Recommended Speakers

The following individuals have agreed to speak at parishes on a topic related to the Eucharist and/or Reconciliation during the Year of the Eucharist, April 1, 2010 to June 26, 2011. The details of the arrangements with the speaker can be worked out when the parish contact takes place and is, of course subject, to the availability of the speaker.

The Year of the Eucharist Spiritual Formation Action Committee is grateful to these speakers for their willingness to offer their time and expertise to help make the Year of the Eucharist as spiritually beneficial as possible for the people of our diocese. Please remember them in your prayers.

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Fr. John Balluff, Pastor

St Mary Parish

140 North Oakwood Ave.

West Chicago, IL  60185

630- 231-0013

Title: The Eucharist as a Window to Eternal Life

The Eucharist offers us an opportunity for contemplation that is unmatched and requires little more than being attentive to the presence of Christ who is so attentive to us. Adoration opens a window, clarifying our soul and giving peace.

Father John Balluff was ordained for the Joliet Diocese in 1988 and has served in suburban, rural, and Hispanic parishes in the diocese. Father received a doctorate in dogmatic Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome in 1995. He has taught scripture, sacraments and Christology as an adjunct professor in a number of Universities and given numerous retreats to Sisters both at home and abroad.

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Deacon Paul Brachle

Our Lady of Peace Parish

Darien, IL

630-964-4264 Residence

Title: What Ever Happened to Reverence?

Deacon Brachle was ordained for the Joliet Diocese in 1985 and has served since that time at Our Lady of Peace parish. He is a graduate of Purdue University and holds a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering. After active duty in the U. S. Army at Fort Benning, GA he served eight years in the Reserve. He worked thirty eight years for the Continental and Crown Can Companies retiring in 1992. Deacon Paul and Marilyn have eight children and fourteen grandchildren.

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Deacon Andrew Cirmo 

St. Elizabeth Seton Parish

2220 Lisson Road

Naperville, IL 60565

630-416-3325 x 772    630-428-4171 Residence  ancirmo@wowway.com

Title: The Lifelong and Radiating Influence of Introducing Children to Eucharistic Adoration.

Introducing children to Eucharistic Adoration has lasting effects on the children, their parents, RE programs and the parish community.  From special teaching Benedictions for children to Prayer/Music events in adoration chapels, to Pre First Communion Special Retreat Day Presentations on the Eucharist, to special teaching Masses for children; the effects are tangible.  Nurturing the seeds of faith so faithfully planted in sacramental preparation  by providing memorable and influential Eucharistic experiences like these is critical to instilling the awe, mystery and majesty of this amazing gift of His Presence for life, and a critical component to "building the foundations of faith on stone".

Deacon Cirmo was ordained for the Joliet Diocese in 2007 following years of involvement in leadership positions with St. Elizabeth Seton parish ministries and programs. Reflecting his love for the Eucharist he served on the Formation Team to build the parish’s Perpetual Adoration Chapel. He is a 4th degree Knight of Columbus and past Grand Knight. He was a guest presenter at the Real Presence Society Eucharistic Conference at Drury Lane and contributed to the Real Presence society Parish Manual for establishing Eucharistic Adoration. He has conducted numerous adoration experiences for children, guided reflections to Men’s and Women's CRHP groups and chaired a session on "Re-Kindling our Faith" at the 2009 Diocesan Diaconate Convocation. In 2009 Deacon Cirmo received a diocesan grant which was used to formalize and publish a return path program for both Catholics who have been away and those who are attending Mass but who need to re-kindle their faith. This 6 week program is named "Being Catholic Again" and is currently being tested in three parishes in the diocese. Deacon Cirmo publishes a weekly email entitled This Week’s Words which “offered to all with the hope that even one word helps one person move one step closer to Jesus.” His website is:  www.worksofacatholicwriter.com

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Fr. Charles Fanelli, Pastor

St. Thomas More Church

8100 S. California

Chicago, IL 60652

773-436-4444

Title: The Eucharist and The Gospel of Life: Good News Comes with Life. What brings more joy to a family than the birth of a new baby? What is sadder than loosing a child?

Fr. Charles Fanelli was born in Chicago and was ordained in St. Peter Basilica in Rome for the Archdiocese of Chicago and received the STL degree in 1971.  He was the Director of the Respect Life Office from 1978-1985. He served as the pastor of St. John Vianney in Northlake IL from 1985 to 2004 and began the first Adoration Chapel in the Archdiocese.  Now he is pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Chicago.

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Christine M. Fletcher M.A. (Oxon.) Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Theology

Benedictine University

5700 College Road

Lisle, IL 60532

630 829-6263   CFletcher@ben.edu

Title: God’s Holy Gifts for God’s Holy People: The Eucharist and the Communion of Saints.

