Virtual Bulletin
get the scoop on the latest going-ons at our parish
The St. Francis Eagles 8th grade boys volleyball team defeated St. Raymond in the Northwest Suburban Catholic Conference tournament championship on May 13. This capped off a 20-0 season in both conference and tournament play, and a remarkable 39-1 stretch over two years for these boys.
From Left to Right: Coach Amy Whelan, Colin Whelan, Will Niese, Brad Schaefer, Dylan Franada, Adam Galdoni, Colin Ulbrich, Spencer Kinsey, Andy Lawitz
THANK YOU!
Over the past year, FF/PM Jason Kraus and his team has provided Stop-the-Bleed, First AId & CPR training for following St. Francis de Sales Parish staff and volunteers! Great job everybody and thank you for taking the time to learn great skills to help keep our Parish a safe place!
SFdS STAFF TRAINED BY THE LZ FIRE DEPT IN 2019 AS OF 8/22/2019
STB FA CPR
Fr. David Ryan X X X
Tami Anderson X X X
Laura Angelini X X X
Cathy Chiarelli X X X
Traci Dahlinger X X X
Laurie Haas X X X
Karin Jurczak X X X
Pam Lynch X X X
Catherine McGlauchlin X X
Mimi McGlauchlin X X X
Julie Morones X X X
Jerry Perez X X
Judy Reilly X X X
Pat Stewart X
Chris Tovar X X
Our students had a very successful State Science Fair yesterday at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL.
Please congratulate these young students, when you see them for their hard work and contributions to scientific research! I'm so proud of them! - Rita Salit
Marry Titterton [Astronomy] Light Pollution - Gold Award & Best in Category ($50 cash)
Mathew Gonzalez & Spencer Kinsey [Behavioral Science] Does Color Affect Taste? - Gold Award
Kendall Freeland [Microbiology] Do Natural or Chemical Disinfectants Work Better? - Silver Award
Katie Agrella [Botony] Does More Carbon Dioxide Make a Plant Grow Faster? - Bronze Award
Thank you for your support of the Lake County Right to Life Annual Mother’s Day Rose Sale. We raised $1,238 to support advocacy efforts that all life is precious and a gift from God. A special thank you to our volunteers: Mary Stubstad, Joan & Emily Deichstetter. Janet Gozzola, Mary Flanagan, Cathy, Jim, Nick & Anne Mastores, Tami, Gia & Jeremy Anderson, Mike Carlino, Olivia Georgen, Rick, Kelly & Natalie Corrigan
THANK YOU to all who participated in the Back-to-School program! We again had a wonderful year with 400 backpacks donated to needy children! Because of your generosity, these children will start school with a new backpack and the school supplies they need for a successful year. Thanks to the staff in the ministry center for their help moving backpacks whenever we needed it, and to Julie Rohrbach, Linda Nelson and Diane Larrabee for their help on all the weekends. A special thanks to Siobhan O’Leary and her staff at Scotsman Ice Systems for their generous donation of backpacks to our drive. The backpacks were distributed to low income children through our St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, Our Lady of Tepeyac and Catholic Charities, just in time for the first day of school. We are grateful for your contributions to support these children and for giving them a chance for a bright new future.
We are grateful for your contributions to support these children and for giving them a chance for a bright new future.
Yolanda & Phil Strutzel celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were married August 11th, 1968 at Hammerschmidt Chapel at Elmhurst College and blessed in the Church at Saint Domitti in Hillside, Illinois, Father Ryan blessed their marriage on August 11th, 2018 at the noon Chapel Mass and have been parishioners since 2002.
Bart & Terry Eiduke celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were married on August 10th,1968 at St Luke’s in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania. Father Ryan blessed their marriage on August 12th, 2018 and have been parishioners since 2010.
Nereo & Libby Blasevich celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were married on September 28 at St Ladislau in Chicago, Illinois. Father Ryan blessed their marriage on September 29 at 12:30pm Mass.
Rich & Carol Spiekermann celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were married at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln, Nebraska. Father Ryan blessed their marriage on August 10th, 2018.
Tom & Mary Carol McGanley celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary. They were married at St Barnabas in Chicago, Illinois. Father Ryan blessed their marriage on August 19, 2018 at the 9:30 am Mass.
Harry & Phyllis Cione celebrated a recent Wedding Anniversary. They were married on August 29th at St Isaac Jogues in Niles, Illinois. Father Ryan blessed their marriage on August 29, 2018 at the 7am Mass. Harry & Phyllis have been parishioners since 1976.
