2025 Celebration of Mundelein
2025 Celebration of Mundelein
Mundelein Seminary hosted the 32nd Annual Celebration of Mundelein, an evening of honor, community, and support, on April 24 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago.
This year, the event was hosted by the Very Reverend John Kartje, rector and president of Mundelein Seminary, and emceed by Seminarian Luke Lato from the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Mundelein Seminary proudly recognized three outstanding individuals from Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview. Sr. Paulanne Held, Fr. Jerry Boland, and Dr. Amy Mills have not only profoundly impacted the community with their dedication and contributions but also inspired us all with their unwavering commitment to faith, education, and service, which truly embodies the spirit of Mundelein Seminary.
A vital fundraising event, the Celebration of Mundelein plays a crucial role in supporting the education and formation of the next generation of parish priests. Attendees’ generosity directly empowers Mundelein seminarians as they prepare to serve their communities and carry forth the light of faith.
Guests enjoyed performances by the Mundelein Seminary Choir and the City Lights Quartet, featuring Rich Daniels and Dean Rolando. The evening offered fellowship with the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic community and a live auction featuring exclusive getaways and VIP experiences – all in support of men answering Christ’s call to the priesthood.
Mundelein Seminary thanks all attendees and supporters who made the 2025 Celebration of Mundelein a success, furthering the formation of future priests.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Rector Presenting Sponsor
Thomas and Linda Berk
Mundelein Sponsor
David and Lisa Brochu
Anonymous
Formation Sponsors
A.B. Edward Enterprises, Inc.
Pastoral Sponsors
Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc.
Anonymous
Mariani Landscaping
Wayne and Erma Kinzie
Contributing Sponsors
Advantage Futures
Dr. Eileen Knight & the Knight Family
Daprato Rigali Studios, Inc.
Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc.
Illinois State Council
The Paluch Family Foundation & Mary Lou Paluch
Diocese of Belleville
Diocese of Peoria
Diocese of San Jose
DePaul University
Holy Name Cathedral
Laborers’ District Council
L. Marshall Roofing & Sheet Metal
Mr. Tod Faerber
Peggy & George Pandaleon
Program Sponsor
Taher, Inc.
Parish Partner Tables
Archdiocese of Chicago Vocation Office
Kenneth and Zenith Chua
Church of St. Mary, Lake Forest
Diocese of Joliet
Holy Child Jesus Parish
Laborers’ District Council of Chicago & Great Lakes Region Organizing Committee
Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish
Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Jim Cantwell)
Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Kim Brendermann)
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Premistar
Queen of All Saints Basilica
Sacred Heart Church (Divine Mercy Parish)
Saint, Faith, Hope, and Charity Parish
Saint Mary of Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
St. Anne Catholic Church
St. Christina Catholic Church
St. Clement Parish
St. Juliana Parish
St. Paul of the Cross Parish
St. Cletus Parish
Saints Joseph and Francis Xavier
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Libertyville
Supporting Sponsors
Tim and Marianne Bestler
Tom and Mary-Douglass Brown
Carmel Catholic High School
Diocese of Lafayette-Indiana
Maryville Academy
Loyola Press
Pace Systems Inc.
Valentin and Margaret Turansky
W.B Olsen, Inc.
Congratulations to Our Honorees
As Those Who Serve Award
Fr. Jerry Boland
Father Jeremiah (Jerry) Boland grew up in St. Gall’s Parish at 55th and Kedzie. He is the oldest of five brothers, which includes Msgr. Michael Boland. He is blessed with four nieces and two nephews.
For the Archdiocese of Chicago, Fr. Boland has served as the Archbishop’s Delegate for International Priests, overseeing the placement, immigration and inculturalization of priests from around the world. He also worked as the Executive Secretary of the diocesan priests’ placement system. He has been an Associate Pastor at St. James in Arlington Heights, Associate Dean of Formation at Mundelein Seminary, Associate Pastor at Mary, Seat of Wisdom in Park Ridge, and a Resident at Holy Cross in Deerfield. Fr. Boland served as Administrator at Holy Family Parish in Chicago from 2002 to 2014. He has served as Chairman of the Association of Chicago Priests, Chairman of the Archdiocese Presbyteral Council and as served on the Board of Consultors.
