Congrats Confirmation Class of 2026!

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On Saturday March 21, 2026, Most Reverend Bishop Timothy O’Malley anointed 61 teens with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Please join us in praying for our newly confirmed as they continue their faith journey, strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

Malachi Fulton Allex

Blaise John Allex

Teigan John Allex

Caitlin Francis Beery

Jacqueline Francis Bernardo

Anthony Patrick Boenzi

Samantha Catherine Booi

Anthony Maximillian Bukowski

Michael Paul Byrne

Thomas Benedict Carrano

Lily Thérèse Kessel Clark

William Christopher Cranstoun

Szymon Michael Czekaj

Camille Agatha Deignan

Morgan Dymphna Deignan

Jonathan Sebastian Drake

Addison Dymphna Eklund

JoDee Cecilia Evans

Gabriel Reyes Farias

Gianna Catherine Fiorita

Mallory Veronica Foraker

Jacob Thomas Gant

Conner Thomas Glover

Caitliin Katherine Gruchot

Jessica Faustina Gruchot

Erin Elizabeth Guernsey

Joseph Honoré Healey

Elizabeth Francis Homuth

Layla Camillus Ivins

Noah Patrick Jacobs

Stephanie Thérèse Johnson

Addison Elizabeth Kale

Emma Elizabeth Koelper

Andrew Isodore Koester

Elizabeth Thérèse Krause

Luca Paul Marotta

Abigail Elizabeth MCGill

Henry John Michels

Katherine Brigid Mollohan

Carly Elizabeth Nelson

Kylie Thérèse O'Neill

Anabella Cecilia Piper

Ezequiel Sebastian Radovancev

Elise Grace Reczek

Ray Bernadette Riordan

Katie Maria Roscoe

Emily Catherine Rynne

Francesco Sebastian Salerno

Francine Cuthbert Salituro

Logan Anthony Schick

Luke Francis Schmidt

Jack Sebastian Sole

Sarah Teresa Sprau

David Christopher Stankiewicz

Emilia Gemma Stec

Emma Monica Swiat

Tyler Sebastian Thorstenson

Gerardo Michael Vargas-Sanchez

Nora Catherine Villinski

Megan Abigail Witmer

Victoria Angela Zakreta

Thank you!

We are extremely grateful to all who helped make this day special: Bishop Timothy O’Malley, Fr. Steve Lanza, Deacon Bob Arvidson, and Deacon Tom Purtell. Thank you to our altar servers, Jonathan Kim for leading us in worship and our Art and Environment team who decorated our church for this very special occasion. Thank you to all parents, grandparents and sponsors for trusting St. Francis de Sales Parish with the formation of your teens!

Finally, we are very blessed to have an incredible Youth Ministry Team of leaders who have spent the last two years preparing and guiding our teens in their journey and on our Castle retreats, and who also made sure everything ran smoothly at our celebration: Jessica Farfan, Kathy Fuell, Susan Johnson, Lexi Hitchens, Allison Kavanaugh, Delia Kavanaugh, Mary Jo Kunzmann, Katie McGlauchlin, Mimi McGlauchlin, Erika Navarrete, Karen Nolan, Friday Ruiz, Ray Urban, Bill Weismann, Georgia Wiersma, Holly Moorman and Diana Arizmendi.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Building a Culture of Prayer Together Retreat

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St. Francis de Sales Parish is hosting a retreat on Saturday, April 11 called "Building a Culture of Prayer Together." You may begin this retreat with an 8:30am Mass and/or join us in the Ministry Center at 9am. We will provide a continental breakfast and refreshments during the retreat from 9am - 12:15pm.

Josh Danis will be our guest speaker. He will give three presentations: Listen to inspirational stories of the power of prayer. Learn from compelling and concrete examples how we can grow individually and as a community in our prayer life.

Imagine sharing life with other faith-filled people where you can celebrate each other's joys and give and receive support during challenging times

In between his presentations, there will be time for discussion to apply what he presents to ourselves, our families and our St. Francis de Sales Parish. As we prepare to welcome our new pastor, we want to support each other and come together in prayer.

This retreat is open to all.

Members of the early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:4

Join us as we reignite the devotion of those Christian communities to learning, fellowship, communion, and prayer.

This gathering will be at the St Francis de Sales Ministry Center at

135 S Buesching, Lake Zurich

The Ministry Center is located south of the church building.

Questions: Pam Lynch Plynch@stfrancislz.org Parish Office 847-438-6622

Register Here!

