Human Concerns
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 847-729-7166 for more information.
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.
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 Rectory at 847-729-1414 for more details.
BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY
The death of a loved one can be a painful experience that we all must face at some point
in our lives. However, our Christian faith consoles us in so far as we believe that,
for those who have died, life is changed not ended. The St. Catherine Laboure Bereavement
Ministry supports those who are experiencing a loss and assists families in the process
of grieving their love-one’s death. The Bereavement Ministry team is available to help a
family who has lost a loved one with planning the funeral liturgy and provides follow-up
support after the funeral. Contact the SCL Rectory at 847-729-1414 and a Bereavement
Ministry Team member will return your call.
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.
MINISTRY TO THE HOMEBOUND
This ministry is devised to serve the sacramental needs of those who are homebound
because of age, handicaps or illness. This program also serves as a follow-up to
those who have been hospitalized. For more information, contact the Rectory at 847-729-1414.
MINISTRY OF CARE
Ministers of Care bring the Holy Eucharist to homebound parishioners and to residents
in local nursing homes /rehab centers, as well as to Glenbrook Hospital. Parishioners
are reminded to call the Rectory (847-729-1414) to arrange for a visit from a Minister of Care.
BLOOD DRIVE
A blood drive is held semi-annually. Please watch the bulletin for times and qualifications.
