Clergy

Fr. Peter Wojcik Pastor

Fr. Peter Wojcik Pastor
Fr. Peter Wojcik was born in Lublin, Poland. He arrived in Chicago in 2003 to undertake graduate studies in theology at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. As a seminarian, he undertook pastoral assignments in his home parish of Saint John Brebeuf in Niles and Our Lady of the Wayside in Arlington Heights.
Fr. Peter was ordained a deacon by Cardinal Francis George in 2007 and then a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2008. His first assignment as a priest was at Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Wilmette, where he served for four years. During that time, Fr. Peter studied bioethics at Georgetown University and participated in a year-long residency as a hospital chaplain at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.
In 2012, Fr. Peter enrolled at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern and moved to Saint Clement as a resident priest. For the six years that Fr. Peter lived at Saint Clement, he enjoyed being a part of the community by celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, participating in God Squad and Theology on Tap, and most importantly, by getting to know parishioners. In addition to his studies at Kellogg, Fr. Peter served as a chaplain at Children’s Memorial Hospital (now Lurie Children’s) and engaged in healthcare consulting. After graduating from Kellogg, Fr. Peter was asked by Cardinal George to serve as regional associate superintendent for Catholics Schools where he supported 93 parish schools.
In 2015, Cardinal Blase Cupich appointed Fr. Peter Archdiocesan Director of Catechesis and Youth Ministry and a year later entrusted to him the responsibility of restructuring and then overseeing, with Fr. Ron Lewinski, the Department of Parish Vitality and Mission. This involved supporting 16 different offices of the Archdiocese including: Kolbe House Jail Ministry, Campus Ministry, Liturgical Trainings Publications, and all pastoral agencies of the Archdiocese. He also served as the Cardinal’s Liaison to Ethnic Ministries, Archdiocesan Pastoral Council and Archdiocesan Women’s Committee.
In 2016, Fr. Peter joined the Renew My Church team and took responsibility for overseeing the final stage of parish renewal called Building the New Reality. In 2020, as part of Building the New Reality, Fr. Peter began serving as the pastoral leader of the Faith Hub, a movement of pioneers of pastoral renewal across the Archdiocese.
On July 1, 2020, Fr. Peter was named as the pastor of Saint Clement Parish. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities as the Pastor of Saint Clement, Cardinal Cupich has requested that Fr. Peter continue his role of overseeing the spiritual and pastoral movement of renewal across the Archdiocese of Chicago through Building the New Reality, as well as remain the pastoral leader of the Faith Hub.
Fr. Peter teaches negotiation and change management at Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University and is a member of the Alpha US Board as well as the Vatican’s Centesimus Annus pro Pontifice Foundation.
pwojcik@archchicago.org

Fr. Matthew Litak Associate Pastor & Director of Formation

Fr. Matthew Litak Associate Pastor & Director of Formation
Formation and Community

Rachel Espinoza Director of Family Formation & Evangelization

Rachel Espinoza Director of Family Formation & Evangelization
Rachel Espinoza joined the Saint Clement staff in June 2015. She directs the religious education program for parish children, sacramental preparation, Liturgy of the Word for Children, and family catechesis. She offers training and support for the catechists at Saint Clement and collaborates in providing adult faith formation in the parish. She also guides the Faith Formation Committee called Faith in the Next Generation.
Rachel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Catechetics from Franciscan University and a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Notre Dame. She has worked professionally in parish ministry for five years and is a certified Pastoral Associate of the Archdiocese of Chicago. She is also an author for Liturgy Training Publications and wrote Sunday Prayer for Catholic School Teachers (2015-2016) and Sunday Prayer for Teens (2016-2017).
“The question of how we are educating in faith is not rhetorical, it is essential. The response calls for courage, creativity and the decision to take paths which are at times yet uncharted. The catechesis, as a component of the process of evangelization, needs to go beyond the simple realm of scholastics, in order to educate believers, beginning with children, to encounter Christ, living and working in his Church. It is the encounter with [Christ] that gives rise to the desire to know him better and thus to follow Him to become his disciples.” ~ Pope Francis, May 29, 2015
respinoza@clement.org773 - 281 - 0371 ext. 114

Lisa Friedlander Director of Youth Group

Lisa Friedlander Director of Youth Group
Lisa Friedlander joined the parish staff in April 2013 as our Director of Youth Group. Her primary responsibilities include God Squad (our youth group).
Lisa joined our faith community in 1999, was married here and baptized her two children here. Her son and daughter are current students at our school. Through the years Lisa has been involved in many of our ministries as a volunteer and we are excited to now have her as a member of our staff.
lfriedlander@clement.org773 - 281 - 0371 ext. 147

Barbara Silva Director of Community Outreach

Barbara Silva Director of Community Outreach
Barbara will be responsible for duties such as coordinating service and outreach opportunities for parishioners such as the Friday Sack Lunches and Hospitality program and the Donate-a-Day ministry, assisting a variety of parish ministry groups including the Welcome & Hospitality Committee, and overseeing parish-wide events like Service Day.
773-281-0371 x149

