Altar Linen Cleaning

Coordinator:  Mary Ann Huntington

Phone: 224-715-6643

Purpose: Volunteers launder the church linens used during Mass and other services.

Responsibilities: Pick up the linens after Saturday or Sunday Mass.  Wash, iron and return them the following week.

Time Commitment: Sign up for one month – approximately 1-2 hours each week

Training provided: You will meet with Mary Ann prior to your first pickup. Written instructions are provided for washing, ironing and folding.

Altar Servers

Coordinator:  Tony Rygiel

Phone:  815-482-6618

Purpose:  Altar servers assist the priest and grow closer to Jesus during the celebration of Mass. 

Responsibilities: Altar servers must be on time and faithful to their schedules.  They must be familiar with the Mass and be able to anticipate what the priest needs.  They must be reverent, well-groomed and dressed appropriately for assisting in God’s sanctuary.

Time Commitment: 1 hour for each Mass served, arriving 15 minutes early

Training provided: Training session held prior to serving at Mass.

Arts & Environment  

Coordinator:  Mary Fritz & Nettie Toms

Email: [email protected]; [email protected] 

Purpose: This committee creates a welcoming and prayerful atmosphere within the Church and areas surrounding the church and rectory.  

Responsibilities: This ministry is responsible for planning, designing, setting up, and removing decorations for various feasts and liturgical seasons.

Time Commitment: Varies depending on time of year

Training provided: No training is necessary. 

Choir

Coordinator: Brian Wrightson

Phone: 630-440-7261

Email: [email protected]

Purpose: The choir leads the congregation in prayer through music for weekend and Holy Day Masses.

Responsibilities: Choir members should have a love for music and an appreciation of its importance in Catholic Liturgy.  They are required to attend rehearsals and Masses as scheduled.

Time Commitment: Choir practice is on Thursday nights at 7pm. Extra practices may be held during Christmas and Easter seasons.  

Collection Counters

Coordinator:  Mary K. Yager

Phone: 815-675-2288 x205

Email:  [email protected]

Purpose: Collection counters provide an accurate accounting of Sunday and Holy Day collections as well as other miscellaneous donations.

Responsibilities: Working in pairs, volunteers are responsible for counting, recording and balancing the weekly collections and donations.

Time Commitment: 3 hours, approximately twice a month (Tuesdays during office hours)

Training provided: On the job, hands-on training provided

Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion

Coordinator:  Sharon Ellicson

Phone:  815-258-5033

Email: [email protected]

Purpose: Extraordinary Ministers assist the celebrant priest in the sharing of the Holy Eucharist at Mass.  

Responsibilities: Co-distributing the Holy Eucharist with the priest at Mass is a special ministry for trained lay parishioners.  Eucharistic Ministers need to dress reverently and should arrive 15 minutes prior to Mass.  They should be reverent during the sharing of the Body and Blood of Christ to those attending Mass.  

Time Commitment: 1 hour per Saturday, Sunday or Holy Day assignment.  We ask for a once a month commitment, usually at your preferred Mass time.  

Training provided: Training session held prior to serving at Mass.

Eucharistic Ministers for Homebound

Coordinator: Steve Besetzny

Phone: 847-207-6282

Email: [email protected]

Purpose: Eucharistic Ministers share the Holy Eucharist with parishioners who are homebound. This important ministry ensures that the homebound are still spiritually connected to our faith community.

Responsibilities: Eucharistic Ministers meet in the Sacristy prior to attending the 9am mass on Sunday to receive the list of parishioners receiving the Holy Eucharist that day.  After mass, ministers drive to the parishioner homes, visit for a while, then share the Holy Eucharist.

Time Commitment: Varies, based on schedule

Training provided: Training provided prior to the first visit

Eucharistic Ministers for Hospitalized

Coordinator: TBD (we are currently looking for a ministry head)

Phone:

Email:

Purpose:  Eucharistic Ministers share Holy Communion with Catholic patients at NIMC hospital.

Responsibilities: Holy Communion is taken to NIMC after the 8am Mass on Thursdays.  Ministers understand that addressing a patient’s spiritual needs is an important dimension of their physical recovery.

Time Commitment:

Training provided: Extraordinary ministers receive specific training for interacting with the hospitalized

Finance Council

Chairman:  Mike Rygiel

Email: [email protected]

Purpose: The Finance Council advises the pastor regarding parish revenues and expenses.

Responsibilities: Assist in the preparation of a balanced budget, monitor actual figures to evaluate performance and provide guidance on capital outlay.  Attend scheduled meetings.   

Time Commitment:  Attend 4 quarterly meetings 1-2 hours in duration plus 1-2 extra meetings to establish a budget or address special projects.

Training: Your expertise in some avenue of fiscal accountability is all that is necessary.

