Virtual Bulletin
get the scoop on the latest going-ons at our parish
ACA REPORT FOR OUR PARISH
JUNE 2026 REPORT
June 2026
Donor Count 201
Goal $114,142.40
Amount Pledged $99,586.12
Amount Paid $86,686.11
Balance Due $12,900.01
June 2025
Donor Count 339
Goal $104,221.12
Amount Pledged $177,496.70
Amount Paid $143,422.20
Balance Due $34,074.50
As you know we have both pews and chairs for seating in our church. When we were designing the new church, the design committee wondered what seating would be best for our congregation, so we did a survey. We asked if there should be kneelers in church and 95% said they preferred kneelers. We have installed kneelers at almost every seat. Then we asked if the parish preferred pew or chair seating. The results were 70% preferred pews and 30% liked chairs. So, we decided to put both pews and chair seats in church. We hope you have found your favorite seat in church, whether it is a pew or chair, and are comfortable as you join in prayer with others.
Have ever noticed that we have two sets of main doors entering our Gathering Space. We can come into church through the East or the West doors. When we were designing the church, it became apparent that because we seat 900 people, we needed to provide 300 parking spaces. The only way was to have parking on both the East side and the West side of the school. Two parking lots led to two main entrances. It has worked out so we don’t enter church walking alongside others, but instead we see other parishioners coming in the facing set of doors. We see one another and we often stop to visit in our Gathering Space. This greeting of others and joining in conversation builds our faith community. Having two entrance doors has led to more interaction and more fellowship in our parish. It is a reason that we are known as a “welcoming” community.
Thank You Mike Skarzynski for Updating the Bride’s Room!
The room will now be used for the Greeters and Altar Servers to check in for their shifts along with other ministries as needed!
Members of the design committee visited many churches and made note of what we liked and what ideas we would not use in our new church. We contracted with Ware and Associates of Rockford to be our architects, and Father John Buscemi to be our liturgical consultant. In our meetings, we decided that the church should look like the homes we lived in. We wanted to use wood, brick, and glass to make the church space beautiful and comfortable. We loved stained glass, but our budget didn’t allow for it. We especially wanted good “sight lines”. So, our church design puts the front pews only 20 feet from the priest during Mass. And the last pews are only 90 feet away from the presider. At this distance, the worshipper can see the facial expressions of the priest and vice versa. This led to our almost semi-circle design of our seating.
Our U.S. Bishops will consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The consecration is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 11, on the eve of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Friday, June 12).
Watch the Livestream of the Consecration, which will take place in the context of a Votive Mass on June 11, in Orlando, with all the bishops gathered in Plenary Assembly. https://www.youtube.com/@UsccbOrg/streams
Read the reflection on why: https://www.usccb.org/reflection-consecration-sacred-heart
Watch the video on why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIr884JEjx4
Read and reflect upon Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us) https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/20241024-enciclica-dilexit-nos.html, on the human and divine love in the Heart of Jesus Christ, and Delixi Te (I Have Loved You) https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20251004-dilexi-te.html, which follows and continues on love for the poor.
Build Your Daily Prayer Routine with Hallow
(Open the app, click on Discover and type in one of the names below. After you have prayed the first session, click on the three dots next to the title. A list of options will appear. Select “Add to Routine” and the Session will appear in your Routine - aligned with the time you entered it. If you would like to pray at a different time, select Edit in the upper right-hand corner and change the time associated with the Session.)
