2025 Celebration of Mundelein
Thursday, April 24, 2025
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Join us at the Four Seasons for an evening of honor, community, and support at our annual Celebration of Mundelein. This year, hosted by Very Reverend John Kartje and Cardinal Blase Cupich, we are thrilled to recognize three outstanding individuals from Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview whose dedication and contributions have profoundly impacted the community: Sr. Paulanne Held, Fr. Jerry Boland, and Dr. Amy Mills. Their unwavering commitment to faith, education, and service embodies the spirit of Mundelein Seminary. A Mundelein Seminary seminarian will emcee the evening.
This event serves as a cornerstone in supporting the future of our seminary and nurturing the next generation of parish priests. Your support directly impacts the training and formation of our seminarians, empowering them to carry forth the light of faith and service. Enjoy an evening filled with entertainment by our seminarian musicians, excellent food and an opportunity to join the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic community in supporting our men who are following Christ’s call to the holy priesthood.
View the post event website page for information, photos, and videos from our 31st annual Celebration of Mundelein.
Registration
Register, sponsor or donate
Sponsorship Opportunities
We hope you will be able to join us and invite your parish priest to attend with you as well. It will be a wonderful evening to reflect with gratitude on the history of Mundelein Seminary and to look forward with hope to the continued formation of parish priests who serve as a holy bridge between Christ and His people.
Honorees
As Those Who Serve Award
Fr. Jerry Boland
Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview.
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
Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview.
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
Principal of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
Dr. 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.
Room Block at the Four Seasons Chicago
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
120 East Delaware Place
Chicago, Illinois 60611-1443
There is a room block at the Four Seasons for anyone who would like to spend the night on April 24, 2025.
King Room – $450 + sales tax
Cutoff date to book room is March 25, 2025.
Reservations
Can be made by calling the Four Seasons directly. Call the Reservations Department at 312-280-8400 and reference the USML Celebration of Mundelein Guestroom block.
For more information or to become a sponsor contact Jillian Frick or click HERE to register, sponsor or donate.
Parking Information
- Valet parking is available at 312 South Federal
- 0-3 Hours: $39
- 3-10 Hours: $45
- 10-24 Hours: 59
- Self-park is available at 318 South Federal
- 0-3 Hours: $29
- 3-10 Hours: $34
- 10-24 Hours: $39
- Guests can get their parking ticket validated at the front desk on the first floor