Business Manager

Mary Jane and I have been members of St. Raymond Parish in Mount Prospect for about twenty-two years. We’ve been married for 41 years and have two great sons, Andrew and Nick. Mary Jane had been active at St. Raymond in the music ministry as a cantor, a member of Mom’s Plus, CHRP, and in the Elizabeth Ministry. I had served as cub master, been on the school board, technology committee, and the construction/capital campaign committees.

Many, many years ago I had attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary where I explored what I then thought was a calling to the priesthood. I soon realized my calling was elsewhere. I transferred to Loyola University where I earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. I also earned a CPA certificate, but never went into public practice. Instead, I spent the bulk of my working life in the audit division of a small federal agency that dealt with commodity futures and options industry.

I retired from the federal agency in 2001 just in time to serve on the committee that was responsible for overseeing the construction of St. Raymond’s parish life center, community room and junior high wing. Once the construction at St. Ray’s came to a close, I started looking for a job just to keep busy and out of Mary Jane’s hair. Coincidentally, a parish for which Mary Jane previously had been music director, St. Teresa of Avila in Lincoln Park, was looking for a full time business manager. That’s where I’ve been the past six years.

When the opportunity to return to St. Raymond as business manager came up, I jumped at the chance. As you know starting any job involves a degree of trepidation. I thank Fr. Steve for the confidence he has shown in allowing me to join the St. Ray’s staff, and I thank you and our staff for making me feel so welcome and very much back ‘at home.’ I ask for your help and prayers. I look forward to meeting more of you at various parish meetings and events.

Looking back, I was one of those people who rarely, if ever, volunteered for anything. I always let someone else carry the load. One day a friend I knew asked me to serve on St. Ray’s Cub Scout committee. Jan said it wouldn’t be much work or take much time, just attending one meeting a month. That started the ball rolling for me and I started volunteering for more and more events and committees. I found that I was having a lot of fun, I met scads of new and interesting people, and I felt I was really contributing something tangible to the groups I worked with. I felt I was finally giving back and passing on the gifts that the Lord had blessed me with.

Our faith communities, whether they be a large parish like St. Raymond, or a smaller parish like St. Teresa need their members’ help to remain viable and meaningful institutions. That help comes in the form of time, treasure, and talent. We need each other and we need to pull together to keep our parish the great parish it is. When an opportunity comes along, and we need a volunteer, please consider helping out. When we get many volunteers each person has a lighter burden to bear. And, you’ll feel so good all over when you do volunteer!