Father "MM" Cerna

One of our Parochial Vicars is Father Jose Menemil Cerna. His nickname is Father MM. He was born and raised in Cebu, Philippines. He is the youngest of the 13 siblings. There are six siblings in the United States, and the rest of his siblings and family are in Cebu, Philippines. 
  
Father Cerna graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Management in 1997 in Cebu, Philippines. He worked at a hotel for two years, became a Ballroom Dance Instructor for five years, and worked as a Licensed Realtor for five years before entering the seminary to study Priesthood in 2011. He was a seminarian of the Diocese of Cebu, Philippines, from 2011 to 2016. 
  
Father Cerna moved to the United States on June 16, 2016, from the US Immigrant Petition filed by her American Citizen mother. He continued his seminary studies at Mundelein Seminary for the Diocese of Joliet. He graduated in May of 2020 with his Master of Divinity graduate course. He was ordained to the Priesthood on June 20, 2020, at the Cathedral of Saint Raymond of Nonnatus in Joliet, IL, for the Diocese of Joliet.  
  
After ordination, Father Cerna was assigned at St. Raphael Parish in Naperville from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022. His next assignment was at Immaculate Conception Parish in Elmhurst, IL, from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. Father Cerna has been our Parochial Vicar since July 1, 2023. 
 
Father Cerna became an American Citizen in March of 2022. He has a great devotion to the Rosary and the Divine Mercy. His hobbies include running on his treadmill daily at 4:30 am for one hour and watching movies and YouTube videos. He loves all kinds of food!!!