Rev. Dr. Michael L. Pfleger, President

The Reverend Dr. Michael Louis Pfleger received his B.A. in Theology from Loyola University, his Master of Divinity from the University of St. Mary of the Lake, and an honorary Doctor of Divinty from North Park Theological Seminary.  He has also completed post-graduate studies at Mundelein College and the Catholic Theological Union.

Father Pfleger was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 14, 1975. In 1981, at the age of 31, he became the youngest full pastor in the diocese when he was appointed Pastor of Saint Sabina Church.
                          
In 1981, Father Pfleger became the proud adoptive  father of an eight-year-old son, Lamar. In 1992, he also became the adoptive father of Beronti, who is presently a student at University of Central  Florida. In 1997, he became a foster father to Jarvis Franklin, who was tragically killed as  a result of gang crossfire, May 30,1998.

Since 1968, Father Pfleger has lived and ministered in the African-American community on both the west and south sides of  Chicago. He spent two summers working in a Native American community in Oklahoma, and did his seminary internship as a Chaplin at Cook County Jail and at Precious Blood Catholic Church, both in Chicago.

Father Pfleger has been recognized for his fight against alcohol and tobacco billboards, drugs and racism in People, Time, Ebony, Newsweek and Jet magazines; The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, U.S.A. Today, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Chicago Reader and numerous other papers an journals. He has also been profiled on the following television shows: Day One ABC;  60 Minutes (CBS)  BBC in Great Britain, the Larry King Show and Nightline.

Father Pfleger was cited in the December 20, 2004, Crain's Chicago Business as one of the best and entertaining preachers in Chicago land. Also, the Faith Community of Saint Sabina was written up in the December 2004 issue of Ebony Magazine as one of the churches symbolizing the "New Black Spirituality."  In the course of his extensive and active ministry,Father Pfleger has been recognized for his commitment to equality and passionate stance against injustice. Some of the awards and honors he has received include: Keeper of the Dream;, Rainbow/Push; Distinguished Service Award, Nation of Islam; Thurgood Marshall Award; National Black Prosecutors Association; Monsignor Egan Social Justice Award; DePaul University. Father Pfleger received a special honor, when at the request of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, he was selected to be the keynote speaker  for the national Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Service. This event was held on January 20, 2003, at Ebenezer Baptist  Church in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Father Pfleger is the founder of the Employment Resource Center, Saint Sabina Social Service Center, Thea Bowman Spiritual Advance Center, Samaritan House for the homeless and Saint Sabina 80-unit Elders Village.
                             
Father Pfleger has successfully fought against the proliferation of alcohol and tobacco billboards, stores that sold drug paraphernalia and alcohol to minors, the violence against our children and the easy access to guns.

As a minister, Father Pfleger has sought to break down the walls of racism and denominationalism  by building unity among all people founded of  truth and based on Jesus' command to love one another. This holy calling has led him to be a parent, a preacher, a teacher, a lecturer, and an activist. However, he believes his most important role is as an errand boy for Jesus.