Fr. Boland was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) Church in July, 2014. OLPH is located in Glenview, IL and serves more than 10,000 parishioners including 3,200 families. The OLPH school is the largest in the archdiocese with 800+ students and the Religious Education program has more than 400 students.
In the early years of his pastorate here, Fr. Boland had to oversee a $5 million Capital Campaign, as well as implementation of the goals of the Parish Transformation initiative and the Renew My Church efforts. All of these have delivered important, tangible results, such as converting the convent into a Parish Center with much needed meeting spaces for the numerous parish ministries and organizations, building four STEM labs for the school, and many other investments. He also spearheaded the Centennial Celebration of the parish in 2019 which brought the campus the beautiful Hellerman Garden featuring a statue of the Blessed Mother, and most recently the installation of a new Bells System and Clock Tower in the church.
Fr. Boland has been committed to building upon the legacy of this wonderful parish by encouraging lay leadership and collaboration. He has continued the tradition of OLPH’s social outreach and formation of future and recently ordained priests.
Fr. Boland celebrated the 40th Anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood in 2021.
As Those Who Serve Award
Sr. Paulanne Held
Fondly referred to by the members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish and the surrounding community as the “Patron Saint” of Glenview, Sister Paulanne Held, OSF, has dedicated her life to inspiring young people in the classroom while serving those in need.
Raised on a farm outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sister Paulanne answered the call to serve early in life. Intrigued by the mission of the School Sisters of St. Francis of St. Joseph Convent-a community of Catholic sisters dedicated to building a more just and peaceful world-she entered the convent and trained to be a teacher.
Since that time, she spent more than half a century as a beloved teacher and role model, forming the hearts and minds of generations of young people at the primary and middle-school levels.
Teaching and nurturing the next generation of women and men for others are just two of Sister Paulanne’s passions. For more than 30 years, she has also been out on the front lines in the fight against poverty, helping families in crisis reclaim their hope and dignity through the parish’s Needy Family Fund.
The Needy Family Fund was founded in the mid-1980s to provide more structured support, as well as social services, for families struggling with stressors such as illness, the loss of a loved one, unemployment or homelessness. Since its inception over three decades ago, the Needy Family Fund has helped thousands of families in crisis.
In 2019, Sr. Paulanne was honored as the recipient of the Rev. Daniel A. Lord, SJ, Award for Distinguished Service in the Cause of Youth by Loyola Academy. At the conclusion of the 2021 school year, she celebrated 60 years of teaching at OLPH.
Christo Gloria Award
Dr. Amy Mills
JDr. Amy Mills has fearlessly led the largest Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Chicago for nearly three decades. With her unwavering commitment to education, she has successfully navigated the ever-changing, technologically advancing landscape of learning. As a key leader and mentor to other administrators in the Archdiocese, Dr. Mills has inspired countless educators to strive for excellence.
Her passion lies in providing accessible Catholic education to all students who seek it. Throughout her tenure, she has dedicated herself to ensuring that every student in the OLPH School community is equipped to be a responsible steward and a faithful servant.
Dr. Mills’ impact on her students and the broader educational community is profound, fostering a culture of compassion, service, and academic excellence.
Dr. Amy Mills grew up in Wilmette, IL, as one of five siblings. Her passion for teaching was ignited at St. Joe’s Catholic School, where she first experienced the transformative power of education. She pursued her dreams by earning a BA in Teaching and Elementary Education from the University of Iowa, followed by a Master of Education and a Doctor of Education from National Louis University. Dr. Mills’ academic journey laid a strong foundation for her successful career, allowing her to make a lasting impact in the field of education.
Event Photos
