Thank You from the Back-to-School Backpack Program

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Thank you to all who participated in our virtual and in person Back-to-School program! We again had a wonderful year with 290 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. The backpacks were distributed to low income children through our St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, Our Lady of Tepeyac, Notre Dame Asylum Seekers and Catholic Charities of Lake County, 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.

Hand-Carved Olive Wood Gifts from the Holy Land

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Proceeds benefit Catholic schools in the Holy Land. Did you know that 600 Christian families living in Bethlehem are completely dependent on carving olive wood figurines for their livelihood? The recent clashes in the Middle East and Covid-19 have stopped the tourism industry in Bethlehem, causing most

of those families serious harm in earning their living and forcing many of them to leave their homeland. In addition to Covid-19, the local government didn’t offer any help for the families who make these holy items, simply because they are Christians.

As a result of these actions by the local government, the Christian families are devastated. Emptying the land of Christ from Christians can have tragic consequences on the Holy sites. Issam from “Star of Bethlehem Group” came to the United States with a mission to help those families by selling their beautiful religious handicrafts. The cost of goods goes to benefit the Christian carvers to keep them working in the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the profit from sales goes directly to the needy Catholic schools and clinics in the Holy Land. The Star of Bethlehem has been approved by many bishops and dioceses of Jerusalem.

NAMI Family to Family

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CLASS BEGINS OCTOBER 3RD for families and friends of someone living with mental illness

Family-to-Family is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)’s free 8-week class for family members and friends of people living with mental illnesses such as: depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), PTSD, and borderline personality disorder.

If you have a loved one or friend who struggles with challenges such as these, this class is designed for you. Topics include:

  • The biology of brain disorders and medications

  • Developing coping skills

  • Effective communications

  • Strategies for handling crisis and relapse

The class will be held Tuesdays at St. Francis de Sales from October 3rd – November 21st from 6-9 PM

The classes are offered free of charge, but registration is required. To learn more or register, please call Teri Latter at 847-809-6038.

You are not alone.

Jubilee Garden Open House

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All Are Welcome to Celebrate 25 Years of the St Francis de Sales Jubilee Garden Open House!

Come to the garden, bring the family, learn a little about the SFdS Jubilee Garden and gardening and get your pumpkin & fall decorations started!

We’ll have :

♦ Donuts & cider

♦ 50/50 raffle (no need to be present to win)

♦Available for a small donation

♦ Organically Grown Vegetables

♦ Corn Stalks for fall decorating

♦ Pumpkins

Hi, my name is Marcel!

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SPRED Ministry

  • Catechists needed for 24 Sessions

  • Wednesday evening 11-16 age group

  • Tuesday evening 6-10 age group

  • Meet once a week October through April

  • Only Requirements - Must be 21+ and willing to enter into a one on one relationship with a child with special needs.

We have children on the waiting list that need a catechist!

For more information contact Kelly Smith at (847) 287-8640 or kellylyn60@gmail.com

Fall Homily Series "The Kingdom of God"

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ALL ARE WELCOME!

St Francis de Sales Fall Homily Series 

SMALL GROUP COMMUNITIES !

Thank you for a great kickoff to our Kingdom of God Small Group Homily Series. Sorry about the technical issue last night.  I will make sure we can show a video with sound by next week.     Thank you for your flexibility.

It was great to see so many people eager to meet in small group to discuss this homily series.

As we look ahead -  the gatherings will include:

  1. Introduction 

  2. Witness Talk (either in person or viewing a pre-recorded video)

  3. Recap of the homily (or rewatching the homily)

  4. Reading the Gospel out loud in small group 

  5. Discussion about anything that you decide is relevant, using the list of discussion topics and questions as you wish.

We are always open to new people joining us and can start new groups as we continue to grow.

If you hear from someone who is interested but unable to join in the meeting options we are offering, please connect them with Pam Lynch.  This series is designed to be accessible anywhere and for anyone.   All the resources will be available on the website (soon). 

PS - The evening is scheduled for 7:00 - 8:00pm but as we meet and as you discuss in small groups, of course, you can choose to continue past 8:00pm.

Small Groups will meet on September 20 - October 18th 

in person in the Ministry Center Wednesday 7:00 - 8:00pm 

OR a group is meeting on Thursday 7:00 - 8:00 

OR on Zoom Wednesday 6:30 - 7:30pm.