BATAVIA – After little more than a year as pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia, Monsignor Aaron Brodeski has gone on leave from his post while the Catholic Diocese of Rockford proceeds with an investigation into his conduct, church officials said.
“The Diocese of Rockford has received an allegation regarding the conduct of your pastor, Monsignor Aaron Brodeski,” according to a statement from Bishop David Malloy, which was read at Saturday and Sunday Mass, diocese spokeswoman Penny Wiegert said.
“The allegation is currently under investigation. To be clear, the alleged conduct in no way pertains to anything having to do with minors, parish funds or anything pertaining to Holy Cross Parish or school,” according to the statement. “Monsignor Brodeski has agreed to take a leave of absence, effective immediately, for evaluation and possible treatment for personal and spiritual difficulties affecting his priesthood.”
Wiegert said there are no charges against Brodeski and the alleged conduct under investigation “has nothing whatsoever to do with Holy Cross, period.”
“The parish needed to understand why their pastor was going to be on leave,” Wiegert said. “He agreed to take a leave of absence. We do not know how long it is expected to take. We would hope sooner than later, but it’s not up to us. This is all we have to say at this point.”
Brodeski, 44, started at Holy Cross on Feb. 25, 2013, after serving as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Woodstock and St. Patrick Parish in Hartland for nearly five years, according to a diocesan report on priest assignments.
Brodeski was ordained in 1998, according to the diocese. His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Crystal Lake and religion teacher at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock.
In 1999, he began to coordinate Rock 2000, a summer event for youths and young adults centered on the Eucharist and the sacraments, according to the diocese.
Brodeski was made associate diocesan director of vocations and the spiritual adviser for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in 2000.
He also was pastor of St. Mary Parish in Byron, invested with the title of monsignor also in 2008, according to the diocese.
He became diocesan director of vocations from 2002 to 2008, and again from 2012, to Feb. 25, 2013, when he began as pastor of Holy Cross.