Christine Fletcher is assistant professor of theology at Benedictine University and an Oblate of St Procopius Abbey, Lisle, IL.  At Benedictine University she has designed a new Theology program which includes a certificate in Theology in Life. She holds a Masters in Politics and Philosophy from Oxford University and a PhD in Theology with subspecialties in Business ethics and literature from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England. She has worked in various fields including merchant banking and IT consulting as well as having edited a magazine on business ethics. Among her academic presentations was a paper at a conference at the Vatican sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in March 2005. She has lectured at the Dorothy L. Sayers Society Annual Convention, the Phoenix Institute Oxford Summer program, and at Blackfriars in Cambridge. While living in England she occasionally appeared on BBC1's Heaven and Earth discussing ethical questions.

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Fr. Robert Goedert, O.P.

St. Pius V Priory

2005 South Ashland Ave.

Chicago, IL 60608-2905

312-226-0078 x 308

Title: Why Eucharistic Adoration?

In 1989 Fr. Goedert began a ministry of preaching Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. He has traveled widely in order to bring his inspirational and motivational message to Catholic parishes. Fr. Goedert has had a varied background in his nearly 60 years as a priest in the Dominican Order. After serving as Associate Pastor of St. Anthony Parish and as an instructor or religion at Jesuit High School in New Orleans he was commissioned as Chaplain in the Air Force and served extended active duty tours in Korea, Crete, Montana and Ohio. He retired from the Air Force after 28 years of active and reserve service with the rank of full Colonel. He was the superior of the Dominican Friars and Brothers in Albuquerque, New Mexico and in 1981 was elected as Prior of St. Dominic and St. Thomas Priory in River Forest. He was re-elected in 1984 and served out his three year term. In 1988 he was a chaplain for Veterans Hospitals and gave retreats and missions. His message is direct, clear, and practical.

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Rev. Dominic J. Grassi, Pastor

St. Gertrude Parish

1420 West Granville Ave

Chicago IL 60660

773/764-3621

domgrassi@aol.com

Title:  Bumping Into God: How an Hour a Week Can Change Your Life

The celebration of the Eucharist in our parishes on Sunday should have profound effect on how we live our lives throughout the course of the week.  The Mass points us out of the door of the church and compels us to make sacred all that we encounter.  We truly must "go in peace to love and serve the Lord."

Father Dominic Grass is pastor of St. Gertrude Parish in Chicago.  Ordained in 1973, he is author of six books including the best selling Bumping Into God trilogy and numerous magazine articles.  He has conducted retreats and spoken throughout the U.S. and Canada.  He was named by the Chicago Sun-Times as one of "50 People Who Makes Chicago a Better Place."

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Fr. Phil Halfacre, Pastor

St. Patrick Church

726 W. Jefferson St.

Ottowa, IL 61350

815-434-0768

Title: Forgiveness – What it is – What it isn’t – And why our essential relationships can’t flourish without it!

Father Halfacre was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Peoria in 1991 and is the author of Genuine Friendship.  (www.GenuineFriendship.com). He has spoken extensively to both clergy and laity on topics involving interpersonal relationships.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Indiana University and a Master of Arts in Sacred Theology from Mount Saint Mary's in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He also attended the Pope John Paul Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C.

Shortly after ordination, Father Halfacre began teaching religion and philosophy at Marquette High School in Ottawa, Illinois.

Father Halfacre, who grew up in Hammond, Indiana, is a convert to the Catholic faith. He became a Catholic as a college freshman and entered the seminary upon graduation from Indiana University. Like his peers in the "John Paul II Generation," he believes that one can discern profound and sacred truths about God and human persons by reflecting on human interaction and human love.

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Dr. Daniel Hauser

University of St. Francis

500 Wilcox St.

Joliet, IL 60435

800-735-7500

Title: "The Eucharist as Source and Summit of the Life of Faith"

Dr. Daniel Hauser is Professor of Theology at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. He has been teaching for over twenty years. In addition to teaching at the university, Dr, Hauser teaches in the diaconate program for the diocese of Joliet. Dr. Hauser did his undergraduate studies at Marquette University, received a master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School and his doctorate from Marquette University. His area of specialization is systematic theology, with an emphasis on sacraments and ecclesiology. His first book Church, Worship and History, is a discussion of the relationship of sacraments and the historicity of the faith of the Church. His latest book Marriage and Christian Life: A Theology of Christian Marriage is an introduction to the theology of marriage. Dr. Hauser has also published a number of articles on various topics. Dr Hauser is married and he and his wife Lori are the parents of the five children

