ST. CHARLES—On June 17, Msgr. Stephen Knox, S.T.L., becomes diocesan Vicar for Clergy and Religious and the pastor of St. Bridget Parish in Loves Park. 

 

The Woodstock native attended McHenry High School there, graduating in 1978. He attended Rock Valley College, McHenry College and Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. He then studied at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, graduating in 1989, earning his Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) from there in 1993.

 

He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill on June 3, 1989 at the Cathedral of St. Peter. He received the title “Chaplain to His Holiness” on May 21, 2011.

 

Msgr. Knox began his priestly service as parochial vicar at SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Cary (June 1989 to July 1992), doing graduate studies at Mundelein at the same time. He then served as parochial vicar at St. John Neumann Parish in St. Charles (July 1992 to June 1995), with part time graduate studies.

 

After that, he served as pastor of Christ the Teacher Parish, DeKalb (June 1995 to July 2004) and director of Campus Ministry (July 1995 to July 2004).

 

Msgr. Knox was pastor of St. Mary Parish in Huntley (July 2004 to July 2014), overseeing the building of its current church and campus. He has served as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in St. Charles since July 2014.

 

Additionally, Msgr. Knox has served as chaplain to the Diocesan Knights of Columbus (November 1996 to September 2005), as a priest representative from Region VII on the USCCB National Advisory Council (December 2002 to November 2006), as a Diocesan Consultor (January 2000 to February 2015 and March 2015 to March 2020), as Dean/Vicar Forane of the McHenry Deanery (June 2012 to July 2014) and of the Elgin Deanery (July 2014 to present).

 

He also is a Parish Priest Consultor, a member of the Incardination Committee, and is on the Diocesan Finance Council and the Diocesan Vocations Commission.