Daily Contemplation – Guide: Fr. Timothy Gallagher – TRT 10 – 15 mins
Daily Examen – Guide: Various – TRT 5 – 15 mins
Daily Exegesis – Guide: Logical Bible Study – TRT 15 – 3 mins
Daily Gospel – Guide: Lectio Divina – TRT 5 – 30 mins
Daily Holy Spirit – Guide: Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR – TRT 3 – 6 mins
Daily Homily – Guide: Various – TRT 8 – 15 mins
Daily Leadership – Guide: Dan Cellucci – TRT 3 mins
Daily Meditation – Guide: Various – TRT 5 – 30 mins
Daily Minute – Guide: Fr. Frankie Cicero – TRT – 3 mins
Daily Miracle – Guide: Lectio Divina – TRT 4 – 12 mins
Daily Reflections – Guide: Jeff Cavins – TRT 9 – 15 mins
Daily Rosary – Guide: Various – TRT: 20 – 3- mins
Daily Saint – Guide: Various – TRT 3 – 10 mins
Daily St. Paul – Guide: Jonathan Roumie – TRT: 4 – 9 mins
Daily Virtue – Guide: Sr. Mary Bethany O.P. – TRT 3 mins
Hallowed Be Thy Day – Guide: Lisa Cotter – TRT 8 mins
To help our new priests settle into the parish rectory, we are hosting a virtual housewarming! Following some standard routine updates to the house, we want to ensure they have everything they need for a wonderful fresh start.
We are inviting parishioners to contribute financially toward stocking the rectory with new essentials, including towels, bedding, kitchen items, and cleaning tools.
If you would like to contribute to their housewarming, please TEXT “Rectory” and the amount you would like to donate to 847-443-9997. IE: “Rectory 100”. You can also drop a donation in the church baskets or at theMinistry Center - just write "Rectory" on the envelope.
Any questions, please reach out to the parish office.
Thank you for your beautiful spirit of hospitality!
8 to 10am on Saturday mornings through November
We’d love to have you join our Jubilee Garden!
Come when you can — no weekly commitment required
Drop in anytime between 8 AM and 10 AM
Stay for an hour or the whole morning — it’s up to you!
Just wear clothes you can get dirty and bring garden gloves
Tools are provided as well as guidance so don’t be concerned you know nothing about gardening— just bring your willing spirit!
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just curious, we welcome all helping hands. Help us care for this special place of growth and reflection. Questions? Contact Sharon Fredrickson at sfred.sfdsjg@gmail.com or 847-643-6633 — or just show up!
He will join us September 1st, 2026
Father Gerald G. Walsh, 56, was born in Chicago and attended Our Lady of Lourdes School and Quigley North Preparatory Seminary. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in philosophy at Niles College of Loyola University and a doctorate in ministry at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.
He was associate pastor of St. James, Arlington Heights (1995-1996); St. George, Tinley Park (1996-2001); and St. Francis Borgia (2001-2005) before joining the faculty at Quigley Preparatory Seminary (2005-2007) and then serving as director of recruitment and formation at St. Joseph College Seminary (2007-2011). He was associate pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview (2011-2014) before being named pastor of Prince of Peace, Lake Villa (2014-2026). He will join us as associate pastor at St. Francis de Sales, Lake Zurich in September 2026.
Bio shared from May 20, 2020 Chicago Catholic article “Chicagoland Archdiocesan priests celebrate ordination anniversaries”
Are you in high school and want to get confirmed?
Join us for our 2 year High School Confirmation Preparation Program!
This program is designed for Freshmen & Sophomores in High School, but Juniors & Seniors can also register!
2026-27 Registration Now Open! Classes start in September
Questions? Contact Diana Arizmendi at darizmendi@stfrancislz.org or 847.726.4842
ACA REPORT FOR OUR PARISH
MAY 2026 REPORT
2026
Donor Count 190
2026 Goal $114,142.40
Amount Pledged $96,456.12
Amount Paid $80,394.44
Balance Due $16,061.68
2025
Donor Count 322
2025 Goal $104,221.12
Amount Pledged $166,706.70
Amount Paid $127,327.70
Balance Due $39,379.00
In 1985, Father Richard Valker was pastor as it was becoming very clear that we needed a larger church. We had been saying Mass in our second church space which was in the school building, where the school offices, and kindergarten classrooms are now. Father asked a group of about 10 to research the need for a church and the possibility that our parish could support a building campaign. We did a lot of research on the possibilities that our corner of Lake County would have continued population growth. As we look back, we see that the growth of the area was even more than we anticipated. So we contacted the Archdiocese to let them know we would be designing and building a new church building.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our parish life. It is where we gather as the Body of Christ, are nourished by His Word and Sacrament, and sent forth in mission. For many years, St. Francis de Sales has offered seven weekend Masses to ensure accessibility for all. While this has been a wonderful response to the needs of our parish family, it is not necessarily a viable option for the future. Our Priests, Deacons, and Ministries are stretched thin and Mass attendance levels have decreased.
