Fr. James' Letters

February 25, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

 

Have you ever had the experience where you were the outsider in a conversation? Where you were “out of your league”? I remember when I first met the pope (Benedict XVI at the time) when I was a seminarian. I was with Cardinal Francis George, who was the Archbishop of Chicago at the time. The Cardinal and the Pope were standing there talking about something in the papal palace, and I was just hanging there. Should I say something or keep silent? I wondered agonizingly to myself. Should I contribute to the conversation, should I make a joke, should I nod like I’m following along?

Read more: February 25, 2024

February 18, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

 

One of the most commonly misspelled words in the English language is desert/ dessert. Desert is the place where Jesus spent forty days; a dry, barren area of land. Dessert is a butterfinger blizzard from Dairy Queen. Kind of ironic how closely these two words are spelled while being so vastly different. I remember one time a brother priest emailing me saying he would be unresponsive the next day, since he was doing a “dessert day.” He meant to write a “desert day,” which is when you unplug from communication and spend the day in prayer, like a one-day silent retreat. I envisioned him laying on a couch surrounded by Portillo’s chocolate cakes, candy bars, and Oreos.

Read more: February 18, 2024

February 11, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

 

The Gospel scene with the leper is a beautiful one. Notice the man doesn’t make a request. He simply states the facts: “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus responds, “I do will it. Be made clean.”

This is very touching. Even our Lord was moved. You can almost hear the sobriety in the man’s voice. He’s suffered leprosy and the stigma that comes with it. He’s not desperate, but he’s not happy or content either. He’s accepted his fate. And yet, there is a steady belief that Jesus can help him. Though his body would have been deteriorated, the leper’s eyes were still strong. Those eyes, full of pain and hope, looked into Jesus’ eyes. Jesus looked back. The look of our Lord saves.

Read more: February 11, 2024

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