Christian Service Ministries

To learn more about our ministries, click on a blue link below.

Advocacy Ministries

Peace & Justice (1-2 Hrs/Month; 2nd Thursday 7:00pm)
Advocate and inform parishioners on Peace & Justice issues.  Plan peace and justice activities such as Good Friday Walk.  Meetings held at Mary Queen of Heaven Parish in Elmhurst.

St. Mary's Mission School Outreach, Red Lake, MN - Individuals needed to help coordinate our annual fish fry in October, as well as to chaperone teen mission trips.  St. Mary's is located near the Boundary Waters in Red Lake, MN. Click here to view a video of St. Mary's School Principal speaking about importance of Catholic education on the reservation.  

Food & Shelter Ministries

  Transitional Housing - Mentors provide basic life skill mentoing/training to temporarily homeless families for a maximum period of two years.  Requires weekly meetings with client family and attendance at monthly committee meetings.  Training is provided
   Grace Cafe -  Plan, prepare and serve a meal to those in need or looking for others with whom to share a         meal.  This is an ecumenical effort shared by the Elmhurst churches.  IC hosts one meal annually.
 		    
      PADS - (3Hrs/Month October - April; 3rd Saturday Night) Donate food, cook or help staff one or more shifts
     at the PADS site at the Salvation Army in OakBrook Terrace on the 3rd Saturday. Shifts are 3 hours and
     can be dinner, nighttime, overnight or breakfast.

     Food Collection Drivers (2 Hrs/Month, 1st Monday AM of the month) Transport a portion of the donated
     IC food in a.m. by car to the People's Resource Center food pantry in Wheaton.

Holiday Outreach:

  • Thanksgiving Food Baskets
    Insure that the families-in-need also enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. Donate food or sort food donations on the Sunday evening before Thanksgiving. Assemble baskets on Monday morning, or assist with basket pick-up Monday late afternoon or deliver baskets to those who are homebound.
     

  • Christmas Giving Tree (2-4 Hrs/Yr, December Days & Times Vary)
    Help with mailings, make follow-up calls, chaperone students to cut and string the Giving Tree gift tags, put tags on the tree before a Sunday Mass, accept, sort, or distribute gifts to needy families or help deliver to homebound. Some work is done in the Fall. Requires compassionate, organized individuals.
     

  • Easter Food & Candy Baskets (1X/Yr. Palm Sunday PM and Monday Day)
    Insure that families-in-need enjoy an Easter dinner. Help donate or sort food, candy & toys* on Palm Sunday evening, or assemble food & candy baskets in the morning or assist with basket pick-up in the afternoon on the Mon. following Palm Sunday. Drivers are also needed to deliver baskets to those who homebound.
     

Pastoral Care Ministries:

  • Eucharistic Minister to the Homebound (1Hour / Week)
    Visit and bring the Eucharist to homebound parishioners once a week at a mutually agreed upon day & time. Compassion and good listening skills are helpful for this ministry. Training required includes a program for Ministers of Care and 1 hour of training with another Eucharistic Minister.
     

  •  Ministers of Care (2Hrs/Month, Tue or Fri/Sat Before 8:00pm)
    Visit hospitalized I.C. parishioners at Elmhurst Hospital. Compassion and good listening skills are helpful for this ministry. Training required includes a program for Ministers of Care and an initial hospital visit with another Minister of Care.
     

  • Eucharistic Minister to the Hospitalized (2Hrs/Month, Monday or Wednesday)
    Visit, pray with and being Communion to hospitalized Catholic patients at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital one day per month. Ability to listen and empathize is important. Training required includes a program for Ministers of Care.
     

  • Nursing Home Mass Helpers (1 1/2 Hrs/month, Tuesdays 1:45pm-3:00pm)
    Volunteers assist weekly in preparing the room at Elmhurst Extended Care Center for Mass: setting up the altar & passing out hymnals.
     

Support Ministries:

  • Respect Life Ministry  (1st Wednesday 7:00pm)
    Promotes and safeguards the dignity of God's gift of life from conception to reception into heaven. Volunteers needed to help in any way, for assorted events and projects, such as the block party, spiritual adoption, Project Gabriel, baby bottle collection, candlelight vigil, etc.
     

  • Project Gabriel  (1st Wednesday 7:00pm)
    Works with the diocese's Woman's Choice Services to provide volunteers for IC's Project Gabriel Angel Teams. Volunteers lovingly help out spiritually, emotionally, and in finding resources for a woman during her pregnancy, and for a limited time after the baby is born .

  • Bereavement Ministry (4hrs 6-8 Times/Yr; Days & Times vary)
    Assist the family in planning the Funeral Mass. Bereavement Ministry training required and a practice session with a Bereavement Minister to prepare you for planning the Mass of the Resurrection. Compassion, listening & organizational and skills are important.

  • Elizabeth Ministry (1hr / Month)
    Being available to occasionally help other women in need, through friendship and outreach. Help with Mass of Angels, Rosebud Program, or bringing a "prayer blanket" to a parishioner.

  • A Cup of Hope (1st Tuesday/Month; 10:00am)
    A gathering for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. A time of listening and sharing. An evening group will be considered if requested.

  • Kitchen Angels (4-6 Times per Yr; On Call)
    Cook and pray for individuals in our parish family who are in need of a meal during difficult times, such as those recently discharged from the hospital, new mothers, bereaved families, etc.

    Prayer Shawl Ministry - (1st and 3rd Tuesdays)
    Meet with other women who knit and crochet prayer shawls.  The shawls are given to those suffering in mind, body or spirit.  Prayer shawls are a tangible sign of healing prayers from our parish and a way to feel the healing presence of God.

 

Service Ministries:
  • Blood Drive (2 hrs / 2 Times per year; Sunday a.m. January and June)  Give the gift of life—donate blood or assist the Life Source staff by giving donors juice & cookies after a blood donation and/or helping recruit new blood donor.
  • Parish Office Volunteers (2 or 4 hr shifts; Days & Times TBD)  Reception duties at the front desk include: answering the phone, taking messages and greeting visitors.