George & Mary Beth Webb celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary. They were married St Mary’s in New Haven, Connecticut. Father Ryan blessed their marriage on October 21, 2018 at the 8am Mass.
David & Audrey Raclaw celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. They were married on at Immaculate Conception in Chicago, Illinois. Father Ryan blessed their marriage on June 15 at the 5pm Mass. David & Audrey have been parishioners since 2016.
Terry & Peggy Saunders celebrated their 46th Wedding Anniversary. They were married on June 17 at St John Brebeuf in Niles, Illinois. They have been parishioners since 1983.
Roger & Cindy Blank celebrated their 44th Wedding Anniversary. They were married on July 5th at Immaculate Conception in Chicago, Illinois. Father Ryan blessed their marriage on July 5th, 2019 at Good Shepard Hospital and have been parishioners since 1981.
if you have a special anniversary to celebrate and would like Fr Ryan to give a blessing, please reach out to the Ministry Center for more information! 847 438 6622 or email parishoffice@stfrancislz.org
Elizabeth Kalafut
Lake Zurich, IL // Lake Zurich Service Unit
Keep the African Girls at School
When Elizabeth missed school for an extended time due to illness, she realized how hard it was to get caught up. Through conversation with a mentor, she learned about cultural obstacles girls her age face in Africa and how those struggles increase once girls reach puberty. Elizabeth learned an underlying issue was how girls in underdeveloped countries often don’t have access to female sanitary products. She located Bookfriends, an organization looking to launch an initiative to encourage girls to remain in class simply by having monthly hygiene supplies available. Hygiene packs would be added to their shipments of books to schools in developing countries. Elizabeth worked with Bookfriends to produce a portion of the kits needed. She developed a volunteer team that included a church sewing group and a videographer. She then began to educate others about her project through speaking at church events and to local youth groups. She also created awareness for her project through social media and a YouTube video. During the time of her Gold Award project, 1,550 kits were sent to Kenya, and 3,078 kits were sent to Tanzania!
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From Lizzie: For my project, I partnered with Bookfriends, a local not-for-profit organization, founded in 2004 to send donated textbooks to schools in Africa. When the founder Paulette Kutchat learned that the African girls were dropping out of school after they reached puberty due to a lack of feminine hygiene products she decided to add hygiene kits for the girls to each shipment of books.
For my project, I assisted Bookfriends in the launch of their African Girls Project. The bake sale that you allowed me to hold in the Fall of 2016 was the starting point for my project. Many staff members at St. Francis including Cathy Chiarelli and Traci Dallinger, gave me advice, encouragement, and support. Many Girl Scouts and Religious Ed families donated baked goods for the sale. Through the generosity of the St. Francis community, I raised $1450, plus many ladies donated fabric. Also, some of my first volunteer sewers were members of the “Threads of Faith” group led by Donna Miller.
These funds from the bake sale were used to purchase fabric, underwear for the girls and plastic bags for the kits. During the time of my project, Bookfriends sent 1500 kits to Kenya in 2017 and 3078 kits to Tanzania in 2019. Bookfriends has now built a network of “padsters” who are currently making more pads for future shipments.
After receiving a shipment of books and hygiene kits Faith M., the headmistress and a teacher of a rural school in Kenya, shared the following observation:
“We see our girls coming to school now with less fear, definitely more confidence now that they have monthly supplies. And what a difference that confidence and regular class attendance makes in their educational progress.”
Throughout my project, I learned so much about the importance of education and why it is imperative all children, both boys AND GIRLS are educated. Last summer with the help of Sue Messmer, who I met when she volunteered to sew, I was able to summarize this information in this video which can be viewed on YouTube at HERE.
Recently a group of six Protestant and five Catholic Churches from throughout the Chicagoland area joined together for an Alpha One event at Parkview Community Church in Glen Ellyn. All the churches who met have been running Alpha in their communities. Alpha is a series of sessions open to anyone interested in exploring the big questions in life in the basics of the Christian faith.
Nine people from the new pilot Alpha program at st. Francis de Sales joint the special opportunity to unite together as Christians and worship and prayer for our communities, Churches City and Nation.
Jesus prayed for this kind of unity in John 17:21: “ I pray so that they may all be one, as you Father, are to me and I in you, that the world may believe.” everyone present felt the Holy Spirit at work in their hearts. As we come together in unity and openness, the Holy Spirit can work through us to help others to Jesus.
