Deceased: 2010-04-26
Diocese: LA CROSSE
Seminary Graduation Year: 1954
Monsignor John Edward Malik, at the age of 83 and a priest for 56 years, died on Monday, April 26, 2010, in Colby with his family by his side.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 29, at Saint Mary Help of Christians Church at Colby. Monsignor Richard W. Gilles will be the main celebrant. Father David C. Kunz will be the homilist. Burial will be in Saint Mary’s CatholicCemeteryat Colby. Visitation will be held at Saint Mary Help of Christians Church at Colby on Wednesday, April 28, from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be a recitation of the Rosary prior to Vespers at 8 p.m. There will also be visitation on Thursday, April 29, from 9 a.m. until time of theMass.The Diocese of La Crosse and the family are being assisted by Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Colby.
Monsignor Malik was born on May 31, 1926, inClintonville,Wis., to James and Clara (née Berens) Malik. He attendedIncarnationSchoolinMinneapolis; P.J.JacobsHigh SchoolinStevens Point, Wis.;St. JohnUniversityatCollegeville, Minn.; and theNorthAmerican College in Rome. After graduation from high school he served with the U.S. Navy during World War II from June 1944 to 1946. He was ordained on Dec. 19, 1953, at the North American College in Rome by Bishop Martin J. O’Connor.
Father Malik’s first assignment was on June 30, 1954, as a professor at Holy Cross Seminary in La Crosse. On June 19, 1963, he was also appointed as Dean of Studies forHolyCrossSeminaryHigh School. During the summer of 1955, Father Malik was assigned to studies in the Classical Languages at Catholic University in Washington,D.C.He was assigned to studies in Education and Mathematics atMarquetteUniversityatMilwaukeeduring the summers of 1956 through 1967. Father Malik was appointed as Rector of Holy Cross Seminary inLa Crosse on June 17, 1969.
On July 1, 1971, Father Malik was then assigned as Vice Chancellor and Secretary of the Matrimonial Tribunal of the Diocese of La Crosse. In September 1971, he was also assigned as Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish at Saint Joseph Ridge. On June 1, 1972, he was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese, while continuing his pastorate at Saint Joseph Ridge. Father Malik was appointed as Co-Rector of Saint Joseph Cathedral at La Crosse on Oct. 4, 1977. On July 15, 1982, he was appointed Pastor of Saint Matthew Parish at Wausau, Wis., where he served until 1991. Father Malik was then appointed as Parochial Administrator of Christ the King Parish at Spencer, Wis., on May 3, 1991, and as Pastor on Sept. 17, 1991. On Dec. 12, 1991, he was also assigned as Parochial Administrator of Saint Mary Help of Christians Parish at Colby. Father Malik was released from his assignment as Pastor of Christ of King the Parish at Spencer and appointed Pastor of Saint Mary Help of Christians Parish at Colby on May 19, 1992.
