Greetings, peace and blessings of health to you, the good people of Holy Family Parish.
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. My name is Kurt D. Boras. I was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1986 by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin. Fr. Terry, your pastor, and I are classmates (but please don’t hold that against me…only kidding, Terry)! Actually, I respect Fr. Terry, his pastoral style, his leadership, and his spirit of hospitality very much. That is why I called up my classmate and asked if I could come pray, live and serve with him and your very gifted pastoral staff at Holy Family while serving as one of the Vicars for Priests for the Archdiocese full time. To serve in being the “Pastor to the Pastors” as Cardinal Cupich said in his appointment letter to me, I still wanted to be around REAL PEOPLE, dedicated to their faith and committed to walking with the Lord. I know this reality will keep me healthy and grounded as I face the challenges of my new ministry. As I visited with your talented, committed and passionate staff via ZOOM a few weeks back, and came to pray with you a couple of Sundays ago, I am looking forward to meeting you and serving you as a resident priest. I am grateful for Fr. Terry’s gracious invite as well as your staff’s enthusiastic invitation to COME ABOARD. I hope to be around the campus on weekends and some weekdays, my schedule permitting, beginning after Labor Day.
In my more than 34 years of priestly ministry, I have served in many different capacities which include teaching, counseling, spiritual direction, giving retreats and missions and serving on the Faculty of Mundelein Seminary as the Director of Psychological Services. But in my “heart of hearts” I have always considered myself first and foremost, a PARISH PRIEST. Before receiving my new assignment as Vicar I served 10 years as the pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Lemont, a far southwestern suburb, amongst the awesome people of faith there. I miss them a lot already, but I do know, and the good people of St. Patrick confirmed it in so many loving ways, that the Lord was calling me to serve in this new capacity for the Archdiocese.
I come among you as a Southsider, born and raised in the Midway Airport area. However, I am a very passionate Chicago Cubs fan. You might see this “blurt out of me” from time to time. I see my journey here on earth as a “lifelong learner.” I am curious about many areas of study. I hold graduate degrees in theology, clinical counseling, and spiritual direction. I am finishing my Doctorate in Psychology (Psy.D.) by looking at the works of Viktor Frankl and how they relate to the spiritual journey. I hold certificates in addiction and grief counseling. In my free time, I like to be with family and good friends. I love all sports, but am partial to baseball since I was able to play it on the semi-professional level into my mid-twenties.
I am humbled to be the first cousin of Gary Fencik, the captain and hard hitting safety of the Super Bowl winning 1985 Chicago Bears. (I know you will immediately make the connection once you meet me because the resemblance is so uncanny.) We grew up together and I am simply delighted in all of the accomplishments that he has achieved. Besides the Super Bowl win, Gary graduated from Yale University, received his MBA from Northwestern Kellogg School of Business, and is a highly respected and successful businessman for Adams Street Partners. He has always been supportive of me and my vocation and generous with his time when I have asked him for a favor or two in making public appearances. I am trying to let him enjoy his retirement these days, but like a BIG BROTHER I know he is always there for me.
That is a little bit about me and what makes me “tick!” I so look forward to “meeting you” in whatever way that is possible in these days of pandemic and “hearing your stories.” Until then, please be assured of my prayers for you and your loved ones. I ask you to please keep me in yours as well. Peace and all good things.
Fr. Kurt