A 50-year-old Clarendon Hills man who introduced himself as “Father John” at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Parish in Darien, was charged July 13 with criminal trespass to real property after reportedly bothering several parishioners.
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Police were called to the church, 701 Plainfield Road, about 7 a.m. July 13. The Rev. Michael Baker, the parish administrator, told a responding officer that a man, later identified as John R. Pacella, made several parishioners uncomfortable by hugging and kissing them on the cheeks, without permission.
Father Baker told police he asked Pacella to leave, but he instead continued to approach people inside the church and the parking lot. Father Baker asked that the man be prohibited from being on the property.
The man told the officer that he had not touched and kissed people, and denied knowing he had been asked to leave. The officer told him that he would be given a trespass notice, meaning he would be arrested if he returned. The man responded that the church “will fall apart without me” and that Jesus talks to him.
Pacella told police he understood the trespass notice meant he would be barred from the premises “for a while.” However, the officer told him the ban was permanent. Pacella claimed he understood and agreed to leave, police said. Pacella left the property without further incident, they said.