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Our Pastor: Monsignor Mark J. Merdian 
Fr. Mark Joseph Merdian was born in Peoria, Illinois, on November 13, 1966 to Melvin and Mary (Roth) Merdian of Chillicothe. He received his bachelor's of art from Saint Mary's University in Winona, Minnesota, with a major in philosophy and a minor in psychology. He attended Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and graduated with a master's in arts in moral theology with a concentration in medical ethics. His master's work studied the issue of living wills and durable power of attorney for healthcare. He also received a master's in divinity in 1993. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1993.
His first assignment was as an assistant pastor to St. Matthew Parish in Champaign, Illinois, in 1993. During his tenure in Champaign, he was a member of the Covenant Hospital Ethics Board, which provided consultation to the hospital on medical–moral questions.
In 1997, Father Mark was named administrative assistant to Bishop Myers and a vice chancellor. While remaining an administrative assistant to the Bishop and a vice chancellor, he was named as administrator of St. Peter's parish in Peoria in 1998. His first pastorate was at St. Peter's in Peoria in 1999; he also remained as an administrative assistant to the Bishop and a vice chancellor. During his tenure as the administrative assistant to the Bishop, he was named to the Governing Board of Catholic Social Service of Peoria where he served as a board member for three years. In 2001, he was appointed an ex-officio member of the Diocesan Ethics Committee to assist with promoting medical-moral issues to Catholic hospitals and medical facilities.
In June of 2001, he was assigned as the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Metamora, Illinois, and St. Elizabeth Mission in Washburn, Illinois. In November of 2001, he was also assigned as the pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Roanoke, Illinois, and St. John Parish in Benson, Illinois.
In June of 2003, Bishop Daniel Jenky, CSC, appointed Fr. Merdian as the eighth pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Champaign. He currently serves on the Diocesan Personnel Board, Diocesan Continuing Education of Clergy Committee, and the Diocesan Healthcare Committee, of which he is the chair. He is also Vicar of Junior Clergy of the Diocese of Peoria. He has served on various boards, commissions, and committees of the Diocese. He is a member of the High School of St. Thomas More Pastors Board and the OSF Ethics Committee in Peoria.
He was named a Chaplain to his Holiness on January 11, 2009.
Parochial Vicar: Fr. Johndamaseni Zilimu (Fr. John)
My name is Fr. Johndamaseni Zilimu (Fr. John). I was born January 31, 1965 in Nyakatuntu village, Karagwe district in the Northwestern part of Tanzania, East Africa. My father's name is Anaclet Kumbaleba and my mother's name is the late Christina Nyamichu. I come from a family of 12 children that is 7 boys and 5 girls and I am the 4th from the oldest. I am the only priest in the family and all my brothers are married with children. Two of my sisters are Franciscan sisters of St. Bernadette, a diocesan religious community of the diocese of Rulenge in Tanzania and the other three are married with children.
When I was 13 years old I felt the call to priesthood and I applied to join high school seminary and I was accepted when I was 16 years. After high school seminary I continued with college seminary until I was ordained on August 13th, 1995. I had my Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome 1995. Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, 2004 and Master of Science in Mathematics, 2006 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and I am now pursuing a PhD degree in Mathematics Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Working experiences: Parochial vicar 1995; High school mathematics teacher and Academic dean at Katoke high school seminary in Tanzania, August 1996 to August 2000; Campus ministry and Chaplain to the Knights of Columbus at St. John's Catholic Newman center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from September 2000 to May 2009; Parochial vicar at Epiphany Church in Normal, IL June 2009 to June 2010. I am now looking forward to working here at St. Matthew Church as parochial vicar.
Parochial Vicar: Father Robert Lampitt
I was born on December 23, 1978 in Peoria, IL. But while my parents were from the area and my three older brothers all grew up there, I was raised near St. Louis in Granite City, IL. We moved there in the summer of 1982. And now my parents' four boys are spread throughout the United States. My oldest brother, Art, lives in Nevada. Ed, the second oldest, lives in Virginia. And, the youngest, Andy, lives in California. All have children and my nieces and nephews range in age from four months old to 15 years old.
I attended a Catholic grade school and a public high school. In high school I continued to be involved in Scouting and picked up a new interest in Cross Country and Track. In 1997 I began to study Computer Science at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. While in college I became involved with St. John's Catholic Newman Center and really began to learn about the faith. I met other young students who were all interested in deepening their prayer life, growing in holiness, and discerning their God-given vocation. As my interest in the faith deepened and I began to think seriously about the priesthood my interest in Computer Science declined.
