From Fr. Alex
Dear St. Thomas Family:
It’s with great surprise that I’m sharing that I will be leaving St. Thomas at the end of this June (2025). I had fully anticipated finishing three years here, but I received a call from the bishop assigning me to St. Raphael’s here in Naperville. (About 25% of the active priests in the diocese will be taking on new assignments July 1 under direction of our new vicar for priests.)
I’m grateful for my time here at St. Thomas, and I’ll miss working with all of you. I’m glad for all the relationships I’ve gotten to form here.
Know that I’ll continue to be around throughout May and June. I’ve prayed for all of you daily since I arrived here, and I hope for your prayers in return.
God Bless,
Fr. Alex
From Fr. Peter: Welcome Fr. John Regan
As Fr. Alex indicated, 1/4 of the active priests in our diocese are receiving new assignments. That in mind, please join me in welcoming Fr. John Regan, who will be our new priest-in-residence starting July 1, 2025.
Fr. John Regan has been at St. Mary Immaculate in Plainfield since June 2012. Born in 1963, he grew up in Peotone. He was the youngest of four children in his family, and they actively participated at St. Paul the Apostle Church. After receiving his degree in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, he entered Mundelein Seminary. Fr. John was ordained in 1989 and began serving as a parochial vicar at St. Liborius Parish, in Steger. From 1993 to 2006 he served as the Vocation Director for the Joliet Diocese. In 2006 he was named pastor of St. Walter Parish, in Roselle.
In 2008, Fr. John was placed on a leave of absence from public priestly ministry to address a gambling addiction and to face the legal consequences of his criminal financial actions at St. Walter Parish. In the throes of his addiction, he had stolen $295,000 from the parish. Fr. John served 6 months jail time, 4 years of probation as a pattern cutter in a filter factory and is in the process of making a full restitution (he has paid back almost half thus far).
Fr. John returned to ministry in 2012, first briefly serving at St. Jude Parish in Joliet and then more permanently at St. Mary Immaculate in June 2012.
As priest in residence, Fr. John will basically have all the same responsibilities as any other associate pastor, however he won’t sign checks or deal with money.
Of his situation, Fr. John says, “The journey of addiction and recovery has been one of incredible grace. Because of my addiction, I know what sin, shame, public humiliation and scandal are. I have experienced and felt them. But because of God’s grace and my 12-step recovery group, I also know what redemption, forgiveness and God’s mercy are. I know quite personally the amazing grace of another chance. I have a keen interest in the Church’s outreach to those who are seeking a second chance in recovery.”
Fr. John enjoys celebrating Christ’s presence in the daily situations of our lives and sharing the Good News of God’s love and mercy. If you have any questions about his situation, please feel free to ask him. He is very transparent about his journey through addiction and recovery.
I have known Fr. John for a couple years and I always appreciate his openness on supporting people with addictions. Some facts on the incidence of addiction in the US: 17% have a drug addiction, 10% alcohol addiction, 4% gambling addiction. Nearly half of Americans have a family member or close friend who’s been addicted to drugs.
As we take in this information, I thought it could be helpful to share thoughts from two members of our St Thomas staff who know Fr. John very well.
Thank you for reading this announcement and for joining me in welcoming Fr. John Regan to St. Thomas the Apostle Parish.
Blessings and Peace,
Fr. Peter
From Dorothy Grantham, Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry
I have known Fr. John since the early 1990s. At the time I was at St. Jude’s in New Lenox while he was at St. Liborius in Steger. He was active in youth ministry and we did several activities together. I was also a co-bus leader with him on a World Youth Day trip to Denver. At one of the last Youth Leadership Conferences, Fr. John gave a homily at one of the masses there and spoke about his gambling addiction and what happened after he was caught. It was a very inspirational homily. He was honest and vulnerable and gave a message that touched many people. He is a good homilist. I am Facebook friends with him. He has good faith filled posts there. I find Fr. John to be an inspiring priest who does not give up but keeps trying. He is very personable, fun and real.
From Ann Cotner, DRE for Middle School
I have had the pleasure of knowing Fr. John for many years. We would gather at family parties together, as he is the uncle of my niece and nephew. At these celebrations, I always looked forward to talking to him; he is kind, wise, and fun; very sociable. He took delight in the children as they opened gifts or hunted for Easter eggs at family gatherings. Fr. John is warm, welcoming, and easy to talk to, and I look forward to welcoming him to St. Thomas.
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