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Fr. Jerome Kish, Pastor

St. Joseph Church

4824 Highland Ave.

Downers Grove, IL 60515

630-964-0216

Titles: Finding Our Lord in the Eucharist or Basics of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Fr. Jerome Kish grew up in Will County between the two towns of Beecher and Peotone. During graduate school he (finally) discovered the rich treasure of Daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and the practice of making a visit to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. He completed his theology studies at Mundelein Seminary and was ordained a priest of the Joliet Diocese by Bishop Joseph Imesch on June 6, 1998. He has served at Ss. Peter and Paul parish in Naperville and at St. Joseph parish in Downers Grove, where he is currently pastor. During the diocesan Year of the Eucharist he has two talks available. The first relates his personal witness of finding our Lord in the Eucharist. The second talk covers the basics of the sacrament of Reconciliation; this talk weaves in his background as an amateur magician. Both talks incorporate the Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Fr. Michael Lane, Pastor

St. Jude Parish

2122 McDonough St.

Joliet, IL 60436

815-725-2209

Title: To be determined when contacted by a parish.

Father Lane is a pastor of the Joliet Diocese closely associated with Perpetual Adoration. When he was pastor at Visitation Parish in Elmhurst he established the Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Adoration is established in his past parish of St. Joan of Arc in Lisle and his current parish of St. Jude in Joliet. He is frequently approached for advice by clergy and laity wanting to know more about the “how to” of establishing Eucharist Adoration in a parish.

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Fr. William O'Toole, Pastor

St. Casimir Church

4340 Johnson Street

Hammond, IN 46327

219-931-2589

Title: The Sacrament of Unity and the Heart of the Church

One of the most exciting and challenging developments in the Church throughout the world (and particularly the United States) is the changing cultural and linguistic needs in dioceses and parishes resulting from immigration. When one experiences changing demographics in a parish or diocese, it is the Blessed Sacrament, through the Eucharistic Liturgy and Adoration that unites us in our Catholic Faith. While people have different needs according to their age, country of origin and immigration status, culture and language, our most basic hunger is for Love, which we receive through our Eucharistic Lord. The more we are united to Him (the Body of Christ) the more we become brothers and sisters.    

Fr. William O'Toole is one of eight children and grew up in Lombard, IL. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Gary in 1996 and has served at several parishes in Northwest Indiana. Currently he is pastor of two inner city multi-cultural/ lingual parishes. He graduated from St. Meinrad College Seminary in Indiana and St. Vincent School of Theology in Pennsylvania (both Benedictine).

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Fr. Gregory Rothfuchs, Pastor

St. Paul the Apostle Parish

18 Woodlawn Avenue

Joliet, IL 60435

815-725-1527

Title: "Pope Benedict's Sacramentum Caritatis: the key to unlocking Vatican II's ideal of 'active participation' in the Eucharist"

One of the most important directives of Vatican II was that the laity should engage in "active participation" in the Eucharist.  That one phrase gave rise to countless interpretations that have shaped every modern Catholic's experience of the liturgy, but what actually does "active participation" really mean?  Pope Benedict's letter on the Eucharist Sacramentum Caritatis gives the Church the proper key for unlocking the meaning of this important Vatican II idea which has numerous consequences for spirituality, morality, the translation of the Mass, and the role of the laity.

Fr. Gregory Rothfuchs was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Joliet in 1995 and has served at several parishes in DuPage and Will counties.  He did his general theology studies at the Gregorian University in Rome (Jesuit) and then specialized for a year in liturgical theology at the Pontifical Liturgy Institute in Rome (Benedictine).

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Most Rev. Lawrence Sabatini, C.S.

Pastor Emeritus

Holy Rosary Church

612 Western Ave.

Chicago, IL 60612

773-278-7523

Title: To be determined when contacted by parish.

Bishop Sabatini pastor emeritus of Holy Rosary Parish took charge on June 1, 2000 when Cardinal George asked the Scalabrini Missionary to lead the onetime Italian parish on Chicago's near northwest side. Before Bishop Sabatini began as pastor, he first traveled to Mexico to immerse himself in the Spanish-language customs and traditions practiced by Holy Rosary's now all-Hispanic parishioners.

Bishop Sabatini was born in Chicago to Italian immigrants, and was called to the priesthood as a fourth grade altar server at Santa Maria Addolorata's parish school. The Scalabrini Fathers who ran the church had such a big impact on Sabatini that, by the time he returned to the U.S. after studying in Rome in the late 1950's, he joined the Order of St. Charles, also known as the Scalabrini Missionaries.

Between 1960 and 1972, Sabatini taught at Scalabrini missions in Staten Island, NY, where he worked with the area's troubled youth. In 1971, he was transferred to British Columbia and was eventually consecrated Bishop of Kamloops in 1978 at Vancouver's Holy Rosary Cathedral. Sabatini retired from active ministry in 1999, and returned to Chicago.

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