In 2002, without finishing my college degree, I applied to become a seminarian of the Diocese of Peoria. After being accepted, I transferred into a seminary in southern Minnesota where I studied Philosophy, graduating in 2004. Next, Bishop Jenky asked me to go to Rome to complete my seminary training and to study theology. During my first three years there, I took graduate level classes in theology. These three years are equivalent to a four year degree in a stateside seminary. In the fall of 2007, I was ordained a deacon and began the next level of studies for an ecclesiastical degree called a “license in sacred theology.” In May of 2008 I was ordained a priest and asked to serve for the summer in Nauvoo, Carthage, and Dallas City. Last fall I went back to Rome for one last year of studies and finished up my license in June. My area of specialization was Liturgical theology, the study of how the liturgy (the way we Catholics pray publically) teaches us about God. For my thesis, I wrote on the experience of Love of God and Neighbor in the Eucharist focusing on the end of Mass beginning with the Our Father.
In April the bishop has asked me to be a parochial vicar at St. Matthew's and the chaplain at The High School of St. Thomas More. So, after twenty-five years of being a student, I finally have a chance to share some of what I have learned. I already feel at home in both of my assignments, I only ask that you be a little patient with me as I attempt to learn over 4,000 names. If there is ever anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask. You will be in my prayers, please keep me in yours.
God bless you all!
Donald Fraley
Don was born March 19, 1952 in Danville, Illinois and grew up in Hoopeston, IL. His parents are Donald and Barbara Fraley. Don graduated from Illinois State University in 1974 with a B.S. Psychology/Sociology. Don's work history includes: College Counselor from 1974-1976, 3M Business Products, Ciba-Grey (Novartis) 1982-1998, Parke-Davis (Pfiser) 1998-2001, and as a Realtor/Broker 2002-present.
Don has been a member of St. Matthew since 1979.
Don is thankful to St. Matthew for all of the support and interest in his formation process and the program itself. The encouragement and kindness has been a great inspiration and motivation to persevere in the five-year formation program. He looks forward to getting to meet more parishioners and to grown in service, love and faith of the Universal Church and this parish.
Bill Scott
Bill was born on August 31, 1959 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He graduated from Villanova University in 1981; St. George's University School of Medicine in 1985 and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences in 1993. He met Jacqueline D'Souza while in college in Pennsylvania and was married on August 1, 1987 at Exultation of the Holy Cross Church in Buttonwood, PA.
Bill completed his training in Family Practice at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA in 1989 and worked as a Family Practitioner in Boyertown, PA until December 1990. He then moved to Oklahoma City where he enrolled in a Fellowship program in Occupational and Environmental Medicine and earned a Masters in Public Health Degree at the University of Oklahoma in 1993. That same year he was hired by Carle Clinic in Urbana as head of the Occupational Medicine Clinic. In 2000 he joined OSF St. Francis Healthcare in Peoria, IL as Regional Medical Director of their Occupational & Preventative Medicine program. In January 2011 he returned to Carle Hospital in Urbana as Department Head of Occupational Medicine.
Jackie was born in Nairobi, Kenya. One of 11 children, she immigrated to the U.S. and attended Rosemont College in Rosemont, PA, graduating with a B.F.A. degree in fine art. She worked for several years until having their first child. While raising their children she attended several bible studies and volunteered extensively in the schools as well as the parishes they attended. Jackie's bible study experience included leadership and coordinating studies and she worked at St. Jude Parish in Peoria for three years as the coordinator of their Adult Faith Program until relocating to Champaign in 2011 for Bill's job. She is blessed to be able to continue facilitating studies at St. Matthew Parish.
Bill and Jackie have two daughters, Sarah and Joella, both in college at this time.
Bill has participated in the Church as lector, Extraordinary Eucharistic minister, parish council member, Knights of Columbus, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He has an interest in missionary medicine and has made several medical mission trips to Central America (Nicaragua).
He looks forward to serving the Lord in the Church. His particular interest is in Health Care Ministry. Both Jackie and Bill are very interested and active in Adult Faith Education.
Parish Office Staff
| Debbie Benz | Office Manager, Administrative Assistant to the Pastor | dbenz@stmatt.net |
| Joanna Tiarks | Business Manager | jtiarks@stmatt.net |
| Stephanie Goebel | Receptionist | sgoebel@stmatt.net |
| Mary Hazen | Director of Religious Education | mhazen@stmatt.net |
| Beth Vendal | Religious Education Administrative Assistant | evendal@stmatt.net |
| Loretta Oakley | Liturgical Coordinator/Music Director | loakley@stmatt.net |