Visitation Information

Rev. Theodore S. Cirone, C.M.F.

Passed away on September 24, 2021

Father Theodore ‘Ted’ S. Cirone, CMF died on Friday, September 24, 2021, while in hospice care in Niles, Illinois. Father Cirone was born on April 23, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois. He was one of eight children born to Anthony and Ida (nee Oliveri) Cirone. Two of his siblings, the late Father John Cirone, CMF and Sister Donna Marie SSSF, also responded to a religious vocation. He was reared at the parish of St. Philomena on the northside of Chicago.

Father Cirone was 14 years old when he joined the Claretians in 1942, entering the St. Jude Seminary in Momence, Illinois, on the recommendation of a priest who came into his dad’s barber shop for a haircut. “He was a pastor at St. Peter and Paul parish on the southside of Chicago,” Fr. Cirone recalls, “and in talking to my dad, the priest recommended that I join the Claretians, because he knew the good work that they were doing at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, also located on the southside. I had been with the Franciscans for about a year, and they did not think I could make it with them, but I still wanted to be a priest. So, after my dad’s suggestion, I decided to join the Claretians.” It was a decision that eventually led Fr. Ted to an illustrious and dedicated vocation as a Claretian Missionary and to many key posts within the Congregation.

After completing studies at the St. Jude Seminary, Fr. Ted made his first profession of vows on July 16, 1947. His perpetual profession of vows was on July 16, 1950, and he was ordained to the priesthood on June 09, 1955, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Chicago, Illinois. He entered Dominguez Seminary in Compton, CA and studied at Loyola University in Los Angeles, CA graduating in 1951 with a B.A. degree in Philosophy; then he attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. where he graduated with a S.T.L. degree in 1955 and later an M.A. degree in Philosophy in 1965.

In between his studies, Father Ted was Dean of Studies and taught Philosophy and music to students at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary (Terre Haute, IN) from 1955-57; at Claretknoll Seminary (Peru, IL) from 1957-58; at Claretville Seminary (Calabasas, CA) from 1958-59 and the Claretian House of Studies (Washington, DC) from 1959-60. During his assignment in Washington DC, he was also the Local Superior of the Claretian community from 1960-66. From 1961-67, Fr. Ted served as Provincial Consultor of the US Eastern Province as well as Prefect of Formation for the province.

A gifted linguist (he spoke/understood Spanish, Italian and Portuguese), Fr. Ted was assigned to the Claretian General Government in Rome, Italy, as: Local Superior (1967-70) of the General Curia; General Consultor/Prefect of Formation (1967-73); General Consultor/Prefect of Government (1973-79) and as Vicar General (1975-79 and 1985-1991). His eighteen (18) year assignment in Rome took him to many places within the Congregation, including Europe, Asia, Latin America, the United States and Canada. During this time Fr. Ted was also instrumental in updating the Claretian Constitutions and was one of only two Claretians who participated in all the Claretian General Chapters since Vatican II; namely: 1967, 1973, 1979, 1985, 1991, 1997, and 2003.

Father Cirone returned to the United States in 1980 and served as Province Consultor/Prefect of Formation until 1985. He also served as Director of Novices & Students as well as Vocation Director and Spiritual Director at Claret Center during this time.

At the completion of his second term as Vicar General in Rome, Italy in 1991, Fr. Ted was elected Provincial Superior of the US Eastern Province for a six-year term ending in 1998. At the completion of his term, Fr. Ted would remain in the Chicago area working at Claret Center as Co-Director and Spiritual Director (1996); as Formation and Assistant Formation Director (1998-99, 2007-10 and 2010-12) at Casa Romero and Claret House and as Director of Novices (2005-07). Fr. Ted also served as the Province Prefect of Formation on the US Eastern Provincial Government from 1998-2004. During his time at Claret House, Fr. Ted served as Local Superior and was a mentor to many of the students during their formation years. His unending wisdom and experience was an invaluable gift for many of them.

Father Cirone served on numerous boards during his lifetime, including: Catholic Theological Union (Chicago, IL); Conference of Major Superiors of Men (Silver Spring, MD) and Su Casa Catholic Worker Residence for Homeless Latino Families (Chicago, IL).

Father Ted never slowed down and continued working as a Spiritual Director at Claret Center in Chicago from 2012 up until his retirement in 2017 when he became a resident of the Claretian community in Oak Park, IL. In 2020, due to health issues, Father Cirone was moved to Resurrection Life Center in Chicago, IL, his final place of residence until the last few days of his life when he was moved to hospice care.

In an interview, Father Cirone said, “I have liked all the jobs I have held. They offered different challenges, but my most important role was that of Vicar General, a position with the Claretian General Government similar to that of Vice-President in this country.”