Here’s what Gabriel Lerma, director of Alpha in Chicagoland, had to say about the evening: “As I reflect on what God did this Friday through Alpha One, I’m truly humbled and grateful to have spent the evening with you. We worship together, pray together, and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit ...together. both Protestants and Catholics celebrate Church unity and the transformative work God is doing through Alpha. What an amazing night!”
Watch out for our parish Mission September 16-19th and our new Alpha session starting this fall, October 1st.
speech given at Masses on June 1st & 2nd
The Society of St Vincent DePaul was founded in France in 1833 under the direction of blessed Frederic Ozanam. Born in 1813 he became a French literary scholar, journalist, lawyer and equal rights advocate. While a university student his faith was challenged by those who asked him what the Catholic Church was doing for the poor. In response he joined with a group of friends to form the Conference of Charity. The group was soon influenced by Blessed Sister Rosalie Rendu and the Daughters of Charity. She urged them to take the St Vincent DePaul as their patron saint and follow his teachings. The Daughters of Charity had spent many years caring for the needy in the slums of Paris. The conference adopted their methods of work and founded the Society of St Vincent DePaul. From then on they would be known as Vincentians. With over 800,000 members in 135 countries the society has helped millions of people in seeking charity and justice.
“God always gives a great blessing to humble beginnings than those that start with the chiming of bells.” From the writings of Saint Vincent de Paul
47 years ago a group of church members came together in a common effort to grow spiritually and fellowship by offering person-to-person service to help those in need. They joined the Chicago area St Vincent de Paul Society and with their help created the St Francis de Sales Conference. They started a pantry in the garage next to the original church. They did home visits all over Ela Township while keeping client files in the trunk of a car. From those early days all the way to today, the group has had the support of the good people of this parish. We value your support and work to keep your trust. Some years ago the pantry was moved to the Ministry Center and office space was provided.
St. Francis de Sales we have over 440 families in our database and serve their pantry needs 50 weeks a year. We Vincentians gather on Thursday evenings to serve an average of over a 110 families every pantry night.
57% of the food that we provide is donated from local community sources such as the Jewels from Lake Zurich, Barrington and Buffalo Grove, Target in Lake Zurich, Peapod, Mariano’s and individual families. Food drives are held for us at Peace Lutheran Church, local schools, Menards and at the Old Post Office. During the summer we also receive donations from the Smart Farm in Barrington and from the Jubilee Garden. The Northern Illinois Food Bank is a source for discounted food purchases that we use monetary donations for.
Every week the society harvesters collect food donations and another group arranges and organizes the pantry for distribution. Kathleen Murray and Stan Gudas set up the pantry efforts. We want to thank Pam Lynchand Cathy Chiarelli for allowing confirmation candidates to give service hours to the pantry. Lake Zurich High School Service Group has also provided many student hours of service. We thank them and all the many other volunteers that give their time and efforts. Last year over 9,000 hours of service was given. Sioban O’Leary handles the placement of workers each pantry evening.
We support Emmaus house here at Saint Francis de Sales Church by providing the meals and the fifth Sunday of the month.
In the last year, 30 families of Ela Township received over $20,000 (not $200,000) in financial assistance for rent, utilities and emergency housing expenses. The case workers, under the direction of Diane Brumley, meet with clients to assess their needs and work with other local agencies to find the best way to help them. Many times we coordinate our efforts with the Ela Township Social Services. At times we combine resources with other conferences to give help for special needs and disaster relief.
We report in are accountable to Lake County District 1, the Chicago area and the National Society of St Vincent de Paul, located in St Louis, for an annual service and financial statement. We also share information with Father Ryan. Alice Hnilo and Jim Westney are responsible keeping Financial records and collecting data. No member in our conference receives a salary or financial benefit from our efforts. we have a board of directors that needs 10 times a year to review and approve Financial reports and Conference programs.
We are always welcoming to those who want to give assistance. If you would like to gain experience and helping directly with residences or just want to give a hand a couple of days a month, stop by and speak with us after Mass. You would enjoy talking with you. I can discuss specific types of volunteer positions available. Check out our website and read today’s bulletin for specific financial service information. Think about getting involved. We can use your help!
“There is no Act of Charity that is not accompanied by Justice or that permits us to do more than we reasonably can do.” From the writings of St Vincent de Paul
Since you and God bless the good people St Francis de Sales.
