The Rev. Dennis Ziomek is retiring as pastor of the church June 30 after 11 years there. A celebration of his ministry took place June 1.
The new priest, the Rev. Matt Litak, will start July 1. During his 46 years of ministry, Ziomek has served five parishes and spent 23 years teaching at Quigley Seminary South and at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary.
He served the Presbyteral Council, the Association of Chicago Priests, was administrator of St. Christina and continues as dean for the nine parishes of Deanery D Vicariate V. “I’m retiring from the administrative responsibilities of a pastor but not retiring from priesthood,” he said.
He’s proud of his teaching because several young men were ordained priests, including the Most Rev. Kevin Birmingham, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago before his death in 2023. During Ziomek’s tenure at St.
Catherine of Alexandria, Friday Masses began at the school, which serves about 500 students in preschool through eighth grade. “I have enjoyed working with our schoolchildren for sacramental preparation and various celebrations,” he said. “With Jesus as the vine, we have worked together in the vineyard of the Lord as His missionary disciples, bearing much fruit.
” Ziomek, whose nickname is Zi, said the church “is much more than the buildings. It’s the people. I will miss the many people I have worked with and come to love.
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I will miss seeing school children running up to me and saying ‘Hi, Father.
