Catechetical awardees named

In May, Archbishop Cupich will present the Archdiocesan Catechetical and Youth Ministries Awards to recipients for their outstanding contributions to catechesis and youth ministry in parishes across Cook and Lake counties. This year’s awardees are:

Vicariate II: Melani McAllister, catechist at Queen of All Saints

Melani McAllister has been a catechist for 44 years and currently teaches both sixth grade and a class designed for children out of sequence for sacrament prep. She is a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, according to Aline Reynolds, Queen of All Saints’ director of religious education.

“She invited her attorney daughter to be a catechist and they prove to be a dynamic duo,” Reynolds said.

Melani leads the rosary six days a week, is supportive of the many spiritual offerings in the parish and elsewhere.

“She is a great resource in finding new materials to be used in the program because she brings her knowledge of the parish,” Reynolds said.

Vicariate III: Father Richard Creagh, associate pastor at St. Gabriel

Father Richard Creagh organized the youth group about nine years ago with the theme “Together we can make a difference.” It offers one service project each month for students in junior high and high school.

“He has shown the teenagers of our parish that there is a world outside of our parish and neighborhood and that many people in that world are in need,” said Augustinian Father Thomas Griffin, St. Gabriel pastor. “He has shown the teens how to alleviate that need, and to see how blessed they are to be able to share with others.”

The group feeds the poor and hungry at three different sites, organizes a yearly blood drive in the parish social hall and visits and brings gifts to the local VA hospital.

Vicariate IV: Peter and Theresa Nagaro, youth ministry leaders at St. Pascal

Peter and Theresa Nagaro were nominated by fellow youth ministers and catechetical leaders. The Nagaros reconstituted St. Pascal’s youth group six years ago with six members; now the group has more than 20 participants who meet every other week for prayer, service and social opportunities.

The couple has been married for 33 years and are the perfect complement to each other, according to nominators Beth Farias, youth minister at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish and Chris Perez and Sharon Kells, catechetical leaders at St. Pascal.

“They are very dedicated to the teens, their parish, their faith and they are filled with vivacious energy and enthusiasm,” according to the nomination.

Vicariate V: Elena Chermak, director of religious education at St. John Fisher

Elena Chermak has been a director of religious education in the Archdiocese of Chicago for more than 30 years, most of that time at St. John Fisher. She ministers to 700 Catholic school students and 100 religious education students and she is a resource person to the more than 40 school teachers and trainer of the eight catechists.

She is a lay ecclesial minister and is the co-chair of the Chicago Association of Religious Educators.

“She is very gifted in directing the preparation and celebration of the sacraments at the parish. I attribute the large number of high school liturgical ministers at St. John Fisher to their grammar school experiences guided by Elena,” said Father Robert Kyfes, St. John Fisher pastor.

Mary Jeanne Pazin, director of religious education at St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

Mary Jeanne Pazin has been a director of religious education for more than 25 years in four parishes, spending the last decade at St. Stephen. During that time, it has grown to one of the largest programs in the archdiocese, providing religious formation for 1,500 children in grades one through eight.

She provides and supervises a special needs program, monthly family Masses and grade level Masses and coordinates the parish sacramental programs.

“She relates well with others and has a genuine concern for people that is manifested in her efforts to respond to the particular needs of families,” said Father Jay Finno, St. Stephen pastor. “She brings a strong spiritual commitment to her work. She develops a weekly prayer service that begins each of the six weekly sessions needed to accommodate all the children in our program.”

Dominican Sister Suzanne Schuman, catechist, St. Barnabas

Sister Suzanne, 85, has been a religious sister, teacher, principal and catechist for the past 65 years and has served at St. Barnabas since 1983. Upon her retirement in 2009 she began to teach in the formation program and tutors children twice weekly at Visitation School in math and reading.

Sister loves Scripture and says “I teach more from the Bible than I do from the book … We have them for little time. I want every child to know the great stories of our faith and how much God loves them,” according to Matt Furjanic, her director of religious education.

Several years ago, one of her fifth-grade students was very ill and almost died. Sister Suzanne visited her and had the Dominicans pray for her through the intercession of Dominican Father Samuel Mazzuchelli. The student’s recovery will be considered one of the miracles for his canonization, Furjanic said, and the former student is now a catechist at St. Barnabas. “Sister has catechized with her life,” he said.

Vicariate VI: Pat Hoffmann, director of religious education at St. Joseph, Homewood

Pat Hoffman has a one-way commute of 42 miles from her home in Valparaiso, Indiana, to St. Joseph, Homewood, but it’s a drive she has made for the last seven years.

She directs the religious education program, recruits and trains catechists and has been welcoming and concerned with all the families, according to Father Richard Kozak, St. Joseph’s pastor, and Dan Fleming, the school principal.

Among her responsibilities are preparing the weekly school liturgy and training those who read and participate and setting up the interviews for Communion and confirmation candidates with the priests and deacons. She coordinates the RCIA process and oversees the parish Lenten mission, planning the theme and inviting speakers.

“Pat’s deep faith, constantly cheerful and welcoming disposition, and profound generosity have been a true blessing to the parish,” her nominators said.

Polish community: Wanda Penar, director of Polish Szkola im. Gen. W. Andersa

Wanda Penar has been the director of the Polish School for over 25 years. The school began more than 38 years ago and has always been tied to her family, according to catechist Ewa Wejda, who nominated her.

Penar is an active member in the community and St. Thecla Parish.

“God is always placed first in all that she does,” Wejda said. “She starts all school celebrations with Mass and reminds her catechists and teachers to always start and end their work with prayer.”

Once a year, the students make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Munster, Indiana. She, along with the school, takes care of the graves of the deceased veterans in St. Adalbert Cemetery in Niles.