After graduating from college in 1983, Bartosic moved to Chicago to get acting jobs. According to Bartosic, he started attending Mass at a Chicago church and was impressed with how much more diverse it was than his church in Ashland. After re-evaluating his chances of becoming a successful actor, he decided he would rather be a successful priest. In 1989, Bartosic entered the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois and later Niles College Seminary at Loyola University Chicago.[2] After graduation, Bartosic spent a year in Mexico working in an orphanage.[3]
Priesthood
On May 21, 1994, Bartosic was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin.[4]
After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Bartosic as associate pastor for St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish in Chicago. In 2001, he was named pastor of St. Frances of Rome Parish in Cicero, Illinois, serving there for 15 years. Bartosic assumed the additional pastoral duties at Our Lady of Charity Parish in Cicero in 2009.[1] In 2016, Cardinal Blase Cupich appointed Bartosic as director of the Kolbe House Jail Ministry in Chicago as well as the pastor of Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Chicago.[1]
Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago
Pope Francis appointed Bartosic as auxiliary bishop of Chicago on July 3, 2018.[5][6] He was consecrated at Holy Name Cathedral on September 17, 2018 by Cupich, with Auxiliary Bishops Francis J. Kane, and George J. Rassas serving as co-consecrators.[4]
On September 22, 2018, Cupich suspended Reverend Paul Kalchik, pastor of Resurrection Parish in Chicago, after receiving complaints from parishioners. Ten days earlier, Kalchik had held an exorcism at the church, followed by the burning of a rainbow flag on the church grounds. Bartosic met with Kalchik at the parish and told him he had to leave his residence or be arrested for trespassing. Since Kalchik was just getting ready to officiate a wedding, Bartosic took his place.[7]