Food Pantry Requests | Spring 2026

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The food pantry continues to provide food every Thursday to families facing food insecurity. Food donations come from the Illinois Food Bank, local retailers and generous parishioners. Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at the Ministry Center Monday – Friday and in the donations basket in the Church Gathering Space. Many ask about the items that are needed most – those include:

  • pasta

  • pasta sauce

  • canned meat

  • condiments

  • canned fruit

  • breakfast bars

Adult Confirmation Program for Vicariate 1 Parishioners

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 Are you an adult who missed receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation? 

Preparation for Confirmation for Vicariate I parishioners will be offered weekly on Mondays beginning Monday, June 1, 2026, 7–9 p.m. 

St. Edna Parish, Door #22525 N. Arlington Heights Rd. Arlington Heights 

Confirmation Mass at St. Edna Parish on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 7 p.m. 

Registration closes on Monday, May 11, 2026. Cost: $70/person. 

Contact Lorie Crepeau for information and registration: lcrepeau@stedna.org 847.398.3362, ext. 325.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

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Would You Like a Prayer Shawl or Know Someone Who Would?

A generous supply of shawls in a wide variety of colors and patterns is stored in the Ministry Center, ready for whatever need arises. To request a Prayer Shawl, stop by the Ministry Center to select one that you may deliver yourself; we provide appropriate prayers for presenting the shawl.

A Call for Yarn!

Perhaps a little spring cleaning is underway at your house? Prayer Shawl Ministry will gladly accept donations of yarn you come across while sorting and organizing!

Thank you, knitters and crocheters!

Thank you, knitters and crocheters! You have created a vibrant, Spirit-filled ministry! You have warmed and comforted countless numbers of people with your prayers and shawls.

BLOSSoms of Hope Brunch

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Benefiting the Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide

Please join us this year to celebrate LOSS founder Fr. Charles Rubey!

Sunday, April 26, 2026 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Westin Chicago Lombard 70 Yorktown Center | Lombard, IL

To purchase tickets for $80 each, use the QR code or link below:

catholiccharities.net/LOSS2026

Questions? events@catholiccharities.net

Sharing Peace, Hope, and Love

In 1979, the Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS) Program was founded to create a special community where the unique pain of suicide loss could be fully heard. From its inception, LOSS has been a nondenominational program funded by the support of Catholic Charities, private foundations, and charitable contributions. Our mission remains to lessen the stigma of suicide, educate the community about suicide and mental illness, and to help survivors  ind community, direction, and resources for healing.

Fr Ryan Memory Book

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In order to celebrate Fr Ryan and the positive impact he has had on our parish and the larger Lake Zurich community, we would like to create a Memory Book for him. This book would include your letters of appreciation, photos with him, and any shared memories that highlight what a great leader and pastor he was during his tenure at St Francis de Sales. Please email your letters, documents, and photos for inclusion to parishoffice@stfrancislz.org

Use “Fr Ryan Memory Book” in the subject line. We look forward to having Fr Ryan back for a Mass and celebration as soon as we are able.

Totus Tuus 2026 Registration Open

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Campers Register Here
Volunteers Register Here

Holy Week Schedule 2026

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Reconciliation Schedule

9-11am & 5-7pm

Monday, March 30th

Tuesday, March 31st

Wednesday, April 1st

Holy Thursday

No Reconciliations

7pm Holy Thursday Mass

11pm Night Prayer

Good Friday

No Reconciliations

Noon Stations of the Cross [Bilingual]

12:30-2:25pm Tre Ore/Seven Last Words

3pm Service of the Passion

7pm Tenebrae

Holy Saturday

No Reconciliations

Noon & 1pm Blessing of Easter Baskets

7pm Easter Vigil Mass

Easter Sunday Masses

6:30am, 8am, 9:30am [streamed], 11am [broadcasted], & 12:30pm

Join Greeter Ministry!

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Learn more Here

New Pastor Appointment

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We are filled with joy to share the wonderful news that Cardinal Blase J. Cupich has appointed Fr. Christian Shiu as the new Pastor of St. Francis de Sales, effective July 1, 2026.

Fr. Christian comes to us with a vibrant heart for ministry and a diverse background in both parish life and education. He is a Chicago native from the Chinatown neighborhood. He was ordained in 2018 and brings a rich background in parish ministry and youth leadership to our community.

Fr. Christian is known for his energy, his dedication to Catholic identity, and his ability to connect with people of all ages.

As the months go by, Fr. Steve Lanza (administrator) and the staff will be working to effect a smooth transition.

A Prayer for Our New Pastor

Gracious God, we thank you for the gift of Fr. Christian Shiu. As he prepares to lead our parish family, we ask that you fill him with the spirit of wisdom, patience, and love. Strengthen him in his ministry, protect him in his travels, and help us to welcome him with open hearts. May we grow together in faith and service under his leadership. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Parish Consultation at St Francis de Sales Parish

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We Need Your Wisdom!