The time has come to take an honest look at where we currently are as a parish community and reevaluate our Mass schedule to provide the best weekend experience possible. Seven Masses each weekend places significant demands on priests, deacons, musicians, and liturgical ministers. A more sustainable schedule would allow for more prayerful and energetic celebrations.
What happens next:
In the coming weeks, the staff, deacons, and liturgical ministry leads will discuss the Mass schedule.
Please respond to this survey before May 31st.
We ask you to pray for our parish and our priests as we chart a new course. Please have an open mind and heart as we navigate forward. No matter when we gather for Mass, Christ is present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, just as He always is.
Paper surveys are also available in the Church if you prefer.
Congratulations to the 109 children who received their First Holy Communion throughout the month of May!
Angeline Amancio
Nathan Aranki
Gabriel Arceo
Genevieve Battad
Piper Berry
Lukas Beskur
Alexander Beskur
Henry Blazek
Liv Bragado
Mason Bragado
John Braun
Allison Browning
Colette Burke
Stella Casey
Jordan Cione
Joseph Ciucci
Collette Conklin
Dominick Contreras
Liam Cooney
Wren Craig
Michael Cronin
Duncan Davis
Cayde De Guzman
John DeGiulio
Henry Detloff
Laura Draghici
Jonathan Epstein
Luke Etoh
Penelope Ferolo
Anthony Fiore
Emma Fordham
Reese Fowler
Giuliana Giamberduca
Emma Gidley
Gwen Glick
Vivianne Glogowski
Adeline Glon
Rozalyn Goggin
Emily Gold
Skylar Gorgees
Luci Grajeda
Florence Grasso
Jesse Grasso
Caden Halford
Declan Hebert
Delaney Heller
Asher Hemzacek
Siena Hooks
Olivia Hoth
Bennett Jendra
Benjamin Jenkins
Andrea John
Adam Khan
Ryan Kowal
Harley Kramer
Mark Krzesinski
Jameson Kujawa
Connor Kusel
Lucca La Torraca- Martins
Blair Lai
Nolan Lapelle
Nash Lapelle
Aria Lencioni
Colin Leonard
Dario Lo Cascio
Avery Madden
Daniel Martínez
Diana Martínez
diego Martínez
Megan Miazga
Evelyn Mitchell
Leonardo Muir
Aleks Noga
Nuala Nuzzo
Adalyn Orduño
Gianna Pedroza
Armando Perez
Riley Petrykowski
Millie Pius
Rafael Pontes
Vivian Price
Vivian Prociuk
Violet Prociuk
Walter Raszka
Ainsley Renick
Sophia Riederer
Joella Romano
Angelo Romano
Jack Rucinski
Giada Sabatello
Grant Safron
Ava Scalessi
Harriet Schippers
Blake Schumacher
Lorelei Shim-Ping
Samuel Skorek
Angelia Solimini
Molly Stumpf
Laila Talaga
Kelsey Tavegia
Jenna Toomey
Romeo Torres
Josephine Valle
Olivia Wendland
Victoria Wojtylo
Mark Zemlyansky
God Bless our First Communicants and their families.
Jesus, we love you with all our hearts. Help us to always follow You. Please keep us close to you and be in our hearts. Amen.
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