Parish Staff
Kristen Dompke
Executive Director
My husband and I have been members of St Peter Damian since 2004. We have two children who were Baptized here and are going through the Faith Formation program. My family has been involved in various ministries here at the parish.
In 2014 I was asked to start a preschool program for our youngest parishioners. Through the years, the program grew, adding additional families and staff members to our community. I love the relationships I've built with the families of Precious Tots. It's been a joy to see the children as the grow up in our Faith Formation program and continue to see the families at Mass and sacraments.
I am honored to be part of St Peter Damian as a parishioner and staff member. When my husband and I initially came here, we immediately felt this was the parish for us. When my oldest child was Baptized, the Deacon told us, "It takes a village to raise a child." I feel we have a supportive village here at St Peter Damian, with many ways to get involved and meet people. I'm grateful that families give our parish the opportunity to be a part of their village.
Karen Root
Bookkeeper
I was born in Chicago but moved to Addison with my family in 1966. I attended public schools, graduated from Addison Trail High School and attended Northern Illinois University. Ron and I were married in 1980 and we have one daughter, Kristen. Kristen was married at St. Peter Damian to Michael, and they have two kids, Dominic & Giavanna. My family has lived in Bartlett and been members of St. Peter Damian since 1987. We lost Ron in 2018. I have been the Ministry leader for altar servers since 2001 and joined the staff at St. Peter Damian in 2010.
Kinga Smutek
Music Director
I feel blessed to serve as Music Director here at St. Peter Damian. I started playing piano at the age of 6 and singing at the age of 7, taking private lessons in both. As I got older, I became involved in a variety of musical activities. I was in a Polish rock band for 4 years, in which I got to explore varities of music like rock, jazz, pop, and reggae, all while performing in differed states in the US as well as in Poland.
I graduated from Bartlett High School in 2017, where I participated in multiple choirs and held roles in the school's musicals. In the Spring of 2021, I graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor's degree in Music - Liberal Arts and a Minor in Spanish. Being raised Catholic, I have always tried to keep God in the center of my life. Music has allowed me to strengthen my relationship with Him in a transformative way.
I have been able to share my musical talents with many parishes in the Chicagoland area. I became musically involved with St. Peter Damian in 2013 when I began attending Polish school. I am grateful to everyone in the St. Peter Damian community for welcoming me with so much love, and I look forward to this new journey. I enjoy teaching piano and voice, spending time with friends and family, traveling, and reading.
Kristen Sadowski
Parish Receptionist
I have lived in Bartlett my whole life. St. Peter Damian has been my parish for a number of years, and I have met many wonderful individuals here. I attended St. Walter School in Roselle and then went to Bartlett High School. After graduating high school, I attended Elgin Community College where I earned my Associates of Arts and Associates of Science degrees. From there, I transferred to Concordia University Chicago in River Forest and received my Bachelor of Arts in Natural Science. I also studied nail technology at The New Age Spa Institute in Arlington Heights and obtained my Nail Technology License.
One of my favorite things to do is painting my nails and creating nail art to match the different holidays and seasons. I also love being active and spending time in nature, observing its infinite beauty. Biking is something that I truly enjoy, and I can often be seen cycling around town in any weather year-round. Other things that bring joy to my heart include making collages, walking, jogging, taking pictures, doing puzzles (especially crosswords and sudoku), reading, drawing, and coloring.
I am truly blessed to be working with people who embrace God’s message in their daily lives!
Joel Hendrickson
Facilities & Maintenance
I've been a member of St. Peter Damian since 1973 and have been the head of maintenance for our parish community since 2005. I'm responsible for the upkeep and repairs of all the buildings and grounds, as well its cleanliness and safety. My hobbies include fishing and woodworking. I'm the father of four daughters and Papa to my eight grandchildren.
