Rev. John A. Kret, O.S.A. (1934-2020)
John Anthony Kret was born April 19, 1934 in Cudahy, Wisconsin to John C. and Dorothy R. (Beier) Kret. He was Baptized April 22, 1934 at Saint Frederick Church, Cudahy. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation December 8, 1946 at Saint Veronica Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
John studied at Saint Veronica Elementary School, Milwaukee (1940-47), and Saint James Elementary School, Rockford, Illinois (1947-48). He is a 1952 graduate of Saint Thomas High School, Rockford. He entered the Augustinian program of formation following his high school graduation, and did post-graduate studies in Latin at Saint Augustine Seminary, Holland, Michigan, in 1952 and 1953.
He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate September 9, 1953. He professed Simple (temporary) Vows September 10, 1954 and Solemn (permanent) Vows September 10, 1957.
He earned a B. A. in Philosophy from Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1958.
He then followed the course of theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. receiving an M. A. in Religious Education in 1962. He was ordained a Priest June 7, 1961.
Father Kret earned an M.S. in Library Science from Villanova University, Villanova, in 1964. He studied Retreat Center Administration at Notre Dame University, Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1979.
Upon completion of initial formation, Father Kret’s assignments were:
Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago as teacher, librarian, data processing director, and band moderator (1962-75)
Tolentine Center, Olympia Fields in retreat ministry, music ministry, manager at Saint Luke Book Store, and public relations director (1975-83)
Austin Friary, Olympia Fields as Province Manager of Data Processing (1983-91)·
Mercy Residence at Tolentine Center as chaplain (1991-92)
Saint Rita High School, Chicago as librarian, teacher, and computer coordinator (1992-98)·
Bishop McNamara High School, Kankakee as teacher and librarian (1998-2000) ·
Mercy Residence at Tolentine Center as chaplain (2000-2004)
From 2004 to 2019, Father Kret resided at Saint John of Sahagún Friary in Providence Catholic High School, New Lenox. He continued to provide sacramental ministries as needed in the Diocese of Joliet.
Declining health caused him to be assigned in April of 2019 to Bl. Stephen Bellesini Friary, Crown Point, Indiana, where he could receive the needed health care. On August 16, 2020, Father Kret entered eternal life.
