Thank You for your Gifts of Love!!

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The spirit of Advent is alive at St. Francis.  The generosity of our parish community is truly heart-warming.  More than 225 local families were sponsored, along with 92 women from Mt. St. Joseph.  We were also able to supply Mother of the Americas (formerly Our Lady of Tepeyac) with a record number of gift cards, toys and other donated items.  We were also able to provide gift cards to Holy Family in Waukegan, Mt. St. Joseph and Little Sisters of the Poor.  We also supplied Little Sister of the Poor with gift bags for all their residents and poinsettias for their chapel and residence halls. 

A shout out to the following:

  • Lake Zurich High School National Honor Society sponsored 12 families (60 people) this year. This is the 21st year that they have participated.

  • Lots of new hoodies, along with socks and underwear were donated and are being distributed to shelters in the Chicago area. Thank you to Pam Urban for coordinating this charity and helping keep those less fortunate warmer this winter.

  • Students in the Religious Education program assisted in the collection of gifts that parishioners dropped off on Friday and Saturday of Drop-off weekend.  

  • Girl Scout Troop 1728 oversaw a Girl Scout event that drew Girl Scouts in the Lake Zurich Service Unit. Over 100 pairs of pajamas were collected and donated to the Gift of Love and Mother of the Americas. 

  • The confirmation class of Rose Weismann was instrumental in helping us to distribute the gifts to St. Francis families on Sunday of Drop-off weekend.

Once again, the Ministry Center and maintenance staff provided invaluable support. They are unfailingly kind and considerate to all requests. The Gift of Love program could not succeed without them.

You may have heard the expression “it takes a village”.  What it really takes is a parish like St. Francis.

Thank You Saint Francis de Sales Parishioners!

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On behalf of the parishioners of the Mother of the Americas Parish (former Our Lady of Tepeyac) and the Sharing Parish Ministry here at St. Francis, we would like to express our gratitude to the St. Francis Parishioners for all the gift cards that you gave us this past Christmas. We sent the unprecedented amount of $22,680 in gift cards. In addition, we sent:

  • Hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens (donated by the St. Francis de Sales students and the Religious Education students)

  • 4 big boxes of coats (donated by the Knights of Columbus)

  • Many gifts donated by Parishioners Mora and Ken Priess

  • Toys donated by the St. Francis School students

  • 10 bikes donated by parishioners and fixed by the Boy Scouts (Troop 309)

  • Food for the Food Pantry

Everything was distributed at the Mother of the Americas Parish, Food Pantry, High School, and Elementary School.

Our most sincere “Thank You” to Father Ryan and the Ministry Center Staff for always supporting this Ministry and allowing the friendship with the Mother of the Americas Parish to continue and flourish every year. 

You are all an example of God’s love, and this project would have not been possible without the help of so many. May God bless you abundantly, and may you have a wonderful 2023, full of happiness, peace, love, and good health!

Sincerely,

Jane Clery Patricia Linares

Chairperson, Gift of Love Chairperson, Mother of the Americas Ministry

“O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL” High School, College, and Young Adults!

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St. Francis de Sales welcomes you to sing at the 9:00 mass on Christmas Day. Join your fellow classmates/alums from Lake Zurich, Stevenson, Wauconda, Mundelein, St. Viator, Carmel, & Barrington High Schools as they raise their voices in song in this choir. No need to have been involved

in a choir in the past! All are welcome! Music will be available. For further information, please contact Pat Stewart (Director of Music) at 847-726-4720 orChris Misik at 847-732-3106

HOODIE DRIVE, underwear and socks too!

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Once again we will be collecting NEW Hoodies for several shelters. Our contact is asking for Mens Only New Hoodies in sizes medium to 3X. Ladies will wear these as well. In addition we will also collect new packages of underwear or socks. Underwear and socks are the number one requested item among the homeless. You may place your donations in the blue bins that will be set up in either the gathering space of church or the ministry center, now through December 4th.

Your generous gifts will be given to one of the following shelters; House of Mary and Joseph Homeless Shelter for men and women on Harrison Street in Chicago. Sister House, Oak Park, rehabilitation housing & Highwood Soup Kitchen.

Please contact Pam Urban 847-373-9705 with any questions or concerns.

God Bless you for your beautiful gift of love to those in need.

A new ministry is coming to St Francis de Sales!!

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First meeting- Weds. Nov.16. 7-9PM

The Catholic Charities LOSS PROGRAM was started by Fr Charles Rubey in 1979 with 3 couples who had lost children to suicide. At that time, they would meet regularly in their homes. Today this program has spread throughout the Archdiocese and beyond bringing hope and meaning to those affected by suicide.

Open monthly group meetings will be held at the Parish and Ministry Center on the 3rd WEDS of EACH MONTH; 7-9pm.

Anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide is invited to attend. **Please register if you are new to this program by calling (312) 655-7283

www.catholiccharities.net/loss

Suicide loss is complicated and traumatic. Together we walk through this specific type of grief and offer each other support. A licensed clinician and a trained facilitator will run each meeting. No matter how recent or how long ago you experienced loss by suicide -all are welcome! Any questions, please call Tish Guinter (847) 293-4332

SPRED MINISTRY NEEDS CATECHISTS!

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We need adults, 21 years or older, who want to befriend and nurture the Catholic faith of an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while deepening their own faith. We currently need Catechists, for two young boys for this year’s group of friends aged 9-16. We also have several younger children on our waiting list, just waiting for you, to be served. A willing heart and a desire to share your faith with another are the only qualifications needed.

