Fr. John Evans

Homilies

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From the Desk of Fr. John Evans

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In this Year for Priests, we, your priests, have been flattered, amazed, and humbled at how much you, Christ's faithful, wish to support us.

Many of you have asked, "What can we do for you this year, Father?" While I usually ask for prayer and penance, I found a leaflet from Our Sunday Visitor in our narthex. It lists four other ways to support your parish priests. Please allow me to share them with you.

The first, of course, is prayer and penance. We need your prayers, and please, from time to time, do penance, give things up for us. A classic penance would be deciding not to use salt and/or sugar during one meal. Nothing gigantic, but every bit helps.

Second, participate and be active. We have a variety of ministries here at Holy Cross, find one or two that are right for you!

Third, have realistic expectations. We have three priests (now two, with Monsignor Deutsch on sabbatical!), and almost four thousand families. Please be aware of that. We try to answer all requests in a prompt and timely manner, but this is not always possible.

Fourth, be prepared to believe the best. Rumors happen, but please be skeptical when you hear them. I have lived with Monsignor Deutsch and Father Fasano since last June, and I can assure you, all three of us are trying our absolute best to imitate Christ Himself, our great High Priest.

Fifth, show your appreciation. This already happens a lot here, so thank you again for all the support you give your priests!

Be assured of our prayers, and God bless you always.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Evans

P.S. Bishop Doran mandates that all diocesan priests meet together once a year for a conference. Fr. Fasano, seminarian Jonathan and I will be gone Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for this conference. If a priest is needed for an emergency, please contact Marmion Abbey at 630-897-6936.

P.P.S. I would like to share with you one of my favorite prayers for priests, written by Cardinal Carberry.

Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord,
keep them, for they are Thine -
Thy priests whose lives burn out
before Thy consecrated shrine.
Keep them, for they are in the world,
though from the world apart;
when earthly pleasures tempt, allure -
shelter them in Thy heart.
Keep them, and comfort them
in loneliness and pain,
when all their life of sacrifice
for souls seems but in vain.
Keep them, and O remember, Lord,
they have no one but Thee,
yet they have only human hearts,
with human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host,
that daily they caress;
their every thought and word and deed,
Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.

Monsignor Dan Deutsch

I was born in 1962 in St. Charles, IL. My mom and dad, Pat and Bernie Deutsch and my 5 brothers and sisters and I grew up in St. Patrick Church. Most of my family still lives in the parish with the rest not far away.

Raised and educated in a strong Catholic faith, I graduated from Northern Illinios University with a degeee in finance and economics. I worked in Chicago at the Mercantile Exchange trading Eurodollars for several years. All the while, even from my earliest days I felt a great attraction to the priesthood. Finally, I realized that God was not going to stop pursuing me so I let go of the life of a bond trader and began my journey to the priesthood.

After being accepted by the Diocese of Rockford, I attended the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL for my formation and was ordained a priest in 1994. Upon serving as a priest in several parishes as an associate pastor and then pastor, I was appointed to lead Holy Cross in 2001. The joy of being the pastor of such a vibrant parish grows every day.

Fr. John Evans

Born in Bristol, Connecticut, on the solemnity of our Lady's Immaculate Conception, December 8th, 1982, I have always lived under the mantle of our Lady, whether I knew it or not. I was baptized by my great Uncle, Rev. John Lane, CSV, on January 29, 1983. As my mother worked in the hotel business, we moved a lot. I've lived in Philadelphia and South Bend, Indiana, spending most of my life in the Chicago area. I received my first Holy Communion on May 4, 1991, and Confirmation on April 20, 1997, both at Holy Cross Church (providential) in Deerfield, Illinois. Having spent my high school years in South Bend, surrounded by the good example of countless priests, religious and laity, I went to the Catholic University of America, in Washington, DC, to study philosophy and discern my vocation. It was there that I decided to study for the priesthood for our own Rockford Diocese, as that is where most of my family lives. I graduated from CUA with a Ph.B. (Ecclesiastical Bachelor of Philosophy) in 2005, and went to Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, the following autumn. Four years later, I graduated with an M.Div. (Master of Divinity) and M.A. (Master of Arts in Sacred Theology, Old Testament) in the spring of 2009, and ordained to the sacred priesthood a week later, May 16, 2009. I am humbled and honored to serve here in Batavia, with such kind, holy priests and people. I could not have asked for a better assignment. God bless you, and let us pray for each other.

Fr. Paul Fasano

Fr. Fasano was born in Streamwood Illinois on January 28, 1980, and was baptized on March 23rd at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He received his first Holy Communion on May 21, 1988, and was confirmed on May 10, 1996.  On May 11, 2002 he graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Recreation Therapy.  After college he attended St. Gregory the Great minor seminary; graduating on May 8, 2004.  After minor seminary he was asked by Bishop Thomas Doran to spend the next four years attending the Pontifical North American College in Rome.  On May 12, 2007 he was ordained to the sacred order of Deacon. On May 24, 2008 he and his six classmates were ordained priests at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford. (Bishop O’Neill, affectionately calls his class the “Centennial 7” as his ordination was during the 100th Anniversary of the diocese of Rockford.) Fr. Fasano holds an S.T.B. (Sacred Baccalaureate in Theology) as well as a Master’s degree in Spirituality from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy.  Holy Cross is his first assignment and he is overjoyed to be here.