St. Catherine Laboure -History

This area includes all groups that deal with service and outreach to the parish and larger community.

SCL RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE
The Committee fosters a greater awareness of Respect Life issues by supporting spiritual, pastoral care and advocacy within the parish. The Committee coordinates the annual October Respect Life activities and programs initiated by the Archdiocesan Respect Life Office. New members are always welcome. Contact Russell Lundsgaard: 847-724-6344.

ELIZABETH MINISTRY
Elizabeth Ministers follow the example of the scripture story of the Visitation by bringing women together for mutual support. Our ministry helps the church community celebrate the gift of each child conceived and born, and fully mourn each miscarriage and infant death. We minister to the families of preschool children with a playgroup and bring welcome gifts to all the newly baptized infants. If the family is experiencing a crisis, we try to help by supplying meals. We strive to be a strong and consistent voice for life in our parish, community and world. Contact Toni Dautel at 729-7166 for more information.
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ALMS PROGRAM
The ALMS program is a weekly collection for the poor. Each Sunday, a specific organization (announced in the bulletin and at Mass) is designated to receive the amount collected beyond the normal Sunday collection. Added to this amount is the money that is collected for the poor in the Eucharistic chapel. The ALMS committee chooses the groups. They are guided by the principles that the ALMS should go specifically to provide for food, clothing or shelter, the group should serve a number of people, the help is intended for immediate needs, the donation will be to groups that have greater needs/smaller budgets, and over time, the various recipient groups collectively represent a diverse number of issues and needs that encompass local, national, and worldwide outreach to the poor.
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WELCOMING COMMITTEE
The Welcoming Committee reaches out to new parishioners with Sunday brunches throughout the year to initiate a sense of community, to help welcome newcomers in feeling comfortable and "at home" in a caring and sharing environment, and to introduce them to our various organizations and ministries. Contact Lucy Flemming at 824-9631 for more details.
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ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
The SVDP Society is an international Catholic lay association for works of charity which was founded in Paris in 1833. The Society has been active in the United States since 1845. The SCL St. Vincent de Paul conference, whose members are known as “Vincentians,” was formed in 2001 and is engaged in various activities, such as food and clothing drives, helping at the St. Thomas of Canterbury Soup Kitchen, a ShoeBox project for the homeless of Chicago Outreach, preparing and delivering meals to homebound parishioner and a Catholic Charities Shelter Program called “Project Home.” The Society also assists SCL parishioners as well as other community members facing financial difficulty; in such cases, two Vincentians visit the person requesting assistance and all conversations and assistance are held in strict confidence. For more information, or to request assistance, contact the SCL Rectory at 847-729-1414 and a Vincentian will return your call.
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MINISTRY TO THE HOMEBOUND
This ministry is devised to serve the sacramental needs of those who are homebound because of age, handicaps or illness. Currently under the initiation of Father Murphy and Father Mair, this program also serves as a follow-up to those who have been hospitalized. For more information, contact the Rectory at 729-1414.
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MINISTRY OF CARE
This Committee is comprised of SCL parishioners who have been appointed auxiliary ministers of Holy Communion to bring the Eucharist to the sick in nursing homes and hospitals as well as to homebound parishioners. These auxiliary ministers of Holy Communion are known as Ministers of Care. They must complete a five-week training program before they begin their pastoral ministry. Following their training, the Archdiocese of Chicago mandates them as Ministers of Care to serve the sick of our parish and community. Homebound parishioners should contact the Rectory (729-1414) to arrange for a visit from a Minister of Care.
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BLOOD DRIVE
A blood drive is held semi-annually. Please watch the bulletin for times and qualifications.
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SPRED (Special Religious Development)
SPRED is an agency of the Archdiocese of Chicago, which assists parishes in their effort to welcome children and adults with developmental learning disabilities. The goal of SPRED is to help the children or adults with disabilities develop awareness of God in their lives; an awareness of themselves as persons of dignity who are loved by God; an awareness of themselves as an integral part of the parish community and the entire church. The quiet, sacred place; the bonds of friendship; the sharing of life experiences; the proclamation of the Word; liturgical celebrations help each person discover the gifts and needs of every person in the community. St. Catherine Laboure offers SPRED to our friends with disabilities 17 to 21 years of age. Our neighboring parishes that offer SPRED are: OLPH 6-10 years of age; St. Norbert’s 11-16 years of age; and St. Isaac Jogues 22 years of age and up. Anyone who is 21 years or older and is willing to share faith friendship may volunteer for this wonderful ministry. Enrichment is on going. For more information please contact Carol DuBois at 847-486-0818 or Julie Hess at North Side SPRED office at 773-539-3634. Visit our website at: www.spred.org.
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