Mary Schwarz Core Leadership Team and Support of Young Adults

Mary Schwarz Core Leadership Team and Support of Young Adults
Mary Schwarz was born and raised in Rhode Island, as the youngest of 4 children in a loving Catholic family. She did her undergraduate studies in English at Grove City College (PA), earned a Masters in Philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and just completed her PhD in philosophy from the University of Dallas, where she wrote her doctoral thesis on the theme of personalism and existential hospitality. Her years of ministry have primarily focused on spiritual direction and formation for college and young adults. She has a passion for prayer, evangelizing, coffee, biking, and spending quality time with new and old friends.
mschwarz@archchicago.orgLiturgy and Music

Jessina Branyan-Samuel Coordinator of Liturgy

Jessina Branyan-Samuel Coordinator of Liturgy

Gabriel Mayhugh Director of Liturgy

Gabriel Mayhugh Director of Liturgy
Gabe serves on the Saint Clement staff as Director of Liturgy, where he works with the pastor in overseeing liturgy and music as well as the liturgy staff. He also serves as one of the parish organists and works with the Jubilate children’s choir. He studied sacred music and organ performance at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and graduated with a B.M. in organ performance and sacred music. Following undergraduate work at Duquesne, Gabe studied liturgy at the University of Notre Dame, and graduated with a M.A. in theology, concentrating in liturgical studies.
Gabe grew up in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, a small town located on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. He had a fascination with organ at church and had a great love of the liturgy. Gabe began playing organ for Stations of the Cross and Masses in eighth grade and has since dedicated his life to liturgy and music in the church. In 2002, Gabe began work on the Saint Clement staff as Director of Liturgy. He departed Saint Clement in 2006 to work at Loyola University Chicago. Gabe spent three years working at Loyola University Chicago before returning to Saint Clement in 2009 to serve in this current position. Gabe lives in on the Northside with his wife and their two Wire Fox Terriers, Buster and Stewie.
gmayhugh@clement.org773 - 281 - 0371 ext. 142

Paul Nicholson Director of Music

Paul Nicholson Director of Music
Named Director of Music at Saint Clement in 2010, Paul is a distinguished Chicago accompanist, vocal coach, composer, conductor and singer. He has served both faculty and staff at Roosevelt University, Lake Forest College, Concordia University, Columbia College, and the School of Music at DePaul University.
He has sung with the Chicago Symphony and Grant Park Music Festival choruses. His vocal and instrumental compositions have been recorded on the Cedille, Imaginary Road and Polygram labels, and he has appeared both at the keyboard and as a singer on Live from Studio One on WFMT. Currently he serves as accompanist to the Grant Park Music Festival chorus. Paul serves Saint Clement as principal organist and director of three choral ensembles: Schola Clementis, Seraphim, and Cantate Choir. In addition, he auditions and trains all cantors and instrumentalists.
pnicholson@clement.org773 - 281 - 0371 ext. 133

Patrick Sinozich Assistant Director of Music

Patrick Sinozich Assistant Director of Music
Patrick joined the staff of Saint Clement in October of 2010. He holds degrees in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and from Northwestern University. Patrick directs the Chapel Choir and assists Music Director Paul Nicholson with a myriad of tasks, including music library work and additional keyboard support in the church. In addition to his work at Saint Clement, he is deeply involved in the musical life of Chicago, directing several musical organizations and accompanying others. In 2014 the City Council of Chicago declared December 5, 2014 to be Patrick Sinozich Day, in honor of his outstanding artistic contributions to the city of Chicago.
psinozich@clement.org773 - 281 - 0371 ext. 150
Administration

Mary Ellen Blanchard Database Mgr & Financial Stewardship Assistant

Mary Ellen Blanchard Database Mgr & Financial Stewardship Assistant
Mary Ellen joined Saint Clement Parish staff in August 2008 as Database Manager and Financial Stewardship assistant. As Database Manager she is responsible for keeping parishioner information up to date. This includes adding new parishioner information and changes in parishioner status. In addition, she enters all contributions, prepares various mailing lists and reports. She also provides computer support to the staff.
She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Communications and a master’s degree from National Lewis University as a Reading Specialist. Before joining Saint Clement, Mary Ellen was a Real Estate Broker and owner/broker of a residential mortgage company. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, she is proud mother of two children and Grandmother of a delightful granddaughter.
mblanchard@clement.org773 - 281 - 0371 ext. 116