George A Stewart, President
from Pat Stweart, Director of Music Ministry
With the glorious sound of “O Spirit, All-embracing” still resounding, the Choir, Handbells, Brass Quartet, and Timpani celebrated the great feast of Pentecost. It has been a very busy spring season for the choir, as Easter Sunday was late in April. I want to thank all the musicians who made our palm sunday, Holy Week, and Easter liturgies so powerful. Our parish was blessed with so many opportunities to pray in song. The choir and handbells sang/played 2 masses on Palm Sunday and Easter. the choir also sang Holy Thursday (accompanied by violin/cello) and Good Friday; choir and bells did Holy Saturday. our Easter Sunday liturgies looked like this:
8:00am Youth Choir [Pat, Olga, Benjamin]
9:30am Choir/Handbells/Brass/Timpani
11:00am Choir/Handbells/Brass/Timpani
11:15am Teen Band [Josh Goodman]
12:30pm Olga, Emma Belew, piano students, & flute (pics below)
A great big thank you to all! and a job well done! Thank you, Olga and Benjamin, for your music skills that you share with us.
Our parish choir and handbells are taking a break for the summer. We invite you to think about joining us in the fall. We are always looking for new members; don’t be surprised if someone taps you on the shoulder this summer and asks you to consider singing and/or playing with us!
I’ve always considered my relationship with Mary to be somewhat of a good one. When I was younger, I used to pray to Mary every night before bed. I talked to her as though she were one of my friends at school. But there was a time when I stopped for a while because life had thrown many things at me and I said I was ”too busy”. A few months ago, I started praying the rosary more often and continued my nightly talks with Mary, and I have found that my relationship with Mary today is stronger than ever.
Whenever someone says Mary’s name, everyone thinks of the word ”mother.” When I hear “Mary,” I think of the word “mother,” but I also think of the words “leader,” “teacher,” and “role model.” She’s the perfect example of love, bravery, humility, and strength. When she said “yes” to having Jesus, she became a model of bravery. This child she was going to have would completely change her life, and yet she still said “yes.” She was strong enough to accept God’s plan even though she would have to deal with many hardships, like coming across doubtful people and even watching her Son die. Bravery comes in many forms. Mary has taught me that, although it might be hard sometimes, saying “ yes” to God is a courageous thing. Her saying “yes” is also an example of her humility. She didn’t go running around bragging about how she had been chosen to give birth to Jesus. She humbly accepted God and His plan, and did what she had to. When she was told there was no room at the inn, she didn’t complain about having to give birth in the stable. Once again, she accepted the situation and did what had to be done. Now, I try to be like Mary and accept what life throws at me.
Mary has taught me that love is the most important thing in my life. The love and compassion she gave to Jesus was absolutely perfect. Although she was young, she knew what it meant to be a mother and how to love her Son. Her love is something that I depend on every day, whether I’m going through something rough in my life or I need some help to show the same love she has to others.
Mary has taught me that I should accept what God has in store for me. Trust in Him as a way to show how much I love Him. Sometimes I question and His plan. I’ve asked Him “why me?” many, many times in the past. Mary has taught me while the future is unclear, I should remember that God will take care of me. Leaving St. Francis and my friends when school is over will be another hardship I will have to face. But having Mary in my life has left me knowing that everything is going to be okay. But if I get scared, she’ll be there to talk to me. Mary is a mother, a leader, a teacher, and someone I aspire to be like everyday.
“We are incredibly proud of our 8th grade graduating class of 2019! Graduation Mass & Diplomas were offered on June 1, 2019 in the Church at 10:00 am. The dedication of these families to an education in faith and of academic excellence shows in this graduating class. This group of graduates exemplifies our school norms of service and community. As alumni, we are confident they will have, create, and take advantage of wonderful opportunities to learn, grow, and serve building on the excellent foundation of faith and academics they have received at our parish school. We count them among our blessings!” a note from Principal Kyle Schmidt
Francisca Alivia
Tyler Armstrong
Will Bartels
Duncan Billings
Abby Blanchette
Shaylea Bodo
Erica Brenner
Lainey Cordova
Alex Del Bosque
Nathan Di Legge
James Di Tommaso
Natasha Fernandez
Dylan Franada
Adam Galdoni
Mia Gillis
Matthew Gonzalez
Dante Goranson
Olivia Harold
Lance Heine
Mary Huels
Beth Kamman
Spencer Kinsey
Stephan Kruglov
Andrew Lawitz
Madison Machala
Katie McCormick
Matthew Mosquera
William Niese
Kate Pieters
Georgia Pissios
Brad Schaefer
Dillon Schmidt
Grace Staehle
Ben Swiat
Malec Tarabein
Olivia Thomas
Mary Titterton
Colin Ulbrich
Olivia Virgilio
Colin Whelan
Sarah Whelan
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