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Meet the Staff
Please Note: Additional Staff Bios Will be Coming Shortly!

Fr. Michael McGovern - Pastor
Father Mike McGovern has been St. Mary's pastor since December 2004. A native of the South Side of Chicago, he attended Christ the King Grammar School, St. Ignatius College Prep and Loyola University. Ordained in 1994 after studies at Mundelein Seminary, Father Mike has worked in parish ministry as well as the Pastoral Center for the Archdiocese of Chicago. With interests in theology, spirituality, history and art, Father Mike is looking forward to creating new programs for spiritual growth at St. Mary's.
mmcgovern@churchofstmary.org.

Fr. Don Woznicki - Associate Pastor
Father Don Woznicki has been Associate Pastor since January 2008.  He was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana and was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 2002.  Fr. Don has felt the great need for the Catholic Church to be more present within the entertainment industry due to its impact in our lives.  In addition to parish ministry, he is a part-time Chaplain to Act One, Inc: Writing and Executive Programs (Hollywood, CA). He is project leader for The Hollywood Project: bringing the Church and the entertainment industry together.
dwoznicki@churchofstmary.org.

Fr. Stephen Grunow
Father Stephen Grunow is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He is currently a resident at St. Mary's and serves as the assistant director of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, a Catholic evangelization apostolate that utilizes contemporary media to advance and support the mission of the Church.

James L. Kenney
Like hundreds of other parish members, Jim is a part-time volunteer at St. Mary's. He headed the finance committee and parish council, he has served as a lector and minister of Holy Communion, and he was one of the first ministers to the sick. He was ordained a permanent deacon in 1978 for St. Mary's Church. Currently, Jim moderates the single parents' support group, serves as a field advocate for the Marriage Tribunal and conducts Holy Communion services at the Lake County jail and the Great Lakes Recruit Training Center. He recently retired after a long career as a school business official and when not jogging, he markets an investment fund to Illinois school districts and community colleges.

Joseph G. Krakora
Permanent Deacon Mr. Joseph G. Krakora has been a parishioner at St. Mary's since 1965. He was a member of the first group to be ordained deacons in 1978 and has served St. Mary's ever since. Joe has faculties to baptize, witness marriages, preach, assist at Mass and bring Holy Eucharist to those who cannot attend Mass and sacramentals. In addition to these ministries, Joe assists in the preparation for Baptism and Marriage and also works for the Marriage Tribunal, Archdiocese of Chicago, as a Field advocate for those seeking annulments.

Samuel Suter
Samuel Suter, Director of Music for St. Mary's Parish began his role as music minister in 1977. He has been involved in many aspects of music ministry over the years: he designed St. Mary's pipe organ and conducted organist seminars in both the Hartford and Chicago archdioceses and he was one of the organists for WGN's liturgical programming. Currently Samuel conducts our Adult Choir as well as the Lazarus Choir, and oversees the music for all of St. Mary's parish and school liturgies. He is the organist for the majority of the weddings, funerals and special liturgical celebrations in the parish.

Rosemarie Zawacki
Rosemarie Zawacki, Business Manager, joined the rectory staff in September of 1986 as parish secretary. In September of 1995 she moved into the position of Business Manager and is currently responsible for the maintenance of both campuses, personnel and financial management. She is an active member of the parish's Finance Committee, Lectors and the Vicariate I Business Managers Group. Rosemarie can be reached at the rectory or via her e-mail: rzawacki@churchofstmary.org.

Janet Peters
Janet joined the St. Mary’s staff in March, 2007 as a Pastoral Minister. Janet, her husband Randy, and their children Justin and Molly, live in Lake Bluff and have been parishioners of St. Mary’s since 1986. Janet coordinates Ministry of Care, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and the Bereavement Ministry. Janet is also a liaison to the Guild of St. Mary and assists Fr. Mike McGovern with special projects. Janet is an active Homebound Minister of Care, an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, and a member of the Respect Life Committee. Throughout the years she has been actively involved in the following: Soup Kitchen, Religious Education, RCIA, COR, Upper Grade School Committee, Guild Circles and Deanery 1 Pro-Life Holy Hours. Janet is available at the parish office Tuesday through Friday from 8:30am. – 4:30pm. Please feel free to contact her at (847) 234-0205 or via e-mail at jpeters@churchofstmary.org.

Lillie Romeiser
Lillie Romeiser assumed the role of youth minister in mid-February 2009. She was born in lake Forest and was baptized at St. Mary's.  Lillie is a graduate of the School of St. Mary, Lake Forest High School and Princeton University, where she majored in religion and received a teaching certificate in Elementary Education.  She played basketball while at Princeton and has since taken up running and triathlon racing.  As the Youth Minister, Lillie is responsible for the direction of the COR and Kairos programs, as well as for all activities that support high school students.  We are happy to have Lillie at St. Mary's! You can contact Lillie at (847) 234-7337 or via email at lromeiser@churchofstmary.org