Gael Day Receptionist & Wedding Coordinator

Gael Day Receptionist & Wedding Coordinator
Gael joined Saint Clement in February 2007 as our Parish Receptionist and Wedding Coordinator. In her role as Parish Receptionist, she provides both welcome and hospitality to all who come to the Parish Office. In addition, Gael is the person on staff who assists with facility scheduling and coordination, keeps all the sacramental records, and supports the parish ministry to our homeless guests.
As Wedding Coordinator, Gael works with couples wishing to be married here, beginning with scheduling the wedding and Marriage Information Night through record keeping and recording. Before joining Saint Clement, Gael worked as an executive assistant to key executives for such companies as Pan American World Airways, Washington National Insurance Company, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. She was born and raised in New York City, is the proud grandmother of two grandchildren, and loves to spend time with them.
gday@clement.org773 - 281 - 0371

Joanna Krynski Communications Manager

Joanna Krynski Communications Manager
Joanna joined the Saint Clement Parish staff in April 2005, hired for the communications position. In 2014, after having her first child, she switched to the part-time Outreach and Adult Formation Assistant position. In October 2019, Joanna moved back to the communications role, becoming the Communications Manager. Her general duties include managing the parish's bulletin, website, e-newsletters, annual mailings, and social media.
Joanna graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/Creative Writing and Women Studies, earning the John Gerrietts Award for Excellence in Creative Writing—awarded to one graduating senior each year. During college, she held internships at the Field Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art (in their marketing and media relations departments, respectively). In June 2013, Joanna graduated (with distinction) from DePaul University, earning a Master of Arts degree in Writing and Publishing.
jkrynski@clement.org773 - 281 - 0371 ext. 144

Geraldine White Director of Operations

Geraldine White Director of Operations
Geraldine (“Dine”) joined the Saint Clement staff as Director of Operations in 2018. As Director of Operations Dine is our professional administrator and parish leader, reporting to the pastor, being accountable to him for parish finance, administration, plant management and stewardship. In addition, Dine managers our pastoral and administrative staff compliance with all personnel policies of the Archdiocese and is the staff liaison to the Financial Council and the Building & Grounds Committee. She also oversees and supervises our Director of Plant Management, the Data Base Manager, Receptionist, and Communications Specialist.
Dine comes to us from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and the National Shrine of St. Jude on Chicago’s far south side where she was Business Manager. In that capacity, Geraldine oversaw all operations at the parish, the school and a religious goods store affiliated with the Shrine. As that parish’s Business Manager, Dine navigated a series of complicated transitional issues, including the sale of obsolete equipment, installation of more up-to-date accounting practices and point-of-sale software and the replacement of a school principal.
Prior to joining the Archdiocese at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Geraldine worked as a pharmacologic research analyst for the London and Philadelphia offices of The Research Partnership. She is an alumna of Knox College and of the University of Chicago’s Booth Graduate School of Business and a licensed CPA. Before devoting full time to raising six children with her attorney husband, Geraldine worked as a small business consultant with Deloitte, Touche (now Deloitte) doing client reviews, and also was involved with bond offerings and with mid-size company mergers. All six of her children are graduates of private colleges and universities, five of them Catholic and the sixth a part of the so-called “new” Ivy League.
Passionate about college access for high schoolers, Dine is also the founder and principal of CollegeNow Advising, which provides high-level admissions and financial aid counselling to college bound high schoolers.
773 - 281 - 0371 ext. 122

Katherine White Catechesis Administrative Assistant

Katherine White Catechesis Administrative Assistant
Katherine White began working at Saint Clement in 2010 as a Babysitter and R.E. Receptionist. Now she is currently full-time as both night-time receptionist and administrative assistant. She works under the Director of Operations and Director of Children and Family Catechesis assisting with Religious Education, sacramental preparation, and other miscellaneous work throughout the Parish. Katherine White has been a part of the Saint Clement community since 1997 as a kindergartener at Saint Clement School. She works Friday and Sunday Mornings and Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday Evenings.
Katherine received her degree in Applied Mathematics from Northeastern University in May 2016 and received both Association of Women in Mathematics and Peer-Leading awards two years in a row. She has also completed an internship at the Joffrey Ballet.
kwhite@clement.org773 - 281 - 0371 ext. 112
Maintenance

David Erwin Maintenance

David Erwin Maintenance
Dave joined Saint Clement Maintenance staff in July 2005. He is responsible for the cleanliness and orderliness of the church, chapel, and parish grounds. In addition, Dave works with staff and parishioners to ensure that the various meetings and activities have the proper set-up. Strong and kind, you will often find Dave helping parishioners and staff by carrying a “heavy load” for our outreach programs. Dave was born in Oak Park and has lived in the Chicago area his entire life. He enjoys music, movies and bike riding.

Jim Kelley Director of Plant Management

Jim Kelley Director of Plant Management
Jim joined Saint Clement in January 2000 as head of Maintenance. He is responsible for the overall cleanliness and safety of the parish which includes both the church and school buildings and grounds. Jim coordinates the daily activities of the parish maintenance staff and works with outside vendors as needed to keep the mechanical systems in good repair and working order. Jim has been married for 24 years and has two children.
jkelley@stclementschool.org7732810371