Please take some time in the next week to respond to this Priest Placement Board survey. You may choose to answer online through the link below or use the paper surveys available in the Church and Ministry Center. Completed paper surveys can be dropped off at the Ministry Center where we will enter them for you.

All responses are due by March 10th, 2026

PARISH CONSULTATION AT ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

Upon the retirement of Fr. David Ryan in February of 2026, Cardinal Cupich will be appointing a new pastor to St. Francis de Sales Parish. The process of selecting that priest involves a great deal of prayer, research, discernment and discussion. One of the important groups in this process is the Priest Placement Board (PPB). This group advises Cardinal Cupich on candidates for pastor based on the talents and skills of the priest-candidates in light of the strengths and challenges of the parishes in the pastor pool. The PPB is composed of nine priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago who serve full-time as pastors or associate pastors, one of the members is retired. The work of the PPB is directed by Fr. Michael Knotek, the Vicar for the Professional and Pastoral Development of Priests who does this work full-time along with the ongoing formation for priests.

In order to gain wisdom from parish staff and parish leaders about the skills and talents needed in your next pastor, the PPB will be conducting a Parish Consultation at St. Francis de Sales on February 26, 2026. Two members of the PPB will facilitate two meetings, one with the staff and the other with the Parish Council Members and Finance Committee. These discussions are very important to give the Priests Placement Board insight about St. Francis de Sales and the capabilities needed in your next pastor.

The wisdom from the parishioners is also extremely important in the pastor selection process. To gather that wisdom, a form will be made available to parishioners to answer the following questions which the staff and lay leadership will also address in their discussions:

  • What are the strengths of your parish? What is working very well presently?

  • What are the specific challenges your parish is currently facing?

  • What current ministries and programs in your parish are vitally important and must continue in order for the parish to remain vibrant and grow?

  • What programs for parish renewal and evangelization are currently in place at your parish?

  • What are the specific and unique skills, talents and capabilities needed in your next pastor?

These parishioner input forms will continue to be gathered until March 10, 2026. The discernment process leads up to a two day meeting in March of 2026 whereby Cardinal Cupich gathers all of the input from the Parish Consultations and meets with the Vicar General, all the Auxiliary Bishops, the Priests Placement Board members, and other key personnel at the Archdiocese to make his decision about who he will appoint to be the next pastor of St. Francis de Sales as well as pastors for the other parishes in the pastor pool this year. Please pray for the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit to help identify the next pastoral leader of St. Francis de Sales.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

Paper forms available at the Ministry Center & Church

Workshops of Hope: Mental Health Wellness Series

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We our excited to invite you to our Mental Health Wellness Series, created in partnership with Advocate Health. 

Many of us have heard about the importance of Mental Wellness.  These three sessions are designed to aid our understanding so we can help ourselves and others.  Join us as we learn ways to connect, discover tools and grow in hope as we journey with those we care about.  

You may sign up for one or all three sessions.  

See flyer for more information and dates in October and November.

You can register online or print the attached form and bring it to the Ministry Center. More paper forms are available in the church and the Ministry Center.  

REGISTER ONLINE HERE
PAPER REGISTRATION

Fr Ryan Announcement

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To our fellow St. Francis de Sales community,

Today has been difficult for all of us. We ask for your prayers for Fr. Ryan and everyone at our parish.  

We would like to assure our community that the parish staff is united and working together to continue the important ministries of the parish that serve your needs. As disciples of Christ, we will strive to place our trust in God and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

As we move forward, please know that:

  • Fr. Steven Lanza has been assigned as administrator of the parish until we have a final outcome. He will work with the parish staff and Deacons to ensure Masses and other sacraments continue without interruption.

  • During this time, there will likely be different priests who make themselves available to serve our parish. Please welcome them and show your appreciation for their service. 

  • As stated in the letter from Cardinal Cupich, “...the Archdiocese has begun its investigation, with the presumption that one is innocent until proven otherwise." 

  • We know that prayer is extremely important, and in the near future, we hope to make plans to gather and pray for Fr. Ryan, our parish, and for every person affected by this situation.

  • If you would like to reach out to Father Ryan, cards and letters can be dropped at the Ministry Center or at church during the collection at Sunday Masses.

Please know that we will share additional details as they become available. During this time, the parish staff and Deacons remain available to help. Please call the Parish Office (847) 438-6622, and we will do our best to help you. 

The St Francis de Sales Parish Staff