We welcome anyone interested to contact Kelly L. Smith at 847-287-8640, kellylyn60@yahoo.com or Jackie Bathery at 847-438-9136, jnj1229@aol.com

It's Back! SPRED NUT SALE - November 12th & 13th 2022

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Yes, we know you have missed us! It has been three long years since we held our Nut Sale. Fortunately, we are back again just in time for your holiday needs. The St. Francis de Sales SPRED group will be holding their one and only fundraiser, with all profits going directly to the SPRED program here at St. Francis and to help spread SPRED to our neighboring parishes. We will be selling fantastic nuts and chocolates from The Georgia Nut Company. Our nuts and chocolates make the best hostess gifts! Please help us out by purchasing some of our quality nuts and chocolates. You’ll find us in the gathering space after all masses November 12th & 13th 2022.

ADORATION OPPORTUNITY 🤩 with @joshgoodmanmusic - Be there!!

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ALL are welcome, so invite your friends and family. We are excited to see our Peer Ministers AND Junior High teens join us with your families! Enjoy a night of music and reflection in Jesus’ presence ♥️

Never been to adoration before? Don't even know what adoration is? That is okay! We are here to help share what adoration is and why it's a wonderful way to spend time with Jesus.

⭐️ Steubenville Friends - Come and enjoy our favorite Jesus Jams from our trip!

First Friday Eucharistic Adoration | August 5th

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First Friday Eucharistic Adoration

Do you want to quiet your mind and take time from the busyness of life? Come spend time with Jesus. He will make a difference in your heart. Join us for First Friday Adoration anytime between 9am - 4pm. All are welcome and you do not need to sign up to come stop by for a few minutes, an hour or however long you are able. In order to offer this amazing experience, we need a few adorers to commit to each hour. If you are able to commit to an hour. Visit our parish website to sign up for a time slot.

OUR MUSIC MINISTRY IS CALLING YOU!

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DO YOU LIKE TO SING? DO YOU PLAY AN INSTRUMENT? WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SHARE YOUR TALENTS WITH THE PARISH?

PARISH CHOIR - MEETS ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY; SINGS AT THE 9:00 MASS; OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL AGE AND OLDER

RESURRECTION CHOIR - SUPPORTS THE SINGING OF GRIEVING FAMILIES AT OUR FUNERALS; NO REHEARSALS; EXPECTATION IS THAT YOU COME WHEN YOUR SCHEDULE ALLOWS; A VERY GOOD OPTION FOR THOSE WITH FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES

HANDBELL CHOIR - MEETS ON THURSDAY EVENINGS FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY; PLAYS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH; OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL AGE AND OLDER; MUST BE ABLE TO READ MUSIC, BUT WE ARE WILLING TO TEACH YOU THE SKILLS

CANTOR - PROCLAIMS THE PSALM AND LEADS THE CONGREGATION IN SUNG PRAYER; OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL AGE AND OLDER

INSTRUMENTALISTS - HIGH SCHOOL AGE AND OLDER; BAND & STRING INSTRUMENTS ADD SUCH BEAUTY TO OUR SONG

For more information about these groups, Contact Pat Stewart, Director of Music, at musicsfds@stfrancislz.org or call the office at (847)726-4720 or stop by after Mass to chat!

SPRED at St. Francis de Sales is Back!

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The Pandemic has affected us all, and SPRED is no exception. We closed our SPRED doors in March of 2020 and didn’t reopen them until October of 2021. When we reopened, we were smaller and offered only one age group. We are now prepared to reopen our 6-10 age group in the Fall of 2022, as we continue to grow our 11-16 age group. 

SPRED welcomes individuals with special needs into their Catholic community by forming small, age appropriate, faith groups that come together to support each other in their religious journey. SPRED serves persons age 6 to the grave and offers the opportunity to celebrate the sacraments of Holy Communion, Confirmation and Reconciliation with their fellow SPRED friends and at our SPRED Masses once or twice a year.

We house two age groups here at St. Francis de Sales and service all other age groups in our surrounding parishes. We also serve as a training and observation center for SPRED Catechists. We are one of only three in the Archdiocese of Chicago and the only one in the suburbs.

If you or someone you know is interested in more information, or in being a part of our SPRED Ministry either as a special needs member or a catechist (catechists must be at least 21 years of age) then please contact either Kelly L. Smith or Jackie Bathery: Co-Chairpersons, St. Francis de Sales SPRED. 

Kelly L. Smith: kellylyn60@yahoo.com        Jackie Bathery: jnj1229@aol.com

Look for our Nut Sale in the Fall and more about SPRED at St. Francis de Sales in the coming months. 

First Friday Eucharistic Adoration | June 3rd

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First Friday Eucharistic Adoration

Do you want to quiet your mind and take time from the busyness of life? Come spend time with Jesus. He will make a difference in your heart. Join us for First Friday Adoration anytime between 9am - 4pm. All are welcome and you do not need to sign up to come stop by for a few minutes, an hour or however long you are able. In order to offer this amazing experience, we need a few adorers to commit to each hour. If you are able to commit to an hour. Visit our parish website to sign up for a time slot.

Prayer Squares Now Available!

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Prayer squares, also known as pocket prayer shawls are now available through the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Prayer squares are miniature versions of prayer shawls perfect for carrying in your purse or pocket. They can also be tucked inside helmets and may be able to be taken into surgery.

As with all the prayer shawls, the crafters infuse each stitch with a prayer or loving intention to provide love and comfort to the person who will receive it.

If you are interested in receiving one, please stop by the Ministry Center.