Parish Pastoral Council

Fr. John Sponder was born on November 23, 1965, to Robert and Joan Sponder of Riverside, Illinois, and is one of nine children. After attending local public schools in Riverside, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from DePaul University in Chicago in 1989.

He then entered Mundelein Seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, where he earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) degree in 1992 and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 1993. Fr. John was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Joliet on June 5, 1993, by Bishop Joseph Imesch.

Throughout his priesthood, Fr. John has faithfully served several parishes within the Diocese of Joliet, most recently at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Frankfort, Illinois. In addition to parish ministry, he is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and has served as a police chaplain in the communities of Steger, Westmont, Winfield, and Roselle, as well as a fire chaplain in Bartlett, Illinois. He is also a past member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains and the Illinois Federation of Fire Chaplains.

Prior to his appointment at St. Joan of Arc, Fr. John served as pastor of Holy Spirit Parish for six years. He began his role as Parochial Administrator of St. Joan of Arc in July 2026.