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Meet OLW’s New Operations Director

Greetings Our Lady of the Wayside Parishioners,

I am both honored and excited to accept the role of Operations Director and to become a part of Our Lady of the Wayside team. My wife, Mary Jeanne and I moved to Arlington Heights and registered as parishioners in 2021. Our connection to OLW, however, dates back thirty-six years, when MJ and I were married here! In no small way, we truly have come home.

I come to Wayside with a BA, an MBA, and over forty years of business management experience. My business concentration covered sales, sales management, manufacturing & plant operations and corporate. I managed sales teams as well as multiple plant operations. God has blessed me with success in each position by working closely with those I managed as well as with other team members. The valuable experiences gained along the way, I now carry with me as I begin my new roll at Wayside.

At the same time, I have an even longer history of serving the Catholic Church in several capacities. In my youth, I volunteered at our parish, was an altar boy, sorted donated clothes and participated in teen retreat programs. All were fundamental to how I grew up. As an adult, I served on the Parish School Board, Pastoral Council, Finance Committee and as an advisor to the Pastor of the California parish MJ and I belonged to for 25 years. I am also proud to be a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, and held numerous leadership positions including Grand Knight of the council in California.

Since rejoining Wayside, I have participated in several ministries, groups and activities including, the Grotto Project, the Celebrate 70! Cardinal Cupich Reception, Golf Outing and Oktoberfest, the Hospitality Ministry, the New Parishioner Welcome Reception, the That Man is You (TMIY) Men’s Group, the Senior Christmas Party, and the Knights of Columbus.

Some have asked why I am taking on this important roll at Our Lady of the Wayside. My answer, quite simply, is I feel the Holy Spirit has guided me here. Many years ago, I decided my life would be better if I simply “rowed the boat” and let God do the steering. This is my way of ‘trusting in the Lord’. So far, it seems to have worked out pretty well, and for that I thank Him every day.
I look forward to working with Fr. Marat, Principal David Wood, Vicariate Ops Director Marvin Sabido, the outstanding staff that serve OLW Parish, and with many of you.

So, as my journey begins here, I will simply ‘keep on rowing’ trusting full well that the God, and our Holy Mother and patroness, Our Lady of the Wayside, will guide us.

Vivat Jesus,

Patrick j. Fitzgerald