Mundelein priest who helped create school honored

A Mundelein priest who helped create the Archdiocese of Chicago's first middle school has been honored with a national award for his efforts.

The Rev. Ronald Lewinski received one of eight Distinguished Pastor of the Year awards from the National Catholic Educational Association this week at a conference in New Orleans.

Lewinski, pastor of St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Mundelein, led three neighboring parishes to create Frassati Catholic Academy in Wauconda, which opened in August 2010.

St. Mary of the Annunciation, Santa Maria del Popolo Church in Mundelein and Transfiguration Church in Wauconda came together for the effort.

“It's a very humbling experience,” Lewinski said of the award during a telephone interview Thursday morning.

The school, named after an early-20th century Catholic activist, serves 132 sixth- through eighth-graders and offers a concentration in math and science and the creative use of technology.

Lewinski modestly credited the parents, students, the Archdiocese and other people for helping to form the school. The award honors their work, too, he said.

“One doesn't start a school and get it all done by one's self,” Lewinski said.

The national association honors pastors, teachers, principals and parent associations every year for their contributions to Catholic education.

Lewinski wasn't the only representative of the Chicago Archdiocese honored.

A teacher at St. Josephat Catholic School in Chicago got an award, too, as did the St. Benedict Home & School Association, also of Chicago, and the Rev. Mary Paul McCaughey, superintendent of the Catholic schools of the archdiocese.