History
2010-2016
Max Behna, Mike McMahon, Michael Groth, and James Guarascio attend St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, MN, where a number of Companions have served on formation staff.
The Companions model first began in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1992, and was later adopted by the Archdiocese of Denver in 2007.
October 2016
With the support of the then-vocations director Fr. Burke Masters, Mundelein seminarians Behna, McMahon, Groth, and Guarascio form a regularly meeting support group and begin learning more about the Companions of Christ.
While at Mundelein Seminary…
Fall & Spring 2016-17
Fr. Matt Book, from the Companions of Christ in the Archdiocese of Denver is providentially assigned to Mundelein Seminary to complete his STL. With the blessing of the seminary rector, the four receive direct guidance and mentoring from Fr. Matt in the way of life of the Companions.
July 2017
The Denver Companions host Dcn. Behna, Dcn. McMahon, Groth, and Guarascio at their annual summer conference, allowing them to learn more about how Denver lives out the Companions model.
September 2017
The four meet with Bishop Conlon and Fr. Burke Masters in order to propose the formal process of establishing the Companions of Christ in the Diocese of Joliet, IL.
Fall - Spring 2017-18
Having gained Bishop Conlon’s approval, Dcn. Behna and Groth draft statutes for Joliet in consultation with the Companions in St. Paul and Denver.
Spring 2018
Dcn. Behna and Groth meet several times with the finance office of the Diocese of Joliet while drafting statutes.
May 26, 2018
Dcn. Behna and Dcn. McMahon are ordained to the priesthood and begin priestly ministry within the diocese.
December 2018
The four spend their first “Winter Villa” in Galena, IL living out the common life.
March 2019
Groth and Guarascio are ordained to the diaconate. All four are now clerics and can proceed with establishment in accordance with Bishop Conlon’s prerequisites.
August 2019
The drafted statutes are presented to Dr. Castronovo, the Joliet Chancellor, for revisions in accordance with the desires of the Bishop. Conversations and revisions continue.
May 1, 2020
Feast of St. Joseph the Worker and the beginning of the month of Our Lady.
Most Reverend Richard E. Pates, Apostolic Administrator, establishes the Companions of Christ in the Diocese of Joliet.
Dcn. Guarascio, Fr. Behna, Fr. McMahon, and Dcn. Groth assume definitive commitment as members.