A Chicago native born 20 July 1955, Phillip Cioffi, has strong connections to Catholic education. He went Our Lady Help of Christians School and Fenwick High School (run by the Order of Preachers). Even though a personal interest is history of pop culture, Cioffi earned the B.A. in English at DePaul University in 1977. He is an expert in the history, equipment and operations of urban mass transit (known locally as the “El”), a rare competency for most urbanites and priests.

Sensing God calling him to serve as a priest, Phil Cioffi enrolled in Mundelein Seminary. By 1981 he was reformed, a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) was granted.

By God’s grace and the imposition of hands, Phillip Cioffi was ordained a priest by His Eminence, John Patrick Cardinal Cody on 13 May 1981. The Archdiocese of Chicago has welcomed his ministrations ever since.

Fr. Cioffi is the sometime associate pastor or faculty member at:  St Francis of Rome (Cicero), Quigley Preparatory Seminary North, Our Lady of Mercy (Chicago) and he is soon to be concluding his time the associate pastor at St Bernadine Church (Forest Park). As of July 1, Immaculate Conception Church in Highland Park and St. James (Highwood) will welcome him as their associate pastor.  Elected by his confreres Cioffi will continue as the moderator of the Chicago Oratorian Community –a diocesan right community.

 

Rev. Alec J. Wolff, Orat., S.T.L., J.C.L. - Born some time ago, ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1981, and a member of the Chicago Oratorian Community, Father Alec J. Wolff is currently living at Immaculate Conception parish in Highland Park. Now, his pastoral duties are divided between the Metropolitan Tribunal and the parish.

He received degrees in Theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois. Recently, he was assigned to study Canon (ecclesiastical) Law at both the Gregorian and the Lateran universities in Rome. Upon his return from four years of studies in 2002 (with a degree in hand and another about to be completed), he assumed the office of judge in the Archdiocesan Metropolitan Tribunal, working on cases involving annulments and other canonical issues. While the work may seem legal in approach, much of the work involves helping people heal and move on after broken marriages and to provide that justice is served in other issues where there exist conflicting interests or claims.

Over the years Father has served as a retreat master. He has offered many days of recollection and Parish missions. He is happiest when he is invited to share simple and concrete ways to live our Christian lives more faithfully. In addition, he continues to work in the arts as a director, producer, and technical advisor for not-for-profit media-arts organizations.