served as: a teacher and dorm counselor at Benedictine University in Lisle; adjunct professor at DePaul University; and visiting professor and Newman Center associate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He retired in 2014.

Father Leon Rezula, former pastor of St. Julian Eymard Parish in Elk Grove Village, remembered the child-like simplicity and profound faith of his classmate.

“He had a variety of experience in his priesthood,” Rezula said. “He was very outgoing, loved people and loved to meet new people.”