Fr. James' Letters

September 4, 2022

Dear Parishioners,

At this point in the Scripture narrative Jesus has finished his Galilean ministry and is making his way to Jerusalem for his Passion. The Galilean ministry, we could say, was a time of consolation — healings, miracles, teachings, etc. Huge crowds, thus, are following Christ (see the opening line of today’s Gospel). Jerusalem, on the other hand, will be desolation: rejection, betrayal, death. As Jesus is entering this desolation, it's like he wants to warn the crowd. He turns to them and says, effectively, "if you want to be my disciple, you've got to hate your mother and father, renounce your possessions, and take up your cross." Being a disciple is not all roses and sunshine. It’s not always consolation.

Read more: September 4, 2022

August 28, 2022

Dear Parishioners,

“Sacrifices and offerings you desire not, but an open ear” (Psalm 40:6).

Read more: August 28, 2022

August 21, 2022

Dear Parishioners,

As much as I like to pray, I’m really bad at saying grace before meals. I do it when I’m out with people, be it in your homes or at a restaurant, but I’m terrible at it when I’m by myself. (Public Confession #25 for Fr. James here.) I make my food, quickly consume it, and move on to the next thing. I guess I’m thinking subconsciously this activity isn’t spiritual and just a means to an end (nourishment). It’s not until after I’ve inhaled the food that I realized I forgot to pray and that I probably should have stopped to ask God to bless the endeavor.

Read more: August 21, 2022

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