Pastor with deep suburban roots celebrates 25 years
The Rev. Jerome Jacob's deep local roots extend from childhood through 25 years supporting suburban families as a parish priest.
Last month, Jacob was one of eight priests within the Chicago Archdiocese to serve a quarter century in the priesthood. He celebrated his jubilee Mass on May 21 at St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish in Mundelein, where he is pastor.
"Just as in life, priesthood is a journey," Jacob said. "I want to keep growing and be the best priest I can be. I know I'm not the same priest as I was when I started."
The Northbrook native attended Glenbrook North High School before studying at Loyola University and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.
He began his ministry as an associate pastor at St. Hubert's in Hoffman Estates, where he served from 1992 to 1996, and at St. Raymond de Penafort in Mount Prospect, from 1996 to 2001.
In 2002, he was named pastor of St. Edna Catholic Church in Arlington Heights and led the parish until 2014, when he was assigned to lead St. Mary of the Annunciation in Mundelein.
At each parish, Jacob said, he gained a greater understanding of the lives of his parishioners and of ways to respond to their needs.
"To serve as a parish priest is about spending your life being devoted to the families of that community," Jacob said.
He notes the countless number of baptisms, first communion ceremonies, confirmations, anointings of the sick, and funerals he has presided over, that have taught him about love and compassion, and of growing in his vocation.
"How can I describe all the privileged moments that I have shared with thousands of people each week?" Jacob asked. "For me, it has simply been amazing, and I thank God for calling me to this way of life."
Jacob points to a love of music, and of his early years singing in the church choir and as a vocalist at weddings and funerals, with instilling in him a love of liturgy and the priesthood.
"While there is a profound mystery surrounding the call to priesthood, I know that God used the gift of music to speak to my heart," he said.
He still sings at Mass. Parishioners at all of the churches he has served knew to expect Jacob to preside over the liturgy and also sing parts of it.
Jacob points to some fellow priests who were mentors during the last 25 years, including the Rev. Bernie Pietrzak, his former pastor at St. Raymond's and current pastor of St. Anne Catholic Community in Barrington.
Jacob said Pietrzak taught him the value of having a good leadership balance with lay members of the parish.
"If the pastoral council and finance committees in your parish are thriving," Jacob said, "they provide good energy and collaborative decision making, where people are engaged and the parish is moving forward."