THE REVEREND THOMAS A. FRASER

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Father Fraser was ordained to the diaconate on June 17, 1972 by Bishop James Montgomery at St. James Cathedral in Chicago and to the priesthood in December 1972.  He was first assigned to St. Mark’s, Glen Ellyn, Illinois from 1972-1973, then became curate at Holy Comforter, Kenilworth, Illinois from 1973-1975.  Father Fraser became rector of St. Paul’s Parish on February 1, 1975 and has led the parish ever since.

The rector feels that his ministry at St. Paul’s is to help build an intentional community whose mission is to nurture and support the development and fulfillment of each person’s unique, individual, God-given vocation.   The focus of his life is the regular celebration of the Eucharist.   Flowing from that focus come the other areas of his ministry, which include teaching theology, pastoral care and caring for the overall life and mission of the parish community.

In recent years, Father Fraser's study leave has centered around the annual conference in Rome for bishops and priests of the Community of Sant’Egidio whose mission is to befriend and care for the poor and serve as an important liaison to peace.  Father Fraser serves as president of The Living Church Foundation, an independent media organization which publishes the Living Church, the oldest independent publication of the Episcopal Church.   He also serves as executive director of the St. Paul’s Community Services Foundation and is working on a master's degree in spirituality at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago's Hyde Park. 

Father Fraser comes from a family where travel was valued as an important part of one’s education, and he has visited all seven continents – including Antarctica.   He also enjoys contemporary film, reads non-fiction about the history of espionage, and adores basset hounds, but sadly, is allergic to dogs.