I was a teacher of the hearing impaired, have a master’s degree in guidance and counseling, and have been involved with special needs individuals most of my adult life. For many years, I worked with a hearing-impaired girl, helping her with sacramental preparation in the Catholic Church. During this time, I also assisted the local Catholic deaf community by interpreting at mass. For over 10 years, I tutored a girl with Down syndrome who was also on the autism spectrum. My focus for over 25 years was homeschooling our 6 children including our 28-year-old son with Down syndrome. As he has grown to adulthood, we have recognized that there is a lack of faith-based housing for individuals with disabilities in our area.   McGivney Homes has provided the opportunity for our son to live independently with support in a Catholic environment that respects his God-given dignity. I am excited to help McGivney Homes grow and provide housing opportunities for more people with disabilities in Central Illinois in the years to come.

I am a retired primary care pediatrician in St Louis, MO. My wife and I have

 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. In my practice of Pediatrics, I saw many children and teenagers with developmental, physical and mental disabilities. Many families in my practice had difficulties- first with finding appropriate support and intervention for their children with disabilities, and then later with transitioning their teenagers and young adults to independent or semi-independent adulthood. It is so important for young adults needing assistance to be able to work and live in a home that gives them as much independence as possible and as much support as they need. The McGivney Homes in Peoria provides just that support and independence in a Catholic environment.  My brother who has lived there has had an extraordinary improvement in his self-esteem and social abilities despite his battles with autism and anxiety.   McGivney Homes has been established to provide a secure and nurturing home for these young adults. I am happy to serve on the Board and support this Home which certainly will benefit many adults in the coming years.

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I am a retired pharmacist and pharmacy educator from South Dakota with 6 children, one of whom has Down syndrome.  Finding appropriate housing for our son Jacob when he reached adulthood was a challenge, and his staff and roommates often did not share his values and religious beliefs.  When I learned about the desire to start McGivney Homes to provide a catholic housing option for adults with developmental disabilities, I knew I wanted to be involved! There is such a huge need for our loved ones to be able to live and thrive in an environment that supports their catholic beliefs and practices, protects them from the influences of our hedonistic culture, and provides the support they need to live a fulfilling life.  McGivney Homes is doing this, and I hope to help it expand in central Illinois and become a model for other communities.  

Carol and I have been married for 40 years.  Since 1994, I have been self-employed in tool sales for 20 years and then as a certified mold inspector and remediator. We also own and manage 8 rental houses.  God, in his goodness, has blessed us with 4 biological and 2 adopted children. Daniel, our fifth child, is 28 years old, is a great joy most of the time ☺, and has Down syndrome.  I feel very blessed to be a part of McGivney Homes. Most rewarding for me is seeing the friendships that have developed between the residents. They are living in the place they’ll be able to call home for the rest of their lives.  I can’t wait to see where God leads McGivney Homes in the future.

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​God bless Dan Erisman, who introduced me to Christ when I was 14 years old!  Ever since, I’ve had a passion to do for others what Dan did for me.   In my early twenties, I served as a missionary translator in Communist Yugoslavia.  When I returned home, I married my wife, Lynn, attended seminary, and served five years as an Episcopal priest.  In 2003, Lynn and I entered into full communion with the Catholic Church, along with our four youngest children.  In 2008, Pope Benedict granted Daniel Jenky, Bishop of Peoria, permission to ordain me a married Catholic priest, under the Pastoral Provision created by Pope St. John Paul II.   Since my ordination, I’ve served four parishes and taught at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver.  In 2015, the Founder of FOCUS (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students) invited me to join the FOCUS staff as a part-time National Chaplain.  Since 2020, I’ve been serving full-time with FOCUS.  Forty years ago, I met John, a seven-year-old with Down syndrome, the son of very good friends of mine.  Several years ago, I committed to his mother that I would make certain John would always be well cared for.  McGivney Homes has been a God-send for John!  Now McGivney Homes awaits the arrival of others, called to embrace and expand the original vision, so that, God willing, we can meet the needs of other catholic men and women with special needs.

I am the oldest of 8 children and I have been a priest since 1984. I joined the Rosminian Fathers (Institute of Charity) right after high school, attended seminary in England, and spent the first 5 years of my priesthood at Rosminian parishes.  Since then, I have served in parishes in the St Petersburg, FL and Peoria, IL dioceses.   My leadership positions have included property management and oversight of residential care for aging priests and those with special health needs. This has given me an appreciation for the mission of McGivney Homes and the challenges that go with that mission. I am particularly interested in helping to preserve and promote the Catholic identity and spiritual foundation of this much needed ministry.