WEST DUNDEE—Father John McNamara becomes pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in West Dundee and St. Mary Parish in Gilberts on June 15.

 

Born in Mundelein, he graduated in 1998 from Prospect High School in Mount Prospect. He studied Hospitality Management at Harper College in Palatine from 1998-2001, working in restaurants and cooking for touring music celebrities for several years. He later studied philosophy at Rock Valley College in 2011 and at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., where he began theology studies, finishing those studies in 2015.

 

He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop David Malloy on June 6, 2015.

 

Father McNamara served as parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in Huntley after ordination until June 2017, also teaching part-time at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock. He served at the time as associate master of ceremonies.

 

He then was parochial vicar at St. Bridget Parish in Loves Park until June 2021, also teaching at Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford.

 

He became administrator of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, West Dundee, and at St. Mary Parish in Gilberts on June 16, 2021.