Vicariate I

Father Michael McGovern, pastor of St. Raphael the Archangel Parish in Old Mill Creek and Dean of Deanery 1-A, has been named interim Episcopal Vicar of Vicariate I effective Feb. 10, 2020. Fr. Mike's term of service in this role will continue until the appointment of a successor.
A native of Chicago's Beverly neighborhood, Fr. Mike is from a large Catholic family in which Catholic education was emphasized. A graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep and Loyola University, Fr. Mike entered Mundelein Seminary in 1990. Cardinal Joseph Bernardin ordained him to the priesthood on May 21, 1994. 

Fr. Mike has served as an Associate Pastor at Queen of the Universe, St Mary in Lake Forest and St. Juliana. He served for several years in the Office of the Chancellor, working with international priests who were studying or working in Chicago parishes. 

From 2004-2016, Fr. Mike was the Pastor of St. Mary in Lake Forest. He became the Pastor of St. Raphael the Archangel on July 1, 2016.
Father Mike has been a Member of the Board of Trustees of St. Ignatius College Prep. He has also served as a member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors in the Archdiocese of Chicago.  

The region of Vicariate I includes 51 parishes, one chaplaincy, two shrines, and two ethnic missions in northwest suburban Cook County and Lake County.  

Vicariate I Office
200 N. Milwaukee Ave., Ste. 200
Libertyville, IL 60048
847.549.0160
Rev. Michael G. McGovern, Episcopal Vicar
mmcgovern@archchicago.org 
Karen Gorajski, Administrative Assistant
kgorajski@archchicago.org 
 

Pope Francis has named Bishop Alberto Rojas, as the Coadjutor Bishop of San Bernardino, California, 
"We congratulate Bishop Alberto Rojas on his appointment to San Bernardino with hearts full of gratitude for all he has done for the Archdiocese of Chicago,” said Cardinal Cupich. “We will miss this beloved shepherd and know the people of San Bernardino will soon come to appreciate the blessing his appointment will be for their diocese. I am particularly pleased that he will serve with and learn from Bishop Barnes, an outstanding pastor and one of our nation’s most respected bishops."

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Holy Days of Obligation in the Catholic Church

• January 1: The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

• Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter: The Solemnity of the Ascension

• August 15: The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• November 1: The Solemnity of All Saints

• December 8: The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

• December 25: The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

General Mission Goals of the USCCB

The Gospel of Christ and the teachings of his Church guide the work of the USCCB. The work of the Conference is rooted in three general mission goals and organized into three key areas of responsibility.

• To act collaboratively and consistently on vital issues confronting the Church and society
• To foster communion with the Church in other nations, within the Church universal, under the leadership of its supreme pastor, the Roman Pontiff
• To offer appropriate assistance to each bishop in fulfilling his particular ministry in the local Church.

http://www.usccb.org

(click graphic for PDF of map, as of 12/18/2018)

Most parishioners likely have never heard of the Vicariate I Ministry Commission, nor how it benefits their parish. Simply put, the Ministry Commission is a group of mostly volunteers from different parishes across the NW suburbs. Commissioners arrange for basic training, formation and other programs for ministries in our parish, sometimes in both English and Spanish. For example, the Eucharistic Ministers who serve at parish Masses received training provided by the Vicariate I Ministry Commission. At this training, they learned about the theology of the ministry, explored their calling to the ministry, and more about the ministry’s history.
Ministry Commission programs are offered at no or low cost. Where do the Commission’s funds come from? Each parish in the Vicariate pays a stipend to the Commission and those monies are used for speakers and trainers for the various programs. This takes the burden off individual parishes and provides more formation opportunities for their parishioners.

The Archdiocese of Chicago is divided into six vicariates. (Your parish name) is located in Vicariate I, the largest vicariate in the archdiocese by area, roughly spanning from Antioch in the north, to Bartlett and Elk Grove Village to the south and from Barrington in the west to Lake Forest to the east. Vicariate I is further divided into six deaneries. Deaneries I-ABC encompass the northern parishes (mostly Lake County) and Deaneries I-DEF takes in the southern parishes (mostly NW Suburbs.) The two Commissions, ABC & DEF, have existed for over 20 years and collaborate effectively. No matter in which deanery your parish is located, all parishes are welcome to take part in the Commission programs.
Examples of Ministry Commission-sponsored programs include, but are not limited to,

Ministry of Care training in English and Spanish, Lector and Eucharistic Minister training in English and Spanish, Bereavement Ministry, Adult Confirmation, Young Adult Ministry activities (i.e., Theology on Tap or Winter Wine series), and Peace and Justice programs.

Vicariate I Ministry Commissions began initially as one Commission serving the entire Vicariate, which is more than 50 parishes. Later, due to the large number of parishes and also the expansive geographic area, the Commission divided into two, one serving Deaneries ABC, and the other serving Deaneries DEF.