My wife, Joyce, and I have been associated with St. James Parish for over 25 years. When I was asked to consider serving as president of the Sag Bridge Mission Society, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. I knew anything associated with St. James would be worthwhile and authentically Catholic.
 
My confidence was well placed. I came on board a strategically well-designed, forward-looking enterprise. I am in awe of my fellow officers and our constituents. All are on the same page regarding our Catholic Faith and the importance of faithful lay led initiatives.  Doers rather than complainers!
 
I retired after 39 years with Chicago Public Schools and had the availability to serve, but more importantly, once I read the Society’s mission statement, I was all in. I am enthused about the role of the laity in the Church and the world and believe we can be the ballast in the ship that will keep it from veering too far off course. Two thousand years ago, it was largely lay Christian men and women who evangelized a pagan world through their prayerful example in the midst of ordinary lives.
 
In addition to my work in the Society, Joyce and I coordinate the St James CCD program and are dedicated to the formation of parents and young adults in particular. I lead study circles for young men and, as a couple, we have worked with young families on purposeful and prayer driven parenting.
 
We grew up in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood, 2 blocks from each other, and after 13 years of infertility were challenged to trust God. We have always seen our children as coming from heaven to us and tried to steer them back there. We are married 46 years, and I went from being the luckiest man in Brighton Park to the luckiest man in Burr Ridge!
 
We have 4 adult children who, by the grace of God and their correspondence to it, are each in the Sacramental life.  Our youngest son, Seamus, has become a well-known digital evangelist approaching one million subscribers on his YouTube channel, FreedomToons.  Mary, Michael and Patrick are each leading just as admirable lives of service and witness without the notoriety, just like those first Christians. In addition, we have 4 grandchildren to renew our spirit of thanksgiving and desire to share the Faith.