Get to Know: The New Pastor of St. Damian

Father Joe Noonan didn't always know he wanted to be a priest.

As a 20-something, he spent several years purchasing and renovating living spaces in the Chicago area. After he graduated from Purdue University with a degree in accounting, he became a Certified Public Accountant for Ernst and Young, and leaped into the "flipping" business. At 22 years old, he purchased his first property; in a four-year span, he purchased three project properties, fixed them up, then sold them off.

"I love taking something that's beat up, and making it look nice," Noonan said.

At some point, though, making money became less important. Instead, his focus shifted to helping people.

"There's a lot more joy in helping people, working as a community," he said.

He continued to work with his hands, with Habitat for Humanity. Then he worked as a cook at a soup kitchen. Soon after that, he traveled with his family to Medjugorje, Bosnia. It was there he began feeling a tug toward the priesthood. Prior to that, he admits he "wasn't the best practicing Catholic."

After setting aside his renovation business, he began working for his parents, Bobbi and Joe. Together, they own and operate . He worked for them for four years, during which he traveled back to Bosnia and felt convinced of his calling to priesthood.

He entered the seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. He emerged four years later with a master's degree in theology. After being ordained, he worked as an associate priest at St. Francis Borgia in Chicago. He then returned to the seminary to work as a vocational director. He remained there until recently, also helping out at .

His pastor role at , then, is his first full-time role back at a church. But his family's name is not new to the parish. His parents previously owned a home on El Vista Drive, and were founding members of the parish. He's excited to be back where his parents started.

"It's the best parish in the world," he said, smiling. "These first six months, I just want to listen and learn. Tap into what's being joyfully, successfully done."

He recently attended his first girls basketball game (fifth grade) and helped out with a food pantry delivery. He's impressed with the parish community.

"I felt very welcomed by people," he said. "I'm genuinely excited by people's community to faith, and the community's faith. The staff is very committed, very talented. The level of commitment by volunteers is outstanding."

The Basics

• Father Noonan enjoys water-sports. He's also a fan of hockey and basketball.
• He was born in Worth, and belonged to Our Lady of the Ridge parish as a child.
• He enjoys slalom skiing. He also just snorkeled for the first time.
• He's a director's cut junkie. He loves movies, specifically the way they're made. His favorite movie is Casablanca. 
• He'll be officially welcomed to the parish Nov. 5, with a special Mass and luau-themed dinner. Hawaiian shirts required.
• He's been to Hawaii and loved it (hence the luau-themed celebration). 
• He has also tried surfing, but won't be hitting the pro circuit any time soon. ("I stood on the board, and the waves moved me.")