Remembering Ron Lewinski

Hello! 

It has been about three months since my last communication like this. At that time, my book “The Pivotal Pastor” had just been released. It is about Fr. Ron Lewinski’s first six-year term as pastor at St. Mary of the Annunciation in Mundelein Il. I’m happy to report that it sold out during one weekend at a parish hospitality event. You can read about the book, and what people have said about it, (and order it if you want) here.  

Now, I have news about a new book. After publishing “The Pivotal Pastor,” I realized that much of the material I’d gathered during my research didn’t end up in the book. That is as it should be. But I believe that the material is too valuable to ignore, so I’ve asked the contributors for permission to share their comments. The result is a new book, “Remembering Ron Lewinski.”  It is targeted for release later in April. I'm grateful to be the editor.

The book contains remembrances from about 60 people who knew Ron Lewinski, including clergy and laity. There is one person who spent only a few hours with him; another who knew him for over sixty years. From laity to Cardinals, these people were kind enough to share their perspective of Ron Lewinski in their own words. I am privileged, in turn, to share them with you. 

Having become familiar with these perspectives, a question that still comes to mind is “Who was Ron Lewinski?”  

There is Lewinski the priest who was bold enough to tell a Pope what to do and how to do it. And the Lewinski who became a “rope” in a brief “tug-of-war” between another Pope and his security person.   

A policeman somewhere might recall Lewinski as the priest he pulled over for speeding, only to discover the priest was also in possession of marijuana.    

Or the playful Lewinski, wrestling with a young teen who later became a champion and could bench press 600 pounds (three of Lewinski).   

There was the thinking Lewinski who was theological and pastoral enough to write about how to reform parishes and in the next hour enjoy casual conversation around a bar-b-Que pit.   

There was the Lewinski who seemed unphased as a toddler when he was almost run over by a bus; but who was deeply emotional when attending to funerals of children and young adults as a priest.   

There was the loving Lewinski who valued and spoke of traditional family connections, and championed the historic reforms of the Second Vatican Council.   

There was the wise Lewinski who, during Mass with children, asked them questions and  used their answers to formulate an impromptu sermon meaningful to both the children and the adults.    

There was Lewinski the leader who was recognized, by himself and others, as an introvert who didn’t like to ask for money; yet led his community in a successful $11 million dollar effort to expand the campus and build a new church.   

Lewinski was a strict liturgist, yet enabled parishioners -- even a 12-year-old -- to start new ministries at the parish.  (One remembrance identifies the difference between a liturgist and a terrorist.) 

The innovative Lewinski was a seminarian who authored work about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults that would be implemented in the Archdiocese, the nation, and eventually become part of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.  

Lewinski was someone who celebrated his birthday each year, as well as the date of his Baptism. After all, both dates are important in the life of any baptized Christian.  

Lewinski had a vision for the future of the school at his parish; yet when the time came, he spearheaded an effort to establish a new school to serve other parishes as well as his own.  

Lewinski was the “shy” pastor whose funeral was attended by an unusually large number of ordained: over 130.  

He was a man who many acknowledge had far-reaching vision about issues beyond the parish, yet he took the time to arrange small tiles that were inlaid on the floor of the baptismal font.  

He was someone who, even as a young altar server before Vatican II, wanted to make the liturgy more meaningful for people, and he dedicated his life to the changes advocated by Vatican II.  

There was the opinionated Lewinski, present during a boycott at his seminary in the late 60s, seeking to replace the “old” with the “new”.  

There was Lewinski the pastor who advised another pastor about a way that parishioners could honor their old church while welcoming the new one. The parishioner’s actions would be bring their pastor to joyful tears.  

And the list goes on. Lewinski was not accepted by everyone, but was loved by many. “Remembering Ron Lewinski” contains insights into the Pastor, Priest, and Man that was Ron Lewinski. 

In my next installment, I’ll share the attributes that the contributors used to describe the person they knew as Ron Lewinski.

Send me your comments/questions.

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