Bishop McNamara Catholic School Celebrates 100 Years

Viatorians and diocesan priests concelebrated the anniversary Mass with Bishop Ronald Hicks.

During Homecoming Week, students completed service at Maternity BVM Parish.

Under Michelle Barrie’s leadership, every high school student participated in some type of service in the community, making service a priority among all of the festive homecoming activities. Over the course of three afternoons, students worked in teams to help out at nearly 20 different organizations, churches and agencies.

“Homecoming is a big community event,” Michelle says, “and this was an extension of that community feeling, only we concentrated on helping others.”

One local example was theteam of girls who reported to Maternity BVM Parish as their

The Bishop McNamara Catholic School community gathered in August at the site where it all started: St. Patrick Church in Kankakee.

In a Mass celebrated by Bishop Ronald Hicks and concelebrated by nearly one dozen priests — including Viatorians — the liturgy heralded the school for its commitment to having faithfully educated young people for 100 years in the Bradley/Bourbonnais/Kankakee region, and its excitement for the years ahead. “What a joy and honor it has been to celebrate these 100 years through this Eucharist,” Bishop Hicks said. “As we remember the past, we celebrate the present and look forward to the future.” The school’s roots date back to 1922, when the high school opened in the former St. Patrick’s School. Run by the Sisters of Loretto originally, the Viatorians became involved in 1931 when they accepted an assignment to serve at St. Patrick Parish. Viatorians would serve as teachers, coaches and administrators for more than 50 years, with Fr. Erwin Savela, CSV, serving as principal until 1988. Fr. John Peeters, CSV, continues to serve as executive pastor on its board of governors, while Associates Ken and Michelle Barrie coordinate the Office of Catholic Ministry within the school.

That Viatorian involvement continues to make a difference within the school, as evidenced during homecoming week: work site. They dusted tables, pews, statue bases, windowsills, and side altars as well as baseboards in the office area. Parish officials were thrilled with their enthusiasm and elbow grease: “In 45 minutes an untold amount of dust was taken up!”

Over their many decades of involvement with the school, Viatorians have touched the lives of countless students and their families, and that was evident at its opening Mass. The packed church signaled the beginning of a yearlong celebration of Bishop McNamara’s 100 years of Irish tradition, built on a strong foundation and looking forward to a bright future.

Fr. John Eck, CSV

(1936 – 2022) A longtime Viatorian, who had a heart for people on the margins, especially students who needed an alternative education and those struggling with substance abuse, has passed away. Fr. John Eck, CSV, died Oct. 4 after a long illness. He was 85.

Fr. Eck was a native of Springfield, IL and he first met the Viatorians while studying at Cathedral Boys High School. Within a year of graduating, he joined the Viatorian Community and professed his first vows in 1955. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1963.

During his early years of ministry, Fr. Eck taught for three years at Saint Viator High School before moving to teach at Alleman Catholic High School in Rock Island, IL, from 1963 to 1978. It was there that he inspired one young student to become a Viatorian, Bishop Christopher Glancy, CSV, who shared their relationship in his homily at Fr. Eck’s funeral.

“I first knew John as a counselor and priest at Alleman High School,” Bishop Glancy said. “He brought the Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) retreat to the Rock Island area. By going to these TEC retreats I came to know him when I was in high school.

“He was insightful, inspiring and well-grounded in the Catholic tradition,” he said. “He was one who inspired me to become a Viatorian.”

Bishop Glancy explained that what Fr. Eck liked about the TEC retreats was that they were built on the Paschal Mystery, the death and resurrection of Christ.

“An essential part of TEC is the celebration of Eucharist,” he said, “and John loved presiding at Mass with young people, helping them to come to know Christ in the breaking of the bread.”

In the late 1970s through the mid-1980s Fr. Eck served the Viatorian Community as formation director and as a member of the Provincial Council.

“At Alleman he worked with young people lost in addiction,” Bishop Glancy said. “In Chicago, even as he did formation work, he began to work with youth who were in gangs and trying to get an education at Prologue Alternative High School.”

From there, Fr. Eck went into pastoral ministry, including serving as associate pastor at St Joseph Church, in Springfield and at St. Viator Parish in Chicago before being named pastor at St. Patrick’s in Springfield and later at St. Viator Parish from 2005-2009.

He retired from active ministry in 2009 and moved to St. Patrick Parish in Kankakee, where he lived with a few of his Viatorian brothers. There he continued to say Mass at St. Patrick and in surrounding Kankakee County communities.

“His homilies often left us feeling a bit uncomfortable,” Bishop Glancy said. “But by breaking open the word and looking at the reality of our times, he challenged us to let the grace of Christ transform our lives, our society and our world.”

Fr. John Eck, CSV

Fr. John Eck, second from left, at his 50th jubilee Mass. He will be missed.