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Introducing Our New Director of Parish Ministry & Evangelization

Dear Parishioners,

Last week, I informed you in my Pastor’s Letter that part of the Renew My Church Program at Our Lady of the Wayside entails filling both existing and new positions meant to ensure that our parish is a vibrant, vital, and life-giving community that carries out the mission of the Church.

I mentioned that I will hire a Director of Parish Ministry and Evangelization. This person will collaborate with me to discern and implement the vision that best enables our parish to offer ways for all parishioners to encounter Jesus Christ, be formed as disciples, and practice missionary discipleship. After consulting with the members of the Parish Pastoral Council and of the Parish Finance Committee, who both represent the parish and gave their approval, I have decided to hire a familiar and dear member of our parish community, Deacon Peter LeTourneau, to fill this position. Deacon Peter was ordained in 2018 and has been a member of Our Lady of the Wayside parish for 26 years. He and his wife Jan have been married for 36 years. And their children Emily and Andrew graduated from our parish school in 2006 and 2008, respectively. Deacon Peter’s position has been approved by Vicariate I, and we are delighted that he has joined our team!

In addition, I have established a search committee made up of members of our school and parish communities to find and select an Operations Director. The committee will meet this week to discuss a few possible candidates for this position, and I would like to ask for your prayers—that the Holy Spirit will enlighten us and guide us in our search.

According to the Renew my Church Program, two roles will serve as pillars of the parish as they collaborate with me to ensure the parish’s proper functioning: the Operations Director (who will work with the school and parish in the management of our assets) and the Director of Parish Ministry & Evangelization (who will care for the sacraments, RCIA Program, devotions, etc.). Along with these two positions, I plan to hire a Communications Director, who will collaborate closely with the Marketing Director of our parish school and with me to convey and share important information with you. As you know, because of the Coronavirus pandemic, it has been necessary to find new and innovative ways to support your spiritual lives through such platforms as Facebook and our parish website. The Communications Director will ensure that we have the most up-to-date systems and broadcasting in place to provide you with the information and resources you need to grow in your spiritual lives and share God’s Love with others. Next week, I will introduce you to our new Communications Director. Like Deacon Peter, he is a member of our parish community who loves our parish and is excited to help us carry out our parish vision.

This is an exciting time for Our Lady of the Wayside. As we welcome new members to our parish staff, I ask for your prayers and ensure you of mine so that we can work together to grow in holiness and one day become saints!

In Christ,
Fr. Arthur Marat

From: Deacon Peter LeTourneau,

I am excited to begin my new position at the parish as Director of Parish Ministry & Evangelization.  This position aligns with the Archdiocese Renew My Church initiative, a process that Our Lady of the Wayside may be part of as early as 2021.  It falls under the Department of Parish Vitality and Mission within the Archdiocese.

In this position, I will be responsible for assisting Fr. Artur with the overall ministry and evangelization efforts in the parish to ensure that everyone in the parish encounters Jesus Christ and deepens their commitment to Him and His Church.  Collaboration with Fr. Artur and others is essential for successful implementation.  In the coming weeks I will be meeting with staff and ministry leaders to obtain information on their roles and ministries.  This information will be vital for developing the strategic plan for parish mission and vitality and ensures that our parish staff and ministries align with it.

For the past 18 months I have been the part-time Operations Director at St. Raphael the Archangel in Old Mill Creek.  During my time there I have gone through the Archdiocese parish business management training.  This training has given me great insight on how a parish operates and the resources available within the Archdiocese.

In September I will begin working on a master’s degree in theology.  I am in the process of enrolling at St. Joseph’s College in Maine.  This online master’s program is specifically designed for deacons, I anticipate finishing my degree in 2022.

I am excited about the future of our parish and glad that I will be part of it’s future.  If there is ever anything, I can do for you, please send me an email at pletourneau@archchicago.org.

God’s choicest blessings,
Deacon Peter LeTourneau