Dear Parishioners,
I've been asked quite frequently what my "vision" is for Saint Paul of the Cross; what I hope to "do" as pastor here. I'm usually stumped for an answer. (Cue folks at the Archdiocese smacking their foreheads.) I mean, I love being a priest and I want to do the Lord's will. I want to preach Christ, to share my own love for Jesus with you all, and for you all to similarly love the Lord. That's all I can really discern concretely right now that Jesus wants me to do for the parish: to help you all simply increase your love for God.
Dear Parishioners,
Saint Paul of the Cross is a great parish and we are blessed with so much: great parishioners and staff, great buildings, great ministries, a great school, and a great devotion to our Lord. I am humbled and privileged to be your pastor. As many of you know, I took up this position this past July 1, 2021.
Dear Parishioners,
The North American College, the seminary in Rome where I spent six years, had a tradition of offering three toasts before banquets and other big meals. One was a toast to the College, one to the Country (the United States), and one to the Church or the Holy Father. A seminarian or priest was asked to stand up and give a 30 second speech honoring those three institutions. At the end we'd say "chin-chin" (the Italian version of "cheers"), take a swig of Prosecco, and then, sometimes, sing a song: My Country 'Tis of Thee, Ad Multos Annos, etc. Then we'd sit down and begin to slam plates of carbonara pasta and veal saltimbocca.
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.
Phone: (847) 825-7605
6:25 am UC
8:30 am UC
8:30 am UC - weekday Mass
4:30 pm UC - vigil
7:30 am UC
9:00 am UC
10:30 am UC and HFC
12:00 pm UC
