My Letter to Cardinal Cupich 

I met with Cardinal Cupich six months ago and we discussed my future with you here at Holy Family. You may know that Associate Pastor and Pastor term limits vary from diocese to diocese. However, there are exceptions based on a number of factors.

Appointments of priests are always based on conversations that take into account the uniqueness of EACH parish community and EACH priest. Here in the Archdiocese of Chicago pastors are assigned by the Cardinal, with the consultation and recommendation of the Priest Placement Board, for two terms of six years. An in-depth 360 evaluation is conducted as the Pastor begins his sixth year, generating feedback that supports the decision for a second six-year term. This 360 evaluation includes input from parish leadership, parishioners, the Dean and Vicar. Our Priest Placement Board here in Chicago does an amazing job of matching the needs of parishes with priests and the ongoing challenge of pastor ready priests. 

I began my first six-year term with you in July of 2009. I, along with many of you, parish staff, our Dean and Vicar and Priest Placement Board advised Cardinal George to grant me a second six-year term as your pastor in 2014. You may know that Cardinal George passed away in 2015 and Cardinal Cupich was named by Pope Francis as our new Archbishop as a result of a similar world-wide process to appoint bishops as the one carried out in dioceses across the world to appoint priests. 

As my second term came to a close many of the pastor appointments here in Chicago were influenced by the Renew My Church process. ALL parishes from across the Archdiocese participated in that process. We here at Holy Family participated in a series of conversations with staff and leadership of St. Anne, our neighbor in Barrington. This process yielded many factors and feedback indicating a change in pastors for either parish was not recommended. Fr. Bernie Pietrzak also started his term as pastor of St. Anne in 2009. Very unfortunately, Fr. Bernie passed away suddenly almost two years ago and Fr. John Trout was named Pastor a year ago. 

Priests are encouraged to retire at the age of 70. I will turn 70 this coming May and In my conversation with Cardinal Cupich six months ago he asked me if I would be willing to stay an extra year, or until July of 2027 as your pastor. The letter I wrote to him this week was at his request as a reminder of our conversation. I will continue to consult with the Priest Placement Board, our Dean Fr. Tim Fairman, and our new vicar Bishop Tim O’Malley as the next 18 months unfold. 

Being your pastor has been one of the greatest joys of my life. In many ways it is the fulfillment of my calling as a diocesan priest. This community continues to grow and our strong hope is to BE MORE into the future. I honestly cannot imagine a more competent staff anywhere in the Archdiocese than ours here at Holy Family. The flow of grace that I have experienced here with you sharing the countless intimate moments of life, Sacrament, hardship, tragedy and triumph has been truly a gift from God. Just as our Conversations in the Spirit here at Holy Family have opened us up to the movement of the Holy Spirit, let us all trust in the same Holy Spirit to guide all future leadership of our community, including your next pastor. 

“Unrequited Love” Dialogue Continues

Fr. Larry Dowling and Haman Cross III will continue their important dialogue on Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 PM via Zoom, following up on their powerful presentation at Holy Family on October 1. To receive the Zoom link, please contact Sue Geegan at: sgeegan@holyfamilyparish.org.  Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation and reflection.

Do You Love Gardening?

Fourteen years ago, Henry Smogolski offered us a vision of a more beautiful courtyard. In those years Henry has led and managed efforts to plant, prune, dig, clean and grow the plants, grass, trees, shrubs and flowers that make our courtyard so beautiful. Henry now seeks to step back from these responsibilities.

If you have a green thumb and love spending time gardening, why not spend time in our courtyard continuing Henry’s legacy and perhaps creating one of your own? If you are interested in learning more about this role, please contact Scott Baietti at sbaietti@holyfamilyparish.org or call the office and ask for Scott, our new Facilities Director. Scott can give you more details and arrange a time for you to meet with Henry as well.