See photos from last year’s Celebration
2023 Celebration of Mundelein
Join us for our 30th Annual Celebration of Mundelein at our annual evening of tribute on Thursday, April 20, as we are once again able to gather in person at the Sheraton Grand Chicago.
This year’s Those Who Served honoree is the Very Reverend Esequiel Sanchez, Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, IL since 2016.
This year’s Christo Gloria honoree is Jennifer Corliss Reid, the Pastoral Associate at St. Moses the Black Parish.
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.
About Fr. Sanchez
The Very Rev. Esequiel Sanchez was born in Chicago of Mexican Immigrant parents from Durango, Mexico. He is 4 of 7 kids in his family. He attended Chicago public schools and graduated from Curie High School. As he was working on completing his bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering from DeVry Institute of Technology when he found his real calling and entered the Catholic Seminary of the Archdiocese of Chicago where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology. He then moved on to complete his graduate degree at the University of St. Mary of the Lake where he earned a Master’s in Divinity and an STB in Systematic Theology. He was ordained a priest in 1995 where he celebrated his first Mass at his home parish- St. Agnes of Bohemia Church.
His first assignment was to be the Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Grace parish from 1995-1998. He then was named Director of the Office for Hispanic Catholics of the Archdiocese of Chicago, where he served with distinction until 2004. He was founder and supporter of various initiatives within the Archdiocese e.g. establishing a sister diocese relationship with the Archdiocese of Mexico City, Organized a Diocesan wide Pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, developed leadership opportunities for Spanish speaking clergy, and organized the first Noche de Gala Hispanic Ministry Awards Banquet, which continues to recognize the great talent in ministry that is fostered in Chicago. During this time, he was also assigned as Administrator of St. Mark Catholic Church and the Pastor for Holy Trinity Croatian Church in Pilsen. At the end of his term, he returned to continue his studies in Systematic Theology in 2004 after, in which he was appointed to be Pastor of Mary Queen of Heaven in Cicero until 2011. Fr. Sanchez took a sabbatical after which he was named Pastor of St. Bede the Venerable Church on Chicago’s south side. There he was dedicated to reviving Catholic Education for the Hispanic community. In March of 2016 Cardinal Blase Cupich named him Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, IL where he currently serves, a ministry that serves over 400 thousand pilgrims for the December 12th Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Fr. Sanchez has served in various other capacities, e.g., the Cardinal’s Administrative Council, the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council. He served as Vice-Chair of the Archdiocesan Priest Placement Board, and the Archdiocesan Priest Sabbatical Board. He is Dean of Deanery F, Vic I that oversees nine parishes in northern Cook County and a member of the Vocations Committee for the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Fr. Sanchez’s efforts outside the Archdiocese has garnered some acclaim, specifically, Vice-President of ANSH (National Association of Latino Priests). He has served as Board member of the Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic and is currently a board member of Ascension Holy Family Hospital, CNLD (Coalición Nacional para-Latinos con Discapacidades) and chair of a developing new organization of “Dando La Mano.” In 2001, he was featured in and awarded the prestigious Crain’s Chicago Business Magazine on its “Top 40 under 40.” Fr. Sanchez is a Fellow of the Leadership Greater Chicago Program and is often cited as an accomplished leader in our community both by religious and civil leaders. He participated in specialized training in Advanced Pastoral Leadership offered by the Kellogg School of Management and the University of St. Mary of the Lake. In 2018 Fr. Sanchez receive the Illinois Secretary of State Humanitarian Award for his service to the community.
About Jennifer Corliss Reid
Jennifer Corliss Reid, the Pastoral Associate at St. Moses the Black Parish, is a native Chicagoan who grew up and currently resides on the South Side of the city. She is also the proud mother to her son Jordan, a photography student at Columbia College Chicago. She received her undergraduate degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and her Master of Arts and Pastoral Studies from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL.
After working in the social service field for more than 20 years, she found her calling to work in ministry by pursuing and accepting a position at the Church where she grew up. Shortly thereafter, she enrolled in graduate school to gain theological knowledge, spiritual practices and learn ministerial skills and pastoral abilities. In addition to her ministry at St. Moses the Black, Jennifer also works part-time as a Theological Reflection Facilitator at the Catholic Theological Union.
Committee Members
For more information or to become a sponsor contact Jillian Mortillaro or click HERE to register, sponsor or donate.