Meet Ron and Eileen Searles
Our commitment to love each other, although it began almost 30
years ago, continues today as we learn more about what it means
to love. It has always been Eileen's nature to love and serve,
whereas, I was much better at being loved and served.
We are the proud parents of four grown children, three sons
and a daughter. Our children have been our best teachers. We love
them unconditionally and hope that they will return that love by
continuing to build a stronger relationship with us, each other,
and their God. We encourage them to do the best they can with the
very different gifts with which they have been blessed, and we
teach them to share their gifts for the benefit of each other and
the family. We thank them for helping us to understand the strong
desire God has for a relationship with His children.
I believe I have been called beyond my ministry as husband and
father, as a deacon in the Joliet Diocese. I was ordained over
six years ago and serve primarily the community of St. Walter's
Parish (Roselle) as well as other parishes and ministries
throughout the diocese. I work with abused and neglected children
as a volunteer for the DuPage County court system.
 Eileen chose a career as
mother and housewife at a time when many women were choosing to
compete in the business arena. It wasn't always easy to remember
that her reason was based on her commitment to love when society
places such high esteem on professional women. The economic
benefits were certainly tempting. Even though we considered
raising four children a full-time endeavor, Eileen made time for
volunteer work in church, school, and community-sponsored
programs. Actually, as an adult volunteer in our parish youth
group, she began pursuing a career in youth ministry. She has
been a youth minister for over eight years, six as a full-time
director at St. Joseph Parish in Downers Grove.
We are involved in many ministries within our church and our
extended sense of church. Over the past 21 years we have taken
into our home, unwed, pregnant girls that find themselves
homeless for a variety of reasons. We provide food, shelter, and
a loving environment. We are associated with Catholic Charities
and help provide an alternative to abortion. Together we have
shared our marriage story, the good times and the bad, with young
couples preparing for the sacrament of marriage. Since we love
spending time together I am present with Eileen at all her duties
as youth minister at St. Joe 's (except lock-ins, that is!).
We have the best of all worlds. We share our growing love for
the Lord and each other. We minister together whenever possible,
sharing our individual gifts as well as our witness of love. And
we have our separate ministries where God continues to challenge
us as individuals. We look forward to continuing our work
together!
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