The Rev. Jim Bacik, pastor of Toledo's Corpus Christi University Parish, announced his post-retirement plans at weekend Masses, including a teaching position at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago this fall.

The popular priest, theologian, and author, who will follow Roman Catholic Church policy by retiring July 2 at age 75, said he will teach one course on Theology and the Priesthood and will give one public lecture at CTU, the largest Catholic graduate school of theology and ministry in the United States. He said in the announcement that he is "staying open to future developments" at the Chicago university.

Father Bacik plans to move out of his apartment at Corpus Christi by the end of June, he said, and move "into a condominium in the area that has been made available to me as a permanent residence by creative and generous individuals. My good intention is to find quiet time during July and August for prayer, reflection, and writing. I am hoping my friends will understand and respect my search for solitude."

One exception to that solitude, Father Bacik said, will be a lecture series he plans to give this summer on the teachings of his mentor, German theologian Karl Rahner. The lectures will be given at 3 p.m. on eight consecutive Saturdays, July 7 to Aug. 25, in the Queen of Peace Chapel on the campus of the Sisters of St. Francis in Sylvania.

Father Bacik, who has a doctorate in theology from Oxford University in England, has written eight books, including Contemporary Theologians (1989), Apologetics and the Eclipse of Mystery (1980), and Tensions in the Church (1993).

Ordained a priest in the Diocese of Toledo in 1962, he will celebrate his 50 years of priesthood and 30 years as pastor of Corpus Christi Parish by celebrating two Masses of Thanksgiving at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on June 24. A reception will follow the second Mass.

While he will be teaching in Chicago, Father Bacik said he will strive "to remain virtually present" to parishioners and friends in Toledo through a Web site, FrJimBacik.org on which he plans to post homilies and articles from his monthly Reflections newsletter.

"As I move toward the celebration of a half century of priestly ministry, my heart is filled with deep sentiments of gratitude for those who have made the journey with me," he said. "The sadness that accompanies leaving reinforces my gratitude for what has been and my hopes for what will come for all of us. Let us pray together that the Spirit will guide us into the unknown future, attentive to new opportunities."

First Published May 14, 2012, 4:00 a.m.