Historic
Biography
Rev. Edwin V. Bohula, Capt. CHC, USN - Retired
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Pastor of St. James at Sag Bridge from 1994 to 2003 Rev Edwin V. Bohula spend over 50 years of his life dedicated to Priestly ministry. After receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois he was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Stritch that allowed him to enter military service, but only after first serving the Archdiocese of Chicago for at least seven years. Those seven years turned into nine years. The first
four of them at Immaculate Conception and then five years at St. Fedelis,
both as Associates Pastor.
Finally in 1964, he entered Chaplin school in Newport, Rhode Island.
Brought on active duty as a Priest, he became a Chaplain and was given
rank. After a short indoctrination tour he was sent to Vietnam in 1965 to
serve with
Serving in the military for 27 years he reached the rank of Captain, and served three different tours in Vietnam, with both the US Navy and Marine Corps. During his first tour of duty with the 2nd Bn. 3d Marines he often experienced heavy action and went on patrols with his "grunts" and experienced firsthand the horrors and tragedy of war. One of the most heart-wrenching moments occurred while on his second tour of duty at the Naval Support Activity Station Hospital in Da Nang. An amphibian-tractor had exploded and most of the men had been killed. There was one guy still alive, but badly burned. Chaplain Bohula started giving him Last Rites. They put salve on his eyes and the wounded man opened them. Then he said "Father Ed, is that you?" Chaplin Bohula did not recognize him at first because he was badly burned. Father fondly remember him as one of the boys who had served as an altar boy at St. Feledis. Father was there with him when he died. Seeing so many wounded and dying arriving daily by helicopter at the hospital during all hours of the day was rough enough but delivering the sad news to the parents of the young men killed in action was even tougher. How many priest can boast of saying Mass not only beneath the sea on a submarine but also on an airborne aircraft carrier? He has held Mass in foxholes and on a hill in Vietnam wearing full vestments in close proximinity of the enemy. Not his entire military career has been hardship visited many countries, Captain Bohula "joined the Navy and saw the world." His distinguished career included numerous commendations for outstanding service and he is authorized to wear 17 medals and ribbons including the Navy and Marine Corp medal for Heroism.
During the visit of the late Pope John Paul II to Guam, Father Bohula then the Senior Chaplin of the Pacific Submarine Force in Pearl Harbor was invited to attend a special Mass. As usual it was a special event but Father Bohula got the Pope's attention by singing the Polish national anthem. It was after a second heart attack and by-pass surgery Father Bohula finally retired in 1991. He closed his distinguished Naval career of 27 years with a final Mass on May 18, 1991 at the Naval Air Station in Barbers Point, Hawaii. He was given permission by the Cardinal to remain in a retired status in Hawaii, which he did by supporting the local diocesan needs there. His stay was short-lived however, and he returned to his native Chicago primarily because his mother was very ill by then. As a retired priest he often volunteered his time saying Masses throughout the Chicago area. One such place was St. James at Sag Bridge Church. When the resident Pastor Father James Davitt was in a terrible car accident and was unable to continue his duties Father Bohula was named the Temporary Administrator by Cardinal Bernardin. After the parishioners petitioned the Cardinal Father Bohula agreed to come out of retirement and was installed as pastor in January of 1995. During his years as Pastor of St. James at Sag Bridge Father Bohula made major improvement, renovations, and repairs not only to the church but throughout the entire grounds far too numerous to mention here but are mentioned under parish history. After nine years of service to St. James Father Bohula retired once again on June 22, 2003 with a grand party thrown by the parish of St. James at Sag Bridge. On Sunday morning December 2, 2007 Father Bohula passed away at 2:30am due to heart problems.
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