Meet the SMTC Team
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Fr. Li graduated from Mundelein Seminary and was ordained in 1999 and served at three very diverse parishes before he was named Pastor of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish. He received his Advanced Pastoral Leadership Certificate through Kellogg School of Management in 2013 and the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, in 2016. He has a passion for Evangelization and enjoys reading, sports, movies and steak.
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Fr. John Cuff, M.M. was born and raised on the South Side West Englewood area. He attended St. Justin Martyr Grade School at 71st and Honore, later attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary for five years followed by three years at Mundelein Seminary, before discerning a vocation to go to the Missions. In second Theology he joined Maryknoll (Catholic Foreign Missionary Society of America) to complete his priestly formation. After ordination was assigned to Maryknoll’s Hong Kong/China Region. Over the next fifty years he was pastor of five parishes in Hong Kong, punctuated by eight years teaching at various universities in Mainland China. Upon retirement back to Chicago, and being fluent in Cantonese, he was assigned by the Chicago Archdiocese to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish. He now resides at St. Barbara’s Rectory, helping out Fr. Li with Masses, Confessions and Funerals at both St. Barbara’s in Bridgeport and St. Therese in Chinatown, in addition to participating in some zoom sessions with parishioners of both parishes.
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Principal Lisa Deborah Oi has been with St. Therese Chinese Catholic School since 1997, where she spent her first 16 years in the classroom as the 2nd grade teacher. In 2012, she transitioned into the role of Assistant Principal and Director of the Resource Department, before becoming Principal in 2018. Under her leadership, the school continues to experience tremendous growth in student academic achievement, expansion of curriculum and program offerings, and increased student enrollment. Known for its unique combination of academic and cultural programming in a Catholic school setting, St. Therese received its second National Blue Ribbon in 2018. Ms. Oi was named West Cook County Assistant Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association in 2016 and received the Catherine T. McNamee, CSJ Award- NCEA in 2019. She is married with three children.
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Piotr was born in the east part of Poland as a 2nd child in the family of seven. He graduated with a Masters Degree in Civil Law at the Catholic University of Lublin. After graduating he worked for the Polish government, and had an opportunity to develop his professional skills in the area of bookkeeping and finances for nonprofit organizations. As a man of faith, he goes on international missions together with his wife and seven children. After a short time of discernment and preparation, Piotr and his family were sent by Pope Benedict XVI in January 2006 as a part of the Family in Mission program, Neo-catechumenal Way. They were received by St. Gertrude Parish and the late Cardinal George. Previous to his current position as Operations Director for St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, he served as Pastoral Assistant and eventually Business Manager at St. Gertrude Parish in Franklin Park and at St. Rosalie Parish in Harwood Heights.
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Jing Zhang was baptized in 2016 at St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church. She serves as Office Manager and since 2019, she has also taken on the responsibility as the coordinator of the Chinese Apostolate and one of the Parish Evangelization Leads. She graduated from XuZhou Medical College in China and studied in the University of Natural Health in Indianapolis. She has a certificate in Asian Pastoral Theology and Ministry from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. Her passion is to help more people to know Jesus; her top values are love and compassion; and her hobbies are golf, walking and caring for all animals.
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Judy Lukwinsik, Secretary and Sacristan
(312) 842-7979 | Email Judy Lukwinsik has been a committed, faithful, and long-time parishioner at St. Barbara Church. She works in the office part time and is the sacristan at St. Barbara Worship Site. While she may be seen in many places, one of her most special places to be is in church. Being able to greet and talk to people coming for mass gives her such a feeling of happiness. Seeing more and more people coming back to Church gives her hope and gratitude to be a part of our welcoming Parish. |
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Darlene was baptized at St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church, graduated from St. Therese School and St. Barbara High School. She considers St. Therese ‘home’ and has remained a faithful & dedicated parishioner for over 40 years. She currently works on the church bulletin, volunteers in the church office, is a lector, greeter, and helps wherever needed. In addition, Darlene serves on the Parish Pastoral Council. After 33 years of service, she retired from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. She loves being around children, butterflies, enjoys family & friends time, helping others, cooking, Starbucks, Korean drama, and winters away in Arizona with husband Chris!
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Formation & Outreach
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Sabina L. Lilly, Music Director
(312) 842-7979 | Email Vocal artist, keyboardist, and educator Sabina (pronounced with a long “i”) has called Chicago home since 1997. A Berklee College of Music graduate, she is comfortable wearing many musical hats. Classical career highlights include PianoForte’s “Schubertiade,” recording with the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle, and serving as principal cantor at St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church for over a decade. She has performed jazz and her own originals at Chicagoland venues such as Davenport’s, Ciao! Café, Katerina’s, FitzGerald’s, Jazz Showcase and Andy’s Jazz Club with an array of artists including Delfeayo Marsalis, Marlene Rosenberg, Neil Alger, Ryan Cohan, and Willie Pickens. Throughout her career, Sabina has worked extensively in nearly all facets of church music. Most recently, she was music director at Calvary Episcopal Church in Lombard before assuming that role at St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in January of 2022. A passionate educator, Sabina maintained a full-time music studio from 1995 to 2003. She taught voice and piano at Music Makers in Western Springs before coming aboard as music teacher at St. Therese. Sabina is currently pursuing an M.A. in Vocal Pedagogy at NEIU. |
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Director of Religious Education and Evangelization (TBA)
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Sr. Monica Zhang, Outreach and Formation
(312)-842-7979 | Email Sr. Monica Zhang is a Holy Spirit Missionary Sister, SSpS. She graduated from Carthage College with a BSW in 2019. She has been doing missionary work for over 15 years. Her Congregation embraces a Trinitarian Spirituality. One of their constant prayers is:" May the Holy Triune God live in our hearts and in the hearts of all people." She is very excited and grateful for this opportunity of working at St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish as a coordinator of outreach and formation. She is looking forward to serving the people in Chinatown, Bridgeport and beyond. |
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A native northside Chicagoan, Sr. Wehrman has been a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, an international teaching congregation, for sixty three years. She has a Master’s in Pastoral Theology form Loyola and a certification as a Spiritual Director from Loyola. It has been her privilege to minster in the African American community, Native American community, Caucasian Community, and now the Chinese Community. This has added many gifts to her life. She has been a Kindergarten teacher at Santa Lucia, a primary teacher, a Religious Education coordinator and teacher, Pastoral Minster, and Spiritual Director. God’s blessing in her life have been consistent and have allowed her to love the people with whom and to whom she has ministered. It is a great joy for her to be here at St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish.
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Nicole graduated from St. Therese Chinese Catholic School and continued her Catholic education at St. Ignatius College Prep for high school and Saint Louis University for college and graduate school. She received her Master's degree in Experimental Psychology and is working to complete her PhD. While attending school, she remained active in the parish community. Nicole is an advocate for protecting God's planet through sustainable practices and enjoys traveling, reading, exploring new restaurants, and playing with her two adorable dogs.
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