Saint Patrick Parish - Parnell

06/01/2026

05/30/2026

From the desk of Dr. Andrea Wirgau:

As our 8th grade graduation ceremony approaches, we find ourselves at a bittersweet milestone at St. Patrick Parnell. This year, the Class of 2026 represents profound shifts in the fabric of our community.

To our "Final" Families: this graduation marks the moment your youngest child leaves our halls. You have been the heartbeat of this school for years—volunteering at festivals, cheering on the sidelines, and watching your babies grow from preschoolers into the young men and women they are today. While your daily presence in the pick up line may be ending, your legacy is woven into our very foundation. We honor the families of: Charles Albert, Issac Bernreuter, Jeffrey Buehner, Zach George, William Goffer, Miles Morozowich, and Kellen Simkins.

To our "First" Families: this is the moment your first child to attend St. Patrick leaves the safety of the nest for the wider world. There is a unique weight to watching your babies become leaders. Your tears and smiles reflect the pride of seeing your children model the journey for the siblings who will follow. We celebrate the families of: Owen Albert, Haven Czarnopys, Bentley Foley, Nate Gast, Molli Ann Shipp, Sanvi Sran, Ava Stoddard, and Gabriel Wirgau.

To our “Bridge” Families: your students are neither the first nor the last to walk these halls, and yet their journeys are particularly singular and vital. They are balancing the specialness of the space in between. We recognize the families of: Brecken Scott, Harper Merveau, and Will Albert.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! Thank you for sharing a part of your life’s journey with me - I have cherished every mile! Remember this summer to go barefoot, turn off the screens, sit by a bonfire, and simply be young. It’s a good thing.

05/26/2026

The countdown is on! We are just one month away from our Parish Festival Weekend, and we need your help to make it a success. Please see the link below to explore the various ways to volunteer. In person sign-ups will be available after all Masses this weekend!

St. Patrick Festival Weekend is fast approaching. We need many volunteers to help us make this another fantastic weekend here in beautiful Parnell. We are asking each parishioner to donate 2-3 hours of their time. Please review the available slots below and click the button to sign up. Thank you! Pl...

05/22/2026

From the desk of Father Tom:

Last weekend was amazing! We made an exciting announcement about our renovation plan for our Family Center, we had the Rite of Entrance/Welcome for the next OCIA group, and I baptized 3 little babies. If you attended the 10:30 Sunday Mass, you might have noticed that the church was packed and there were a ton of babies. Perhaps you caught me smiling at different times when the little ones were demonstrating their new-found voices.

There is an old saying that goes something like this, “if you don’t hear any crying, that means the parish is dying.” I tell you what, we are not a dying parish. We have an abundance of little ones here in Parnell. In fact, I have baptized 36 babies since July 1st 2025 and we have many more scheduled in the next few weeks. One comment I hear often from people who are visiting our parish for the first time is their amazement at how many little kids there are at Mass. Sadly, this isn’t the case at many parishes. I certainly hope that you appreciate how blessed we are at Saint Patrick Parnell for having all of these little ones attending Mass each week. St. Patrick Parnell has a reputation of being a welcoming community towards young families, and I strongly encourage you to continue this practice. These little ones are the future of our parish and we want them to feel comfortable coming to Mass. In time, and with the consistent instruction from their parents, these little ones will settle into the rhythm of Mass like pros.

This weekend you will not be seeing me around. My best friend from Mundelein Seminary is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his ordination. I will be heading to Mount Prospect, Illinois to celebrate with Fr. Presta. We met during my first year on campus and became close friends. His birthday is the same as mine, his family is from Calabria (close to Sicily) and he is only three years older than me. Since I was so much older than my classmates, it was a blessing that I got to know Fr. Presta so well. He played a huge part in my ability to navigate the rigors of seminary life.

I pray that you all have a most blessed Memorial Day weekend. God bless all those who gave so much in the service of our great country. Let us continue to pray for one another. Oremus pro invicem.

05/20/2026

Due to Father Tom attending the Catholic Central graduation, Adoration and Confession are cancelled tonight, May 20.

05/19/2026

What a beautiful turnout last week for our Annual Senior Appreciation Luncheon. Guests gathered for an afternoon of lunch and fellowship, topped off by delightful performances from our Cherub Choir and Middle School band.

05/15/2026

From the desk of Scott Czarnopys:

An Exciting Gift for Our Parish Family
St. Patrick Family Center Renovation — Coming This Summer

This is a comprehensive transformation of our gathering space, made possible by the extraordinary generosity of anonymous donors within our own parish family — and by the faithful stewardship of parishioners whose consistent weekly giving and tithing made it all possible. There is no capital campaign, no pledge drive, and no special giving ask. This renovation is truly a gift to our entire community.

When complete, the renovated Family Center will feature a warm cafe-style gathering area, a beautiful lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, a large multipurpose room for the band and major parish events, a welcoming entry with a feature wall, custom mural artwork, and a stunning new exterior addition. Hallways will receive fresh paint and bathroom countertops will be updated as part of the project.

What Will Not Change

The gym is not affected. The St. Brigid of Kildare Room and other
meeting rooms remain available. Bathrooms stay in the same location. The kitchen and concession stand are not moving. School access routes do not change.

Timeline

Construction is planned to begin following our summer festival, with a three to four month window targeting completion in late fall 2026. Nugent Builders, a parishioner-owned company, is our general contractor. All current programming, including our band, will continue during construction with appropriate accommodations in place.

See the Renderings

Visit the parish website, spparnell.org/renovation, to view the full design renderings and learn more about the project. The design is beautiful and we think you will be as excited as we are.

Questions? Contact Scott Czarnopys, Education Ministry Director and project lead, at [email protected] or speak with Father Tom after any Mass.

05/14/2026

We offer our prayers and condolences to the family of Sue Wilterink, who passed away on May 11. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Sue Ann Thomson Wilterink who peacefully passed away on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the age of 67 surrounded by family. Sue is lovingly survived by her devoted sons, Evan Wilterink and Andrew (Caitlin) Wilterink; granddaughter, Quinn Wilterink; st...

05/12/2026

Sign up for our next Workday with the Sisters from 9:30 a.m. to noon this Saturday, May 16. Invite your family or friends to volunteer and work alongside the Franciscan Sisters on projects like land maintenance, harvesting, canning produce, farm chores and a variety of seasonal tasks.

All are welcome to stay for lunch, which will be served at noon. Sign up at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/2026WorkdayWithSisters.