Mundelein pastor remembered as beloved friend and mentor
A funeral Mass will be said Wednesday for a Roman Catholic priest who once led a Mundelein-area parish and helped create the Archdiocese of Chicago's first middle school.
The Rev. Ron Lewinski, 71, died unexpectedly Wednesday in the rectory at St. Theresa Parish in Palatine, where he lived. The cause of his death isn't known, an archdiocese spokeswoman said.
Lewinski was pastor of St. Mary of Annunciation Church from 1996 to 2014. During his tenure, the church grew from 200 to 1,600 members, according to the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein.
He also was at St. Mary during the construction of a new glass-and-steel church building completed in 2002 and significantly larger than its predecessor.
"Our beautiful church bears witness to his vision and to his passion for the sacred liturgy," said the Rev. Jerry Jacob, St. Mary's current pastor, in a statement on the church's website. "I consider Father Ron a beloved friend and mentor and will greatly miss him."
Before leading St. Mary, Lewinski served at parishes in Cicero, Chicago, Schaumburg and Evanston.
Lewinski held other jobs in the archdiocese through the years, too, including director of the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein. He most recently served as co-director of the department of parish vitality and mission for the archdiocese.
Lewinski will lie in repose on Tuesday from 2 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary of the Annunciation, 22333 W. Erhart Road.
Visitation is scheduled for 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, at the church, and the funeral Mass will follow there at 11 a.m. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich will lead the Mass.
Interment will take place at St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish Cemetery.
Born in Indiana, Lewinski was ordained in 1972.
In 2011, he was honored as a Distinguished Pastor of the Year by the National Catholic Educational Association for leading three neighboring parishes to create Frassati Catholic Academy in Wauconda. The school opened in 2010.
This past spring, Lewinski received an As Those Who Serve Award from the University of St. Mary of the Lake.
The Rev. John Kartje, rector and president of the university, called Lewinski "An exemplary model of a parish priest."
"Father Ron never shirked tackling new projects and improving life for others," Kartje said in a statement on the university's website. "I will always be grateful for the quiet mentoring and spiritual direction he provided to countless men in their vocational discernment."
Lewinski is survived by a sister.