Click here for Bishop Hick's Column at the Diocese of Joliet
Theology on Tap Invitation
Also recently released is Bishop Hicks’ invitation to Theology on Tap, a series of events for young adults (21–39). Please share on your website and social media channels as appropriate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8tWTgrjrk
Pope Francis Names New Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Joliet
Today, (September 27, 2024), the Vatican announced
that Pope Francis has appointed Reverend Dennis E.
Spies as the new Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of
Joliet, Illinois. Most recently, Father Dennis has been
serving as the Vicar for Clergy in the Diocese of Joliet
in Illinois. The episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Spies will take place at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet, Illinois on November 6, 2024.
Bishop Ronald A. Hicks said, “I am sincerely grateful to Pope Francis for the joyful news of this appointment. Father Dennis is a wonderful priest who has already worn many hats in his priesthood including pastor, seminary leader and the Vicar for Clergy. He is hardworking, prayerful, and ‘down to earth’ with a very relatable manner. As a new auxiliary bishop, he will be a great help to me. But most importantly he will share his many gifts with this large and active Diocese of Joliet in Illinois. Together we will continue our mission in the Diocese with a shared focus on catechesis, evangelization and putting our faith into action. How blessed we are to welcome Father Dennis as our new Auxiliary Bishop.”
Bishop-elect Spies was born in 1968 to Rose Mary and Vincent Spies (deceased 2009). He was raised in Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Ashkum, Illinois where he attended Ashkum Elementary School and Clifton Central High School. He attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture-Business Economics, graduating in 1990.
Following college, Bishop-elect Spies served as team leader with National Evangelization Team (NET) and then returned to Ashkum to farm and run a soybean business on his family’s farm. In the fall of 1997, Bishop-elect Spies entered seminary formation at Mundelein Seminary at University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois where he majored in Sacred Liturgy and graduated with a Master’s degree in Divinity in 2002.
Bishop-elect Spies was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Joliet on June 1, 2002, by Bishop Joseph L. Imesch at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet, Illinois. Following ordination, Bishop-elect Spies ministered for many years in the Diocese, including as associate pastor at St. Walter’s Parish in Roselle (2002-2005), associate pastor at St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield (2005-2008), pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes in Gibson City, St. George in Melvin, and Immaculate Conception in Roberts (2008-2011). His next pastor assignment included St. Liborius in Steger, Mother Teresa Catholic Academy in Crete, and St. Mary Parish in Park Forest (2013-2016). In 2010, following a three-year program, Bishop-elect Spies attained his Sacred Theology degree and license (STL), with a focus on spirituality of the diocesan priest, from the University of St. Mary of the Lake.
From 2016 – 2024 Bishop-elect Spies served on the formation faculty as Director of Pre-Theology and Internship at Mundelein Seminary at University of St. Mary of the Lake. On July 1, 2024, he was appointed as the Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Joliet by Bishop Ronald A. Hicks.
Over the past 18 years, Bishop-elect Spies has given his time and offered ministry in a number of other roles including Diocesan Presbyteral Council (as member and then chairman from 2006 – 20011), Dean of the Will County Deanery of parishes and priests (2013 – 2016), Institute of Priestly Formation spiritual director (2016 -2023), Cursillo weekend retreats and spiritual leader (2003-2024), and Be Healed weekend retreats and spiritual leader (2020 – 2024).
Throughout his various ministries, Bishop-elect Spies values the ability to meet and connect with people in a way that allows others to better know Jesus Christ. His life goal is to be known as “one who loved and taught others to love.”
Clergy, staff and parishioners around the Diocese of Joliet are elated to work with Bishop-elect Spies as our new Auxiliary Bishop. Please join Bishop Hicks in warmly welcoming Bishop-elect Spies to his new and important role within our Diocese.
Diocese of Joliet Announces Appointment of New Bishop, Most Reverend Ronald A. Hicks
07/17/2020
JOLIET, IL-- Pope Francis today announced that he has named Bishop Ronald A. Hicks, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago, as the sixth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Joliet, IL. Pope Francis had previously accepted the resignation of Bishop Emeritus R. Daniel Conlon and had named Bishop Richard E. Pates as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese until a new bishop could be appointed.
Bishop Hicks, 52, will be installed at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet, Ill. on September 29, 2020. "The Diocese of Joliet is most grateful to Pope Francis for the appointment of Bishop Ronald Hicks as its sixth bishop,” said Bishop Pates. “The bishop owns a reputation for pastoral leadership and is totally committed to the ongoing renewal of the Catholic Church. He is a worthy successor to Bishop Conlon and his predecessors."
About Bishop Hicks
Bishop Hicks, a native of Harvey, IL. grew up in South Holland, IL. where he attended St. Jude the Apostle Parish and Grade School. He graduated from Quigley Seminary South in 1985. He received his B.A. in Philosophy from Niles College of Loyola University Chicago in 1989 and his Master of Divinity degree in 1994 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 2003, both from the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL.
Bishop Hicks served as an Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Chicago from 1994 to 1996 and then at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills, IL. from 1996 to 1999. From 1999 to 2005, he lived and ministered at St. Joseph College Seminary as the Dean of Formation.
In July 2005, with permission from Cardinal Francis George, Bishop Hicks moved from Chicago to El Salvador to begin his five-year term as Regional Director of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) in Central America. NPH is a home dedicated to caring for more than 3,400 orphaned and abandoned children in nine Latin American and Caribbean countries.
From 2010 to 2014, Bishop Hicks served as the Dean of Formation at Mundelein Seminary. During that time, he assisted with weekend Masses at St. Jerome Parish in Rogers Park, Chicago, IL.
Bishop Hicks was appointed Vicar General of the Archdiocese by Cardinal Cupich on January 1, 2015. On September 17, 2018 he was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.
About the Diocese of Joliet
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet was established by decree of Pope Pius XII, and formed out of parts of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Diocese of Peoria and the Diocese of Rockford. Samuel Cardinal Stritch of the Archdiocese of Chicago installed Most Reverend Martin D. McNamara as Joliet’s first Bishop (1948-1966) at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet on March 24, 1949. Bishop Ronald Hicks will be Joliet’s sixth bishop, following also Bishop Romeo Blanchette (1966-1979), Bishop Joseph Imesch (1979-2006), Archbishop J. Peter Sartain (2006-2010) and Bishop R. Daniel Conlon (2011-2020).
The Diocese of Joliet presently serves 616,000 parishioners in 118 parishes & 7 missions across DuPage, Will, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, Ford and Iroquois counties in Illinois. The Diocese additionally serves thousands of students across its 42 elementary schools, 8 high schools and 3 universities. Volunteers from our communities serve in countless ministries at their parishes and through our overseas missions, while Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Joliet serves tens of thousands through its mobile food pantries, Daybreak Center in Joliet, early childhood services, counseling and aging and disability services.
