SPOTLIGHT: Father Sammie Maletta

Celebrating 45 Years of Faithful Priesthood

He’s not shy about his age and he’s certainly not shy about his deep love of the Catholic faith. More than anything, Father Sammie Maletta is never shy about relying on the Holy Spirit. He admits that his weighty discernments involve what he has lovingly termed a “Holy Spirit dance,” a back-and-forth in which Father tries to get out of doing something challenging that God has put on his heart—but, thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit always wins. 

This holy tug-of-war is exactly why we have such a dynamic, Spirit-led parish in its current location. It’s why we have our 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, why we hear such bold, challenging, and theologically rooted homilies, and why St. John the Evangelist continues to grow into a vision-focused, Spirit-driven community.

Born in Gary, on March 9, 1953, and raised in Portage as the oldest of seven children, Father Sammie was ordained on August 15, 1980, at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels. He earned degrees from St. Meinrad Seminary and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary before launching into an impressive and varied ministry that included teaching, canon law studies in Rome, serving on the U.S. Bishops’ Theological Consultation, earning a civil law degree, and holding key leadership roles within the Diocese of Gary. 

He will be celebrating the 45th anniversary of his ordination on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary! And this year will be dramatically different than the 40th anniversary he celebrated during covid—When carloads of parish partners drove to the rectory parking lot and called out their well-wishes.

Over the years, Father has worn many hats: teacher, canonist, judicial vicar, diocesan legal counsel, mediator, chef, gardener, and, of course, parish pastor—but he’ll tell you the heart of his vocation is always sacramental ministry. He says, “I love the opportunity to see people draw closer to the Lord Jesus.”

Woven into these relationships is another hat—that of Joker. With a twinkle in his eye and mischief in his smile, he shares laughter and wisecracks freely, always mindful not to let it wound.

Father Sammie became pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in 1992, and after additional years of diocesan service—including a term as Vicar General—Father Sammie returned fully to parish life. In 2001, he was appointed our pastor at SJE, where he continues to serve with vision and energy. With a heart for evangelization and in collaboration with his Leadership Team, Father Sammie, 72, oversees all operations at SJE and remains passionate about deepening individual relationships with Jesus as well as the collective life of his parish community.

He’s even an author—having co-written Marital Failure: The Church’s Response for Chicago Studies, which explores how the Catholic Church addresses marital breakdown both pastorally and canonically. He also contributed to and edited Life in Christ: A Catholic Catechism for Adults, a well-regarded catechetical resource published by ACTA Publications that presents Catholic teaching in an accessible way.

Of course, he enjoys gardening and cooking—frequently inviting people into his garden or rectory kitchen as acts of hospitality. Father Sammie has his own cookbook, In the Kitchen with Padre: Nourishing Bodies Nourishing Souls, which highlights several recipes from his In the Kitchen with Padre cooking show, and he is currently working on a new book titled Be Disciples Who Make Disciples: 8 Key Leadership Principles to Build a Spirit-Driven, Vision-Focused Parish.

What a wonderful and varied life he leads! And he says he wouldn’t change a thing. “People talk about all the sacrifices a priest makes, but the priest gets back so much more than he ever gives.”

Father Sammie has met saints (yes, even Pope St. John Paul II—you will be able to read about that in his book!) Humbly aware of his own ongoing spiritual growth and reliance on the Holy Spirit, Father Sammie continues to inspire others each day by the way he lives and leads. We are so grateful for his 45 years of priestly service—and more than 20 of those here at SJE.

Thank you, Father Sammie, for being a joyful witness, a faithful shepherd, and a pastor who helps us truly Be Disciples Who Make Disciples.