Later this month there will be a long-awaited Beatification Mass for Venerable Fulton Sheen. Bishop Fulton Sheen was an inspiring figure to so many of us in Seminary. Venerable Fulton Sheen spoke passionately and with great love for the Priesthood, Our Lord Jesus Christ and spending time before Our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration. In the Catholic Church there is an extensive process for one to become a Saint. In short, it goes like this:

After a five-year waiting period following death the local bishop opens a formal investigation into the person's life for heroic virtue or martyrdom. If accepted, the candidate receives the title "Servant of God". The Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints thoroughly reviews the historical findings and writings. If the Pope issues a decree recognizing that the candidate lived a life of exceptional Christian virtue, they are named "Venerable". This stage requires the verification of a miraculous healing or event attributed to the candidate's prayers from heaven. Martyrs do not need a verified miracle for this step. Once approved, the Pope declares the person "Blessed". Full sainthood generally requires a second verified miracle that occurred after beatification (or a first miracle, for martyrs). The Pope then makes a formal declaration during a canonization mass, officially adding the person to the list of saints.

The Beatification Mass for Venerable Fulton Sheen, which will officially recognize him as Blessed Fulton Sheen, will take place on September 24th at 2:00 p.m. Central time at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri. I am blessed with the opportunity to go to the event and Concelebrate the Mass. I will be away that week, but I will be bringing our entire St. Andrew family with me in prayer!

If this is your first time hearing about Bishop Fulton, here is a little write about his life from https://fulton-sheen.catholic.edu/bio/

Born Peter John Sheen on May 8, 1895, to farmer Newt Sheen and his wife, Delia, in El Paso, Illinois, the future Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen came under the influence of one of the founders of The Catholic University of America at an early age. While serving Mass as an 8-year-old altar boy for Bishop John L. Spalding of Peoria, Sheen dropped a wine cruet on the floor and it shattered. After the Mass, Bishop Spalding spoke to the frightened boy and made two bold predictions about him. First, the bishop said he would one day study at Louvain in Belgium; second, he told the young Sheen, "someday you will be just as I am."

Sheen went to high school at Spalding Institute, then studied at St. Viator College in Illinois and attended Saint Paul Seminary in Minnesota before his ordination to the priesthood on September 20, 1919. In 1920, he came to The Catholic University of America to continue his studies. He stayed only a year before leaving to pursue advanced study in philosophy at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. Five years later, he returned to The Catholic University of America to teach.

It is a blessing to become part of the St. Andrew Parish community. I began my role as Operations Director on Monday, August 31, and have already started learning the many processes that support our church and school. I'd like to take this opportunity to share a little about myself.

I have lived in Chicago for 22 years. I met my wife, Beth, at St. Alphonsus Parish in 2005, and this month we will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We have three children. Our two oldest attend DePaul College Prep, and our youngest attends Budlong Elementary School. We currently live in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.

My professional background is in nuclear technologies and building automation. I served in the U.S. Navy for eight years, including nearly four years stationed aboard a submarine. After leaving the Navy, I worked for Siemens Building Technologies for many years as a Technical Training Manager. In 2018, I became a stay-at-home dad, which prepared me well for helping teach my children at home during the COVID pandemic.

In 2024, I reentered the workforce as Operations Director at Queen of Apostles Parish, my home parish. During my time there, I gained valuable experience and developed skills that I look forward to bringing to St. Andrew Parish.

One habit that helps me stay organized is starting each workday by identifying the three most important tasks I need to accomplish. Having clear goals helps me stay focused and productive. Since arriving at St. Andrew, everyone in the parish office and school has been incredibly welcoming and helpful, and I am grateful for the warm reception.

Outside of work, you'll most often find me attending my children's activities. Whether it's my oldest son's cross-country meets, my daughter's flag football games, or my youngest son's soccer games, I enjoy supporting them and cheering on their teams. Our family also loves to travel. We enjoy hiking and skiing in the mountains out west, relaxing in beach towns, and making trips to Disney World. Even as an adult, I still find Disney to be a wonderful and fun vacation destination.

During my first month at St. Andrew, I will be focused on learning the parish and school's operations while taking on the many responsibilities of the Operations Director role. Fr. Hank, the principal, and I have met to review current projects and plan for the work that lies ahead in the coming year.

My office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you would like to meet, please stop by the parish office or email me at chrisk@standrew.org to schedule a time. I look forward to meeting many of you and becoming part of the St. Andrew Parish community.

God bless,

Christopher Kraszewski
Operations Director

Flag Raising

Our annual Flag Raising will be on Friday, September 11, at 8:15 on the school turf. All are welcome! 

Discover the Difference with Saint Andrew School! 

Are you seeking a nurturing and enriching educational environment for your child? Look no further than Saint Andrew School, where Catholic Education comes to life through faith, excellence, and community. Our dedicated faculty inspires students to achieve their full potential academically, spiritually, and socially. At Saint Andrew, we blend rigorous academics with character-building values, fostering a sense of purpose and belonging. Experience our vibrant campus, where every student is known, loved, and challenged to grow. Choose Saint Andrew School today and invest in a brighter future for your child. Enroll now and join our family! Sign up for a tour here: schedule a tour New student applications for the 25-26 school year can be found here: New Student Application