Annual Catholic Appeal 2023: Walking on the Road with Jesus

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Please Make Your Gift to the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal - Father Merold will be preaching on this year's Annual Catholic Appeal at all the Masses the next two weekends. Let us join together on Walking this road with Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Thank you.

Many families in our parish will be receiving the Annual Catholic Appeal mailing from Cardinal Cupich. On behalf of those served by the ministries, parishes, and schools that receive funding from the Appeal, we thank you for your gifts. Please return your response as soon as possible. The Annual Catholic Appeal offers a wonderful opportunity to answer the call "Walking on the road with Jesus." In addition to providing for ministries and services throughout the archdiocese, the Appeal also funds services that are of great help here in our parish.

As we contemplate God's many gifts to us, we should also reflect on our gratitude. Your financial support for the work of our parish, our archdiocese, and the Church throughout the world is one way to express this gratitude. Please give what you can to the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal. Thank you!

Reflect Weekend

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Mid-life Singles (mid-30s to 50s): Are you looking for a renewed sense of purpose & belonging? Register today for a life-changing REFLECT weekend retreat at the Joseph and Mary Retreat House (formerly Cardinal Stritch Retreat House) in Mundelein, IL (in the northern suburbs), on March 3-5, 2023. Take a chance and get involved... you won't regret it! Cost is $285 for meals and a single room. Visit www.ReflectRetreat.com, e-mail reflect.chicagoland@gmail.com, or call (630) 222-8303 for details.

Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide - Next Meeting Feb 15th

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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.

www.catholiccharities.net/LOSS

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

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

Carmel Catholic Street Scenes 2023

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Carmel Catholic High School’s Street Scenes is February 10th and 11th

Endless Entertainment

Each year, Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein is transformed into a spectacular, fun-filled venue featuring more than 50 bands, activities, improv, theater, a cabaret-style student show, local food and beverage vendors, and much more for ages 21+.

Support the Students of Carmel Catholic

Street Scenes has contributed more than $11.8 million to assist Carmel Catholic High School students in meeting their educational goals by keeping tuition as low as possible and ensuring the best programming and activities are offered.

Hope to See You There!

Join in on the fun at Carmel Catholic High School’s largest annual fundraiser. Beat the lines at the door and purchase tickets in advance. This event is ages 21+. Family-friendly student show performances will be offered on February 5th and 9th.

Learn more at carmelstreetscenes.com

Hope After Abortion

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Abortion leaves a lasting impact on people. Don’t wait any longer for help. Healing can provide a new found hope and freedom.

In this supportive, confidential small group, we will focus on recovering from the emotional and spiritual pain after abortion. We will use spiritual tools and prayer to go through Transform Your Story: A Path to Healing after Abortion workbook.

Starts February 9th (9 weeks) Thursdays 9:00-11:00AM CST | 10:00-12:00PM EST Virtual via Zoom

Contact Tammy Baczek (847)826-8309 for questions and to sign up. All contact is confidential.

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