Knights of Columbus

Grand Knight: Shaun Gosselin

Phone: 315-591-7299

Email: [email protected]

Purpose:  Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal organization dedicated to promoting and conducting educational, charitable, religious and social welfare works, rendering aid and assistance to the sick and needy members and their families. The four main pillars of the Knights are charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.

Responsibilities: The Knights of Columbus organize and/or participate in events to raise funds for various efforts including local food pantries, Pro-Life organizations, Seminarians and 1^st Way Life Center to name a few.  Our activities include our world-renowned breakfasts and the nationwide MRLD (tootsie roll) Drive.

Time Commitment: The Knights meet the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of each month at 7pm.  Volunteer opportunities have varying levels of time commitment.  

Requirements: Membership is open to practicing Catholic men 18+ years of age who have a desire to help others via service to members and their families, friends, parish, community and country.  We always welcome new members!

Lectors

Coordinator:  Peggy Mack

Phone: 815-403-2225

Email: [email protected]

Purpose: Lectors joyfully, clearly and enthusiastically proclaim God’s Word to those attending Mass.

Responsibilities: Practice and prepare for readings so that, by lending your voice, you can bring God’s Word to life for those listening to your proclamation.    Lectors should be neat in appearance, speak with clarity and be comfortable with public speaking.

Time Commitment: 1-3 hours praying over and preparing for the readings.

Training provided: Training session held prior to being placed on the schedule.

Prayer Chain

Coordinator:  Mark Vallango & Carol Flatley

Email: [email protected] 

Purpose: To promote our love of God through prayer on behalf of the needs and intentions of others.

Responsibilities: The Prayer Chain is a group of fellow parishioners who enjoy praying for the needs of others.  We offer individual prayers and daily sacrifices for the intention of each prayer request.  

Time Commitment: Varies

Training provided: None required 

Prayers & Squares

Coordinator:  Elaine Brandstetter

Phone: 815-341-8498

Purpose: Members provide handcrafted prayer shawls to people who are in need of comfort.

Responsibilities: Dedicate some time each month to create shawls and afghans for those in need

Time Commitment: Whatever spare time you have.  Meetings are held at 1:30pm on the 2^nd Thursday of the month in the parish hall.

Training provided: Our members are willing to teach crocheting, knitting and/or sewing

Respect Life

Coordinator: Deacon Mark Raz

Phone: 815-675-2288

Purpose:  To pray and work for Respecting Life from the womb to the tomb.

Responsibilities:  To help organize and participate in events in the Pro-Life arena

Time commitment: Varies – depending on events

Training provided: On the job  

Sacristans

Coordinator:  MaryAnn Huntington and Mike Rygiel

Phone:  224-715-6643

Purpose: Sacristans serve the liturgical needs of the Mass.

Responsibilities: Sacristans prepare the altar for all liturgical celebrations, including all that is needed for Sunday Mass and Holy Days.  In collaboration with the pastor, the Sacristan makes sure that all vestments, church furnishings, liturgical vessels and objects are kept in condition worthy of sacred liturgies

Time Commitment: Sacristans require 15-20 minutes to prepare for the liturgy

Training provided: Training will be provided by coordinator

St. Vincent de Paul

Coordinator:  Ardie Arnold, Conference President

Phone: 815-675-2288 x208

Email: [email protected]

Purpose: SVdP offers person-to-person service to individuals in need while maintaining the confidentiality and dignity of those who are served.

Responsibilities: Vincentians visit the homes of the needy to bring friendship and temporary assistance.  Financial and food donations allow volunteers to bring essentials to those in need.  Volunteers also organize holiday meal assistance for needy families at Christmas and Easter.  

Time Commitment: SVdP holds meetings twice a month.  In addition, time is needed for home visits and formation opportunities. 

Ushers

Coordinator:  Chad Franckowiak

Phone: 815-780-7106

Email: [email protected]

Purpose: Ushers welcome and provide support to people attending Mass.

Responsibilities: Ushers are the first faces of the church – they welcome all who enter, assist with seating and the orderly movement of the faithful during services. They also take up and secure the collection, distribute bulletins and clean up pews after mass.

Time Commitment: 1 hour for each Mass served, arriving 15 minutes early and staying 15 minutes after

Training provided: Training provided by coordinator

Women’s Ministry

Co-Presidents: Laura Hamill & Nettie Toms

Email: [email protected]

Purpose: The Women’s Ministry unites women of the parish, promotes personal holiness, Catholic charity and family life.

Responsibilities: The Women’s Ministry supports and encourages membership in St. Peter’s Ministries.  We identify needs within the parish and find ways to address them either through financial assistance or volunteerism.  We also organize or assist with parish events such as Rummage Sale, Craft Show, Funeral Luncheons, Bunco night, Bake Sales and Church cleanings.  

Time Commitment: Meetings occur monthly in the parish hall.  Other time commitments vary based on event.  

Training provided: None required