PERU - Monsignor J. Brian Rejsek J.C.L., 58, pastor of St. Valentine’s Church and St. Mary’s Church in Peru, passed away July 15, 2017.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 21 at St. Valentine’s Church in Peru with the Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky C.S.C., Bishop of the Diocese of Peoria, officiating. Private burial will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside with Rev. Patrick O’Neal officiating. Visitation will be from 3:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 20 at the church with a vigil service in English at 4 p.m. and in Spanish at 7:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9-9:50 a.m. on Friday at the church. Arrangements were entrusted to Mueller Funeral Home in Peru.

Monsignor was born Dec. 24, 1958 in Evergreen Park to Joseph C. and Eileen G. (Pembroke) Rejsek.

Survivors include his mother of Western Springs; four sisters, Nancy (Martin) Gardner of LaGrange Park, Joleen (Jon) Tschaikovsky of LaGrange, Denise (Corey) Gritsch of Palos Hills and Monica (William) Koder of Las Vegas, Nev.; seven nieces and nephews, Eric Gardner, Megan (Justin) Miskawitz, Janell Tschaikovsky, Jenna Tschaikovsky, Jocelyn (Marc) Nettleton, Dylan Gritsch and Samantha Koder; and great nieces and great nephew, Eli, Emma and Wyatt Miskawitz.

He was preceded in death by his father; one sister, Kathleen Kapelanski; and one niece, Shannon Gardner.

Monsignor attended seminary at Kendrick Seminary in St. Louis, receiving his degree in theology in 1986. He was ordained a priest on May 24, 1986. After ordination, he went to Rome to study Canon Law and received his Canon Law degree in 1990. Returning to the Diocese of Peoria, he began service with the marriage tribunal and has continued to do so for nearly three decades. His first assignment as pastor was at St. Mary’s Church in Princeville in 1991. Through the years, he served as pastor for numerous parishes in the diocese and was currently pastor of St. Valentine’s Church and St. Mary’s Church in Peru. He also served as vicar of the LaSalle vicariate, on the diocesan personnel board and on the parish and institution committee and was very active in Hispanic ministry. He received the title of Monsignor in 2003.

He was a smart, active, intelligent, energetic, social, friendly and above all, a spiritual Catholic priest. He liked to associate with ethnic communities, visit ethnic towns and eat ethnic foods. He organized numerous bus trips to various ethnic communities in Chicago and the suburbs. He spoke eight different foreign languages, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Russian, Latin and French. Monsignor Rejsek was truly an inspiration to many people and a great friend to many parishioners throughout the years.

The online guestbook may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.MuellerFH.com.