Mrs. Maggie Bilas

My parents met and married in Boston. I have three siblings, two brothers and one sister. My Dad was a career military man, and we traveled extensively due to his career, including spending several years in Germany. We finally settled in Florida when I was in high school. I went on to study vocal performance at the University of Miami. I worked for the Archdiocese of Miami from 1978 – 1997 in various roles including Music Teacher, Religious Education Coordinator and Music Ministry. While I was on an extended vacation in 1997 here in the Chicago area, I filled in as a music minister at various churches in the area. This is how I came to know of St. Bernadette, and was offered the position of Director of Music and Liturgy. At the time, I was a widow, and believed that this was an excellent opportunity for my daughter and I, so we moved here. Recently, I became your Pastoral Associate.

I work with all of our liturgical ministries including Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers, Mass Coordinators, and Sacristans. In addition I am the Youth Minister and Head of our New Bereavement Ministry.

Tony Bilas is my second husband. We met here, and were married in 2005. I am the mother of two wonderful children. Steven Jacob would be 31 and Christine Rose would be 29. They have both passed ahead of me into eternal life. I am grateful to our LORD to be able to continue serving you here at St. Bernadette. The people of this prayer community have allowed me to make this my home for almost two decades. Faith is God’s greatest gift to me, and I eagerly await the eternal banquet feast in heaven where we will all be reunited with our loved ones.