Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Francis de Sales Church 

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Report To The Parish For Fiscal Year 2022
(October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022) 

  • 2755 Families of Ela Township, greater Lake County and the northwest suburbs served. 

  • 9,165 Total people served. 

  • 3,890 Total service hours given by Vincentians and community members. 

  • $27,007 Spent by SVDP to provide food for clients at the pantry. 

  • This represents 12% (estimate) of the value of all food given by the pantry. 

  • 57 Families provided with financial assistance for $28,790 (Rent, Utilities, etc.) 

  • $4814 Funds provided to other conference parishes (Twinning) 

  • $1844 in dues to SVDP-Chicago and National SVDP 

  • $7094 Operating Expenses Donations to SVDP at St. Francis de Sales 

  • $48,714 Church Members and Poor Box 

  • $2733 Community Groups, Business Organizations and Individuals 

Working with Ela Township Social Services, local business groups, the many wonderful people of St Francis de Sales and the community our goal is to move in the spirit and values of the Society and to be good shepherds of the gifts that have been entrusted to us. We pledge to work to keep the confidence of the parish in the efforts made by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St Francis de Sales Church. 

Sincerely,
George A. Stewart 

Board President 

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

Broken & Blessed Healing Prayer Service

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Do you want more Forgiveness, Patience, Joy, Understanding, Peace, Trust or Courage? Do you want to let go of Anger, Frustration, Bitterness, Negativity, Betrayal, Hate and Loneliness? This evening will be filled with time for reflection and prayer and will include the opportunity for Reconciliation. Fr Paul Wachdorf will share the keynote reflection and

Fr Bradley Zamora will lead us in prayerful song reflection.

No registration needed - All are welcome - Bring a friend!

Be at Peace

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Our parish patron saint, St Francis de Sales, spiritually composed this prayer. Fr Ryan reflects upon these spiritual and strengthening words often - and offers this prayer for your consideration and contemplation. Jesus is with us and count your blessings.

A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER BY ST FRANCIS DE SALES

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life; rather look to them with full hope as they arise. God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them. He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in His arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day. he will either shield you from suffering, or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

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.

SELLING BUTTER BRAIDS DURING ALL MASSES NOV 19/20!

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Our St. Francis de Sales 8th graders are headed to Washington D.C. in May for their class trip. 100% of the proceeds from this fundraiser go directly to the students to reduce the cost of the trip. The school does not receive any of the profits. Students will be selling before and after all masses the weekend of Nov 19/20 at the both entrances of the church. Please contact Ashley with questions- 602-339-0516. Thank you for supporting our 8th grade students!