Be at Peace

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Our parish patron saint, St Francis de Sales, spiritually composed this prayer. Fr Ryan reflects upon these spiritual and strengthening words often - and offers this prayer for your consideration and contemplation. Jesus is with us and count your blessings.

A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER BY ST FRANCIS DE SALES

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life; rather look to them with full hope as they arise. God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them. He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in His arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day. he will either shield you from suffering, or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

Father Ryan Reinstated as Pastor Effective Immediately!

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Hallelujah!!! It is with GREAT pleasure that we share the attached letter from Cardinal Cupich with you. This letter was made public today at 1:00pm.

Fr Ryan is planning to return to our parish on Monday, September 13, celebrating  the 8:30am Mass- and will be with us going forward!

God bless Fr Ryan and our parish community!!!

September 9, 2021

Dear Parishioners of St. Francis de Sales Parish,

Last November, I informed you of an accusation against your pastor, Father David F. Ryan, and that, in keeping with our procedures, he was asked to step aside from his pastoral duties until a thorough investigation and process could be completed. He has fully cooperated with civil authorities and the Archdiocese of Chicago during these months.

Following the determination by state officials, who are charged with the protection of minors, that the allegation of child abuse was unfounded, the Independent Review Board of the Archdiocese of Chicago investigated the allegations in accordance with our usual procedures.

At their meeting on Saturday, August 21, 2021, they found there was insufficient reason to suspect Father Ryan had committed sexual abuse of a minor. Therefore, I am pleased to inform you that I am reinstating Father Ryan as your pastor effective immediately.

These have been difficult days and months for you as a parish. You have shown great patience as each jurisdiction completed its process. I thank you for doing so. Father Ryan has also suffered, as you well know, but he has offered that suffering freely, convinced of the need for us as a Church to keep our word that the protection and safety of our children remains the priority.

After the Independent Review Board meeting, I immediately contacted Father Ryan and shared the recommendations of the Review Board. He took the occasion to reaffirm his longstanding conviction that the Church must remain vigilant in protecting our children, and that we should spare no effort to bring healing to victim survivors who have been harmed. In keeping with the spirit he has demonstrated during these difficult months, he let me know that he fully embraces our longstanding policies and practices regarding the conduct of all church personnel, and asked that I take the occasion of this letter to remind our parishioners and the public that: 1) since 1992, we have enforced safe environment protocols and a code of conduct for all who work with minors and we have reached out to victims with pastoral and personal attention; 2) since 2002 we have reported all allegations to the civil authorities and in that year we reported all historical allegations to these authorities; 3) beginning in 2006, we have publicly listed the names of priests who have substantiated allegations of abuse of minors against them and in 2014 we published more than 20,000 pages of information on these cases; 4) in accord with our zero tolerance policy, no priest with even one substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor remains in ministry.

At the same time, I reminded Father Ryan that our policies also call us to do everything possible to restore the good name of priests when the process has determined the allegations to be unfounded. This, too, is a matter of justice. Therefore, both out of regard for Father Ryan and all our priests, I am resolved to see that Father Ryan's good name is restored. As a result, I will share this letter with all the parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago, asking them to provide it to their parishioners. This letter will also be sent to the media and posted on our archdiocesan website.

Healing now must be the pathway forward for all of us. Father Ryan shares this very same sentiment and you can honor him by doing everything to make sure that a spirit of reconciliation and unity prevails as you move ahead with the efforts of Renew My Church to make your parish vibrant, vital and sustainable. In this way, the mission of Jesus can flourish.

That is my prayer for you.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

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A Letter from Fr Jerry to our Parish

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Dear Saint Francis de Sales Family,

I am aware that many of you were contacted recently by a group soliciting your participation in sending letters of support for Fr. David Ryan to Cardinal Cupich and Bishop Grob. While I understand the sentiment expressed in that communication, I did not authorize, nor was the pastoral staff consulted with, or communicated to, about this letter.  

As the letter from Cardinal Cupich stated, the Archdiocese is following procedures used when an allegation is made against a member of the clergy, or a lay employee or volunteer. These include asking the accused to step aside while investigations are conducted. As the Cardinal’s letter also stated, this action is not meant to imply guilt or innocence. These procedures are aligned with national norms for handling allegations of sexual abuse of a minor as expressed in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

We encourage anyone who believes they have been abused by Archdiocese employees to come forward and receive the help they deserve. Only by treating those bringing allegations and the accused in the same respectful Christian manner can we hope to restore trust and achieve healing.

Father Ryan understands the value of this policy and is complying fully with the process. Please join your prayers to his and ours that everyone affected by the crime and sin of abuse finds healing. We will keep you informed as new information becomes available.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Jerome J. Jacob                                                                                                                                            Temporary Administrator of St Francis de Sales

Dear St Francis de Sales Family,

I wanted to remind you that letters of support to Fr. Ryan have always been, and continue to be, encouraged and can be sent to the Ministry Center or dropped at the church during Mass times (including the parking lot Mass). These are given directly to Fr Ryan.  

Address for the Ministry Center:

St Francis de Sales
135 S Buesching Rd
Lake Zurich, Illinois 60047

Also, you are, and have always been, welcome to write letters regarding Fr. Ryan to Cardinal Cupich, Bishop Grob, or the Archdiocese of Chicago.  These communications can be sent directly to:

Cardinal Blase J Cupich
Archdiocese of Chicago
835 N Rush Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611

archbishop@archchicago.org

Bishop Jeffrey S Grob
Auxiliary Bishop
200 N. Milwaukee Ave #200
Libertyville, Illinois 60048-2250

jgrob@archchicago.org

Please pray for Fr. Ryan, his accusers, and all of us as we try to do our best to navigate through this difficult time. 

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Jerome J. Jacob
Temporary Administrator of St Francis de Sales