Speaker Series
Saints and Salsa
Monday, May 5
7:00pm in the O'Gara Center
As part of our speaker series, we are having Deacon Mark Plaiss and Deacon candidate Jeff Ptacek talk on May 5th starting at 7:00 pm in the O’Gara Center. Both Mark and Jeff are teachers in the Theology department at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein.
The night will be an open discussion/Question and Answer session on such popular Catholic topics like these but not limited 1) Pro-Life Advocacy 2) The Trinity 3) Authority of the Magisterium 4) Sacramental Life and 5) Social Justice
It is open to all parishioners and their high school age children.
Light appetizers (Cinco de Mayo themed) and refreshments will be served.
Deacon Mark Plaiss
Jeffrey Ptacek, 40 years old. Has taught in the department of theology at Carmel Catholic High School for 18 years. Has the M.A. in Theology from St. Leo University, FL (2017), the B.A in Secondary Education, History and Philosophy from Benedictine University (2006).
Jeff is currently in his 2nd year of candidacy for the diaconate in the Archdiocese of
Chicago.
Jeff is an oblate of St. Procopius Abbey, a Benedictine monastery (American-Cassinese
Congregation) in Lisle, IL. Jeff is a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and Past Grand Knight of Cardinal Meyer Council 5751.
Jeff has served as the chair of the department of theology at Carmel Catholic High
School.
Jeff is particularly interested in Thomistic Philosophy, especially the writings of Dr. Peter
Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College and The King's College.
Deacon Mark Plaiss
Mark Plaiss, 71 years old. Has taught in the department of theology at Carmel Catholic High School for 14 years. Has the M.A. in Theology from the Catholic Theological Union Chicago (2006), the M.L.S. from the School of Library and Information Science at Indiana University (1978) and the B.A. in English from Indiana University (1976).
Mark was ordained deacon in the Diocese of Gary in 2003 where his major ministries centered on ministering at the Indiana State Prison and as Director of Diaconate Formation. Mark is an oblate of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, a Benedictine monastery (Swiss-American Congregation) in southern Indiana.
Four of Mark’s nonfiction books have been published: No End to the Search (2017); Image of God (2010); The Inner Room (2002); The Road to Indianapolis: A Season Inside Indiana High School Basketball (1991). His column “Notions & Ruminations” appeared monthly in the Northwest Indiana Catholic from September 2010 to March 2025.
Mark is particularly fond of the 12th Century Cistercians, especially St. Bernard of Clairvaux.