Chicago, April 15, 2025 — Rev. John P. Lucas, J.C.L., a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former judicial vicar with the Court of Appeals of the Province of Chicago, passed away on April 5, 2025, at the age of 82.

Born on March 8, 1943, in Chillicothe, Ohio, Lucas pursued his education at Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, Immaculata High School in Kansas, the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Lucas was ordained on December 20, 1968, at St. Peter Basilica in Rome by Most Rev. Francis Reh. He celebrated his first solemn Mass on December 21, 1968, at Villa Stritch in Rome. Following his ordination, he served in various capacities, including assistant pastor at St. Cyprian Parish in River Grove and associate pastor at St. Edmund Parish in Oak Park. He also acted as a judge at the Metropolitan Tribunal and the Court of Appeals of the Province of Chicago.

Rev. Michael Bradley, who knew Lucas since 1993, shared, “I began working at the Tribunal and got to work with him. He studied in Rome for his degree in canon law. He was fair-minded in applying the law and had a real gift in combining his canon law knowledge and expertise in pastoral ministry.” Regarding Lucas's concern for people, Bradley added, “When he had to decide on a possible marriage annulment, he did with great deal of concern for all parties. They were not just cases for him, they were people.”

Since his retirement, Lucas continued serving on appeal cases as the adjutant judicial vicar in charge of the Court of Second Instance of the Metropolitan Tribunal and remained committed to parish ministry. Bradley noted, “He was dedicated in attending conferences to keep up with canonical developments because the law changes over time. I could always go to him for advice and he will be greatly missed.”

Rev. Michael Hack, another retired archdiocesan priest, remarked, “He was a good canonist and a good pastoral priest. He was very responsive to people and never gave a short shrift to anyone. He had respect for people realizing we are all God’s children.”

Details regarding the funeral services will be announced later.