Parish Clergy & Staff

The Rev. Patrick J. Skutch, Rector

Patrick's email address is patrickskutch@stmaryspr.org

The Rev. Patrick J. Skutch became Rector of St. Mary's in late April, 2015. Prior to coming to St. Mary's, Patrick was the Rector of Christ Church of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi from 2009.

Patrick served as Associate Rector for Youth and Young Adults at St. Martin in the Fields in Atlanta between 2005 and 2009. He graduated from The General Theological Seminary in New York and was ordained in 2005. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Georgia in 2002.

Patrick’s wife Bonny is an elementary school teacher in the Wilmette, IL, school district. Patrick, Bonny, and their children Drew  and Charlotte make their home in the rectory.

Reverend Bunny Hughes, Director of Adult Formation

Bunny's email address is: rev.b.hughes@gmail.com

The Rev. Bunny Hughes serves the St. Mary’s Parish in monthly preaching and in her work as the Director of Christian Formation.  Her background as an English teacher and Hospice worker shapes her interest in education, communication, and pastoral care. She assists Father Patrick and the parish in the planning and organization of adult Christian learning opportunities around several core areas: Biblical education, Episcopal tradition, spiritualty, theology, and social justice.
Bunny earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Education at Augustana College and her Master of Divinity at North Park Theological Seminary.  Ordained in 2010, she has served the Presbyterian Church as solo pastor, co-pastor, interim pastor, and Moderator of the Mental Health Committee. Trained as a facilitator to instruct clergy and church leaders in the groundbreaking study, “Adverse Childhood Experiences” (ACE) which explores the role childhood trauma plays in the health of the individual, Bunny has an abiding interest in seeing each sister and brother in the beloved community as equally cherished by our Triune God.
Additional interests include her work with racial reconciliation, dimensions of systemic and individual elitism, and the grappling with the presence of suffering as part of the human condition. Bunny and her husband, Chuck, are delighted to be a part of the St. Mary’s Church family. They are also deeply thankful for their immediate family which includes Carl, Cayenne, Cyrus and Zenia Hughes, and John, Mandy and Ellie Hughes.

The Rev. Laurie Michaels, Deacon

Laurie's email address is travelaurie@hotmail.com
Deacon Laurie was ordained as a vocational deacon in the Diocese of Chicago on Feb 6, 2010.

She earned her BS in Languages and Linguistics from Georgetown University in 1974. She received her Registered Nursing Degree in 1981 and her Graduate Certificate in School Nursing in 1996. In May 2020 she received her Certificate in Spiritual Direction.

From 2010 through November 2019, Laurie served as deacon at St. Michael’s Barrington.

Her diaconal work in the world involved participating in mission trips to South Sudan and Haiti. She worked part-time for Bishop Anderson House as a hospital chaplain at Stroger Cook Country Hospital for 5 years.

In addition to her Spiritual Direction practice she is a Retreat Facilitator. She currently serves on the Diocesan Commission on Ministry.