Br. David W. Adelsbach, O.S.A. (1937 - 2020)

David William Adelsbach was on born February 15, 1937 in Evergreen Park, Illinois to George and Lucille Adelsbach. He was baptized on March 7, 1937 at St. Columbanus Church, Chicago, Illinois. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation October 19, 1948 at Our Lady of Peace Church, Chicago. 

David attended Chicago Vocational School, Chicago, from 1952 to 1955. He transferred to the Carmelite Seminary, Niagara Falls, Ontario, for his Senior Year, but withdrew after three months. He earned a General Education Development (G.E.D.) Diploma in 1980. 

He entered the Augustinian program of formation for lay Brothers at St. Joseph Hall, St. Monica Monastery, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, in 1957. He took the religious name Brother Philip, but later returned to his Baptismal name, David. He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate March 10, 1960. He professed simple (temporary) vows in the Order of St. Augustine March 12, 1961 and solemn (permanent) vows March 12, 1964. 

Following profession of vows, he did maintenance work at Austin Catholic High School, Detroit, Michigan (1961); Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago (1961-62); St. Augustine Seminary, Holland, Michigan (1962-63); Augustinian Academy, St. Louis, Missouri (1963-65), and St. Joseph Mission House, Fort Wayne, Indiana (1965-72). 

Brother David did supervisory work at St. Rita High School, Chicago, from 1972 until 1979. He relocated in 1979 to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery, Olympia Fields, Illinois, where he oversaw the facilities for lodging retreatants and other overnight guests at Tolentine Center. In 1981, he was transferred to Mendel Monastery, Chicago, where he served as Business Manager. 

In 1988, he moved to Blessed William Monastery, Chicago. He participated in a program of Clinical Pastoral Education at McNeil Hospital, Berwyn, Illinois, in 1988 and 1989. After completing two quarters of C.P.E. in 1989, he became a Chaplain at St. Margaret Hospital, Hammond, Indiana. 

He was assigned in 1991 to Austin Friary, Olympia Fields, Illinois. He did maintenance work at St. Rita High School, Chicago, from 1991 to 1994. In 1994, he began to work in Food Service at the Convent of the Sisters of St. Casimir, Chicago. In that same year, he studied at Moraine Valley College and became a Certified Nursing Assistant. 

While continuing to work part-time at the Convent, he also provided home nursing care to a variety of clients, first through Orsini Home Health, and later through Franciscan Home Care. 

When Austin Friary moved to Matteson, Illinois, Brother Adelsbach relocated there. In 2003, he was asked to help provide care to the elderly Augustinian friars at the newly established Senior Care Program at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery, Olympia Fields. In 2006, he was named Director of the Program. He served as Director until 2009. 

In 2010, Bl. Stephen Bellesini Friary was established as a community for elderly friars and those needing health care, first at Franciscan Village, Lemont, Illinois, and later at St. Anthony Home, Crown Point, Indiana. Brother Adelsbach continued to reside at Austin Friary and to assist in the care of elderly and infirm friars.

In August of 2014, Brother Adelsbach was transferred to St. John Stone  Friary Community. He was a member of the community until his death on October 15, 2020.