Chicago Archdiocese Pauses Pastor's Duties After Adult Contact Complaint
Cardinal Cupich stated that Rev. Samson Mukundi will undergo an evaluation and will not perform public ministry while the archdiocese investigates the claim.
By Alina Campbell ·
The Archdiocese of Chicago has suspended the public ministry of Rev. Samson Mukundi, the pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, following a new allegation. The church announced on Saturday that Mukundi has been removed from his post to allow for a formal review of the complaint.
Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, confirmed the action in a letter addressed to parishioners. He described the issue as an allegation of “inappropriate physical contact and boundary violations involving an adult.” Cupich clarified that the specific claim does not involve the sexual abuse of a minor. Despite that distinction, he noted that the concerns are serious and require careful attention.
Mukundi will enter a “period of evaluation” before the archdiocese determines his next steps. He is barred from performing public ministry during this time. To ensure the parish continues to function, the archdiocese has appointed Rev. Deogratias Mbonyumugenzi as the new administrator. Mbonyumugenzi currently serves as the pastor of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity in Jefferson Park and previously worked as an associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament.
The archdiocese has asked anyone with knowledge of the allegation or similar encounters to reach out to the central office. Cupich acknowledged that the news might be troubling for those who have known the priest for many years. He emphasized that the church aims to uphold conduct standards while treating all involved with fairness and dignity.
Mukundi has served in several parishes across the city over the last two decades. He was the pastor at Jesus, Bread of Life Parish in Logan Square from 2021 until June 2025. Before that, he led St. Sylvester Parish in the same area from July 2012 to June 2021. That parish was merged into Jesus, Bread of Life in 2021. Earlier in his career, he held positions at St. Gilbert Parish in Graslake, St. Benedict the African Parish in Englewood, and St. John Neumann Parish in Homewood. The archdiocese sent letters to each of those former parishes on Saturday.
Blessed Sacrament Parish is located at 3745 S. Paulina St. in the McKinley Park neighborhood. The archdiocese did not provide a timeline for the completion of the evaluation or the specific details of the boundary violations beyond the initial description.
