Presider Biographies
Meet the Priests of Old St. Patrick’s Church
Father Tom Hurley
Fr. Hurley was ordained at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary on May 22, 1993. His first assignment was at Most Holy Redeemer in Evergreen Park. He later served as associate pastor of St. Cajetan until 1997. For over six years, he was the director of vocations and dean of admissions for St. Joseph College Seminary at Loyola University. While working at Loyola, he was a weekend presider at Old St. Patrick’s Church. He became an associate pastor for Old St. Patrick’s Church in May 2003, and he officially became the pastor of Old St. Patrick's Church on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007.
Father Jack Wall
A lifetime Chicagoan, Fr. Wall was ordained at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary on May 2, 1968, after receiving his MA, STL in Theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake. From 1968 to 1972, Fr. Wall was the associate pastor of St. Ita’s Parish in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. He also served on the faculty of Niles College and the Seminary of Loyola University, from 1972 to 1979. In addition, Fr. Wall was the vocation director for the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1979 to 1985. In October 1983, Fr. Wall became pastor of Old St. Patrick’s Church, the second parish founded in the city of Chicago and the city’s oldest public building. Since taking on his role as pastor, Fr. Wall has successfully revitalized this urban church. He is now pastor emeritus of Old St. Patrick's Church and president of the Catholic Extension Society. Father Wall continues to preside at Old St. Patrick's Church.
Father John Cusick
Fr. Cusick, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago was ordained in 1970. After his ordination, he served as associate pastor of Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish in Park Ridge, Illinois. From 1977 to 1985, he was a faculty member of Niles College of Loyola University, the college seminary program for the Archdiocese of Chicago. As a faculty member, he taught Theology, was a residence hall director, and for five years (1980 to 1985) was the director of recruitment and admissions for the college seminary. Since 1985, he has been the director of the Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He authored First Steps—a Guide to Encourage Young Men to Consider the Catholic Priesthood. He co-authored (along with his colleague, Kate DeVries) The Basic Guide to Young Adult Ministry. In May 2004, Governor Rod Blagojevich appointed Fr. John Cusick to the Executive Ethics Commission of the State of Illinois. Fr. Cusick regularly presides at Old St. Patrick’s Church Masses.
Father Paul Novak
Fr. Paul Novak, O.S.M. was ordained a Servite priest on May 26, 1990 at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Chicago. From 1990 to 1992 he served as associate pastor at St. Domitilla Church in Hillside. Fr. Novak was the vocation director for the Order of Friar Servants of Mary (Servites) from 1992 to 1994. In the fall of 1994, Fr. Novak joined the faculty of De La Salle Institute as the campus minister and religion teacher and served there until 2003 when he was elected assistant provincial for the Servite Friars. Fr. Novak regularly presides at Old St. Patrick’s Church Masses.