Fr. James' Letters

August 20, 2023

Dear Parishioners,

Do you like the scene we have for this Sunday’s Gospel? It’s the scene of the Canaanite woman begging Jesus for the miracle to heal her daughter. Jesus ignores her at first. When she persists, Jesus says, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” To which the woman responds, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Jesus then gives her the miracle.

Read more: August 20, 2023

August 13, 2023

Dear Parishioners,

Last week, if you recall, was the feast of the Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah appeared alongside Jesus on Mount Tabor. Well, we read about Elijah this weekend in our first reading. Elijah experiences God in a tiny whispering sound. God is not in the strong wind, the crushing rocks, the earthquake, or fire. Contrast this to Moses experiencing God atop Mount Sinai. There, God was present in fire, smoke, cracking boulders and trumpet blasts. Elijah hid his face in his cloak. Moses unveiled his face and saw God directly.

Read more: August 13, 2023

August 6, 2023

Dear Parishioners,

The Transfiguration of the Lord. What an awesome scene. It’s so awesome, in fact, it receives its own feast day, which we celebrate on August 6th. Because August 6th this year falls on a Sunday, we skip what would have been the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time and celebrate the liturgy for the Transfiguration.

Read more: August 6, 2023

Who is Fr. James?

Father James Wallace grew up in Winnetka, Illinois and attended Sts. Faith Hope and Charity grammar school, New Trier High School, and then The George Washington University in Washington DC, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science in 2007. He attended seminary at The Pontifical North American College in Rome and was ordained a priest in 2012 for the Archdiocese of Chicago. In addition to being the pastor of Saint Paul of the Cross Parish, he serves as a canon lawyer for the Archdiocese, a dean in Vicariate II, and a professor of canon law and spiritual director at Mundelein Seminary. He is also one of the featured Mercy Home Sunday Mass celebrants, airing Sundays at 9:30am on WGN.

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Contact Information

St. Paul of the Cross

320 South Washington Street
Park Ridge, IL 60068


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Phone: (847) 825-7605

Mass Schedule

UC = Upper Church
HFC = Holy Family Chapel 

Monday - Friday

6:25 am UC

8:30 am UC

Saturday

8:30 am UC - weekday Mass

4:30 pm UC - vigil

Sunday

7:30 am UC

9:00 am UC

10:30 am UC and HFC

12:00 pm UC