Answering the Call: Kilby and Bill Macfadden Help Lead the Way for the Next Generation at OLPH

At Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview, the spirit of generosity is alive and growing—especially with the launch of the Generation to Generation: Answer the Call campaign. At the heart of this effort are longtime parishioners Kilby and Bill Macfadden, who serve as campaign co-chairs and lead with a strong sense of purpose.

For the Macfaddens, the campaign is a chance to carry forward the legacy of a parish that has shaped their lives. “When Fr. Boland asked us to serve, we didn’t have to think about it. If Fr. Boland asks, you say yes,” said Bill. “OLPH means so much to our family. It’s the lifeblood of our faith life.” Kilby’s connection to OLPH is generational. “I’ve celebrated every sacrament here,” she said. “Bill’s parents were married here. My children are now in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade at the school. This special community is part of who we are.”

With the parish’s share of the funds raised through the campaign, OLPH plans to build a new Hospitality Center, improve the Glenview Road entrance, enhance campus accessibility and security, refurbish church pews, replace school A/C units, and offer support to Sharing Parishes. The Macfaddens believe these are essential investments in the future. “Our case statement projects are easy to support,” Kilby said. “These are real, needed improvements that will serve the entire parish.”

The Macfaddens recently hosted a Friday evening event for OLPH school families to share more about the Generation to Generation campaign. “The response blew us away—people stayed well past the end, and many couples reached out afterward to tell us how great the evening was and express their desire to get involved.” The event reflected the Macfaddens’ belief that this is their generation’s moment to lead. “It’s our turn,” Kilby said. “We saw our parents and grandparents support the Church. Now it’s up to us to do the same.”

That sense of personal responsibility and shared purpose is something Bill feels deeply as well. He reflected on how OLPH has shaped not only their family’s spiritual life, but their everyday rhythms. “The Church has always been a hub for our family and our community life. When you’re at Mass and know the people leading your parish, everything feels more meaningful.” Their leadership reflects the close-knit, mission-driven community OLPH has built over generations. “The school and parish have a symbiotic relationship,” said Bill. “We’re literally at the heart of Glenview. The town orbits around OLPH.”

Legacy, for the Macfaddens, is about faith passed down, and a community that takes care of one another. “My grandparents, my parents, my aunts and uncles—they all supported OLPH. Now it’s our turn,” said Kilby. “We want our children to experience what we’ve been blessed with. The legacy of our faith is in our hands.”