Our Priests

Msgr. Steve Knox, Pastor

Msgr. Steve Knox became the pastor of St. Mary's on July 1, 2004. Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rockford in 1989, Msgr. Knox served for six years as an associate pastor at two large suburban parishes before becoming the pastor of the Newman Catholic Student Center at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb in 1995. After nine years of ministering to college students, he once again returns to suburban ministry. Msgr. says this about his ministry with us: "I've enjoyed all of my assignments and I look forward to many years of ministry and service to the people of St. Mary's. I enjoy ministering to all age groups and I'm thankful for the opportunity to do Christ's work in Huntley and the surrounding area."

Msgr. Knox grew up on a dairy farm just south of McHenry. He’s the second of four children of Mary Ann and the late Howard Knox. After graduating from McHenry High School and Northern Illinois University, he studied for the priesthood at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. "I'm thankful that God called me to the priesthood and I look forward to serving the people of God to the best of my ability in the years to come. It gives me great joy to have a positive impact on the faith lives of the people. We have been blessed with the Good News of the gospel, which I love to share in my ministry!"

(847) 669-3137, ext. 1383

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Fr. Jonathan Bakkelund, Parochial Vicar

Fr. Jonathan Bakkelund is from Machesney Park, Illinois. He graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2006 with a degree in Theology and Philosophy. Upon completion of undergraduate studies, Bishop Doran asked him to study at the Pontifical North American College in Vatican City. He completed an STB in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in June of 2009. Fr. Bakkelund served as a deacon during a pastoral year at St. Thomas the Apostle, Crystal Lake, from 2009-2010. He returned to Rome for his final year of studies in the fall of 2010 and completed a Master's of Divinity in Dogmatics from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on May 21, 2011.

"I am overjoyed that my first assignment is with the people of St. Mary's. I very much look forward to getting to know each other. Please keep me in your prayers and I promise you and your families a remembrance in my daily prayers."

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (847) 669-3137, ext. 8595