Hello.

Such a simple word as I begin as pastor of St. Juliana Parish. I guess a good place to start would be to tell you a little bit about myself. I am a Northsider, a graduate of St. Ferdinand School, and my parents are still active at St. Ferdinand. I’m the middle of 5 children (so I like to think of myself as the most well balanced of all my siblings). I went through the seminary system; Quigley, Niles College, and Mundelein Seminary and was ordained in 1982.

During my seminary days I helped out at Holy Innocents, St. Agatha, and St. John of God Parishes in Chicago. I served as a deacon at St. Robert Bellarmine and then was assigned to St. Bruno as my first assignment. After six years I was moved to St. Louise de Marillac in La Grange Park. And 12 years ago in September 1993 I began my first pastorate at St. Ladislaus. Because my time as pastor was up, I now find myself lucky to have been assigned here at St. Juliana.

So there you go, one quick paragraph to describe 23 years of priesthood! What those words can never express however is how wonderful a blessing every one of those years has been. Being a priest has been such a gift. And the greatest part of all has been the many people who have become part of my life.

And now I am very much looking forward to being a part of the family of St. Juliana. When I mentioned that I was coming here, many people and other priests told me how lucky I was and what a great place this parish is. Although I have only had the opportunity to meet and talk to a few members of St. Juliana so far I think this parish is everything that was told to me and more. So thank you for welcoming me into the St. Juliana Parish family!

- Father Stephen Kanonik
Pastor