Remembering Father Rich Young

CHICAGO — He embodied the spirit of the order of Saint Augustine, the same religious order Pope Leo chose to enter years ago.

Father Rich Young devoted his life to service and his students.  

WGN News met Father Rich shortly after the conclave when Cardinal Robert Prevost emerged as Pope Leo in May 2025. His thoughtful interview about his fellow “Brother Bob” stuck with us, as did his kind and gentle nature.

“I’ve read a couple times, pontiff means bridge builder. Bob’s a bridge builder and that is what we need, a bridge builder,” Young said at the time.

The tears of joy now tears of sorrow among the community at Providence Catholic High School in southwest suburban New Lenox.

Father Rich Young, just 61-years-old, suffered a massive heart attack in late June and passed away suddenly. The Chicago native who grew up in the back of the yards neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side spent his life serving others, particularly his students at providence.

 “I was taught by Augustinians and the importance of community life,” Young said at the time. “Being able to be one minded one heart on the way to God it grabs my imagination and moves me to be the best I can be in service and ministry.”

A brilliant academic, Father Rich spoke eloquently about how Augustinians approach life, his thoughtful message worth sharing in his honor.

 “We need to talk to each other, we need to stop building boundaries and barriers we need to recognize each other from a point of you are a gift you have something to offer,” he said. “And we may not agree but how do we disagree but without being disagreeable and how can we recognize and respect each other to the best of our ability?”

While he wasn’t able to join his brothers on the trip for Pope Leo’s installation, he said during his interview he hoped to visit the pontiff one day.

“I believe deep down in my heart that God will let me live long enough to go visit Pope Leo in the future,” he said.

Father Rich was laid to rest this afternoon in Alsip.