About Father Louis Cameli

Father Louis John Cameli was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois on July 16, 1944. He attended high school and college in the seminary system of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He pursued his studies in theology at the Gregorian University in Rome where he received his licentiate in theology in 1970 and a doctorate in theology with a specialization in spirituality in 1975. After his ordination in Rome (December, 1969), he was assigned to Our Lady of the Angels parish in Chicago. Later, after completing his doctoral studies, he was an associate pastor at St. Gertrude's parish in Franklin Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Beginning in 1975, Father Cameli was on the faculty of Mundelein Seminary of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Illinois. In addition to his responsibilities as professor of spirituality, Father Cameli also served as director of spiritual life and as dean of the ecclesiastically recognized faculty of theology. In November, 1996, Cardinal Bernardin appointed Father Cameli as director of ongoing formation of priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago and director of the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House, Mundelein, IL. In February, 2002 he received the John XXIII award from the National Organization for the Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy (NOCERCC) for his contributions to the continuing education and ongoing formation of priests. In 2005, he was appointed pastor of Divine Savior Parish in Norridge, Illinois. In October, 2006, he received the NCEA Seminary Department’s  John Paul II Seminary Leadership Award. In March, 2009, Cardinal Francis George appointed Father Cameli his delegate for Christian Formation and Mission with residence at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago.

            He has published books: Ministerial Consciousness, 1975; Stories of Paradise: Classical and Modern Autobiographies of Faith, 1978; Mary's Journey, 1982; A Sense of Direction, 1986. He is a co-author of two volumes (grades five and six) of the catechetical series Faith First (Resources for Christian Living, 1999), and a theological consultant for the entire project as well as for the revised edition, Faith First Legacy Edition. Other books include Going to God Together: A Spirituality of Communion, 2002; a revised version of Mary’s Journey, 2003; Exploring Our Catholic Faith: A Spiritual Guide for Believers and Seekers, 2006, a program for adult faith formation; The Devil You Don’t Know: Recognizing and Resisting Evil in Everyday Life, 2011; Bread of Life: Exploring the Presence of the Eucharist in Our Lives, 2012. Monographs in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops include: Spiritual Direction for Priests: The Rediscovery of a Resource, 1976; Spiritual Formation in the Catholic Seminary, 1984. He served as principal writer and general editor of the USCCB document The Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests (2001). His articles have appeared in Chicago Studies, The Priest, and America. His topics center on theology and spirituality. Father Cameli has also served as a retreat director for priests' retreats and as a presenter for priests' convocations in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.