Ordained: 1979

  • 1978 Deacon at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview, IL (CHI)
  • 1979 Ordained
  • 1979-1980 St. Casimir, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1981-1983 St. Sebastian, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1984 St. John Berchman, Chicago, IL (CHI); Quigley Preparatory Seminary North, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1985 On leave; Our Lady of Grace, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1986-1988 St. Ita, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1989-1993 St. Aloysius, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1993-1994 Sabbatical
  • 1994 Other assignments; St. Aloysius, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1995 St. Margaret Mary, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1996 On duty outside the Archdiocese (CHI); Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart, Madison, WI
  • 1997 Resurrection, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1998 St. Mary, Buffalo Grove, IL (CHI)
  • 1999 Unknown
  • 2000 Other Assignments (CHI); 11044 E Creek Rd, Clinton, WI
  • 2000 Resigned
  • 2001-2019 Unknown

In 1983, a mother told Fr. Jesus P. Garza’s parish that she was concerned about Fr. Garza’s interactions with her son, however, Fr. Garza remained active in the priesthood until his resignation in 2000. In 2005, an internal investigation by the Archdiocese of Chicago found that Fr. Garza had sexually abused a child multiple times throughout 1984. In 2018, it was discovered that after leaving the priesthood, Fr. Garza had gone to work as counselor in Wisconsin public schools. Fr. Garza is included in the Archdiocese of Chicago’s list of “Archdiocesan Priests with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with Minors.” Fr. Garza was believed to be living in Kenosha, Wisconsin as of 2018. His whereabouts, status as a priest, and whether he still has access to children are unknown.


Fr. Jesus P. Garza Documents 
Fr. Jesus P. Garza Timeline

5/09/1979        Ordained

5/9/1979- Associate Pastor, St. Casimir’s Parish

6/8/1981- Associate Pastor, St. Sebastian Parish

11/29/1983      Memo of Tom Ventura that mother is concerned about son’s interactions with Garza (AOC 013926)

6/12/1984 – Faculty, Quigley Preparatory Seminary North

6/12/1984 – Associate Pastor, St. John Berchmans Parish

1/1/1985 – On Leave

11/7/1985 – Associate Pastor, Our Lady of Grace

8/21/1986 – Associate Pastor, St. Ita Parish

7/1/1989 – Associate Pastor, St. Aloysius Parish

9/1/1993 – Sabbatical until 2/28/1994

3/1/1994 – On Leave until 12/12/1995

1996-1997       Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart, Madison WI (campus ministry )

1/29/1997 – Resident, St. Margaret Mary Parish

6/6/1997 – Administrator, Resurrection Parish

7/1/1998 – Associate Pastor, St. Mary Parish

4/15/2000        Meeting between Victim KU and George regarding allegation of sexual abuse. (AOC 014266)

7/1/2000          Resigned (AOC 014292)