St. Stephen Pastor Retires After 46 Years With Archdiocese

TINLEY PARK, IL — Father James Finno, the only pastor the St. Stephen Deacon and Martyr parish in Tinley Park has ever had, will retire at the end of the month after 46 years as a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Known as "Father Jay," Finno will say his final mass at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 24 at the church located at 17500 84th Avenue in Tinley Park.

Finno has been the pastor at St. Stephen since its beginning in November of 1999. Before that, he was the pastor at St. Lawrence O'Toole Parish in Matteson from 1988-1999 and prior to that served as the associate pastor at Queen of the Apostles Church in Riverdale, Infant Jesus of Prague in Flossmoor and St. Mary Parish in Evanston.

"The best memory I have is just all the people I've been able to meet and encounter," Finno said. "I've been blessed to have worked with a lot of wonderful people through the years."

Finno cited age, he's 72, as reason for retiring. He will continue to live in Tinley Park and plans to help out at other parishes in the area where he may be needed.

Father Grzegorz Warmuz, the associate at St. Stephen, will also be moving on. He will soon be the new pastor at St. Fabian Parish in Bridgeview.

Replacing Finno as pastor at St. Stephen Deacon and Martyr will be Father Tom Bernas.

Finno says he sees a bright future at St. Stephen as it nears its 20th anniversary.

"We've done some great things, and I think St. Stephen is is good shape as we move on," he said. "I am hopeful it will continue to be a place where people of faith can be nurtured and continue to grow by providing education and opportunity to people and building community."

Following Finno's final mass, a reception from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday in the new Parish Life Center at the church will honor his retirement.

Here's Father Jay in a recent interview with Discover Tinley.

Photo courtesy of St. Stephen Deacon and Martyr