Upon his arrival at St. Dennis Father James ("Jim") Curtin announced his vision: It was time to change, it was time to grow, it was time to meet the challenge of our faith. As he introduced himself to the parish he intimated his strong belief in the healing power of prayer. It is this healing power that Father Jim Curtin has held out to the faithful. He impressed upon all that with the Holy Spirit and the communion of saints at our side there is nothing stopping us from meeting the challenge of our faith. A man of enthusism and passion, Father Jim set out immediately to realize that vision - to build a loving and a spiritual community at St. Dennis. Since his installation as pastor the church has been filled to capacity. His message in style and in word deeply touches the hearts of the everyday people who comprise the St. Dennis faith community.

Jim Curtin was just like any other kid at St. Barnabas parish in Chicago's southside Beverly neighborhood. He loved to come home after school to the beautiful English tudor home that his grandfather had built for the family near Longwood Drive. He loved sports and athletic activities that he took part in with his brothers George and Howard. But something happened that changed him. According to Father Jim nothing special happened. He just came home one day from sixth grade classes and declared to his mother that he would like to be a priest. Something had happened.

Proud parents Lilian and Howard and his two older brothers welcomed baby Jim into the world on October 7, 1943. The family would later expand to five with the arrival of Mary Pat and Mary Joan. This strong sense of family would sustain him through the challenges that awaited him.

Father Jim's minor seminary experience started with a concentration in philosophy at St. Meinrad Seminary in southern Indiana. The last two years of major theological seminary work were concluded at St. Procopius Seminary (now Benedictine University). During the time he was in the seminary the system was transformed into the present 'high school, college, and theology' system. Jim continued his education with graduate work at St. Meinrad School of Theology, the University of Detroit and in Washington, D.C.

The ordination of Father James Curtin commenced in 1969 at St Joseph Church in Aurora, Illinois. Both of Jim's brothers had studied to become Benedictine brothers but with Jim's ordination they left the order. Two years after the ordination Father Jim became aware of a secret his mother had been keeping for some time. Years earlier on a trip to Mexico City, Lilian Curtin made a pilgramage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In a prayer she offered, with the Lord's blessing, one of her sons as a priest. Once again the manifest power of prayer was to reveal itself.

As a Benedictine monk Father Jim became a teacher at Marmion Military Academy. His duties would transform him into a recruiter for the school. At this early point in Father Jim's journey he became involved in two concerns that he holds dear to this day - the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement and the Marriage Encounter Movement.

A cousin's family introduced Father Jim to the charismatic movement in the late Sixties - early Seventies. Through this introduction Father Jim has witnessed healing in himself and in others, spiritually and physically. He has derived new meaning in life ever since.

For fourteen years Father Jim acted as director and inspiration for the Joliet Diocese Marriage Encounter Movement. Putting the power of prayer to work Father Jim guided couples towards enrichment in love and in life. Through the movement he has delivered his message locally and nationally.

In 1977 Father Jim removed himself from the monastic life to minister to people in a parish setting. His numerous assignments in the Diocese of Joliet included Immaculate Conception in Morris, as an associate at St. Joseph parish in Downers Grove, and as founding pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Naperville. At St. Thomas Father Jim took a community of 300 families and increased the flock to 3,000 families. Father Jim was at Assumption parish in Coal City and St. Ann Church in St. Ann, Illinois, before stopping at St. Joseph in Lockport. With the departure of Father Robert Maternoski, Father Jim was appointed as the new pastor of St. Dennis. He was installed in June of 1997.

Father Jim did not hesitate to immediately press people into action. He called on parishioners to partake in a spirit of commitment and volunteerism. This appeal initially brought people out to remodel the rectory, to rebeautify the church, and to reinvigorate the music ministry. From this point a parish town hall meeting was called for September of 1997. A program was adopted that will change the face of St. Dennis far into the next century.

